Meet the Collective

Grace Barakat, PhD

Grace is an academic, researcher, and consultant with deep expertise in higher education, public policy, and social inequality. She is a sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto, where she teaches courses on higher education, inequality, and social policy.

Over the past several years, she has led national and community-based projects addressing pressing social issues including gender-based violence, accessibility, housing, labour markets, and immigrant experiences in Canada. Grace is known for her ability to design and manage complex research initiatives, blending quantitative and qualitative approaches to generate findings that are both evidence-informed and accessible to different audiences. She has developed frameworks, evaluation tools, and equity-driven strategies for governments, organizations, and community groups.

What distinguishes Grace is her commitment to knowledge mobilization and community impact. She takes research beyond the page, creating strategies, workshops, and resources that empower policymakers, practitioners, and communities alike. As both an educator and consultant, she brings academic depth and practical experience, helping organizations create strategies that are grounded in evidence and responsive to community needs.

Leanne Dixon Perera, MA

Leanne is a migration policy specialist with a Master’s degree in International Development and more than a decade of professional experience in labour, immigration, and governance. She has worked in federal government, international organizations, and civil society, which gives her a comprehensive perspective on how policy is designed, implemented, and experienced. Her expertise lies in developing fairer and more inclusive labour migration systems, but her skills extend to research, evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and organizational strategy.

Throughout her career, Leanne has contributed to projects that strengthen labour protections, support ethical recruitment, and promote migrant rights in Canada and abroad. She has collaborated with governments, NGOs, and UN agencies on initiatives that improve program design and advance worker protections. She is deeply skilled in conducting research, leading consultations, drafting actionable policy recommendations, and building capacity within organizations to carry this work forward.

Leanne brings a strong equity lens to every project. She is committed to ensuring that strategies and policies do not just exist on paper but actively improve conditions for the people they are meant to serve. She draws on her academic training, policy expertise, and international experience to support organizations in addressing labour, migration, and equity issues in meaningful ways.

Stefan Mikuska, PhD Candidate

Stefan is completing his PhD in Politics, where his research focuses broadly on governance, development, and global political economy. His academic journey has provided him with strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of social and political systems, and the ability to translate complex information into clear insights. Alongside his research, he has extensive teaching and facilitation experience, which informs his collaborative approach to consulting.

Stefan has supported governments and non-profits in policy development. He is skilled in both qualitative and quantitative approaches, including data analysis, survey design, interviews, and stakeholder consultations. His consulting work emphasizes practical outcomes, with a focus on strategies that are achievable, inclusive, and tailored to client needs.

What sets Stefan apart is his ability to bridge academic knowledge and practical application. He combines subject-matter expertise with a clear understanding of organizational realities, helping clients move from ideas to actionable strategies. His commitment to equity and justice underpins his work, making him a consultant helps build stronger, more inclusive systems.