About

Digital Nova Scotia

Meet Our Team

Owen Sagness

CEO

Full Bio

Owen Sagness

CEO

With an extensive background in executive leadership and a history of success in building and managing prominent technology and online businesses, Owen brings a wealth of experience to our team.Over the course of his 20+ year career, Owen has held key roles with Fortune 50 companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft, as well as smaller venture-backed technology firms. His leadership has consistently driven growth in profit, customer satisfaction, and brand favorability.With his blend of corporate sophistication and practical hands-on experience, Owen has become a sought-after Independent Director and Advisor. He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and serves on boards and advisory committees of several organizations, providing valuable guidance to CEOs and founders.

Claire Quirion

Director, Project & Program Delivery

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Claire Quirion

Director, Project & Program Delivery

An Ontario native, turned East Coast enthusiast, Claire has a special place in her heart for Nova Scotia. With over 8 years in the digital space, Claire is thrilled by the innovation that surrounds us and loves being involved in the growth of the technology sector. As an obvious extrovert, her passion for building meaningful relationships has always been the backbone of her career. Her experience in marketing, web development, project management, and business strategy and operations make her a strong member of the leadership team at Digital Nova Scotia.

Caitlin Patterson

Director, Marketing & Communications

Full Bio

Caitlin Patterson

Director, Marketing & Communications

With a Bachelor of Public Relations and over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector Caitlin loves what she does. She prides herself on sharing stories, developing strong relationships, building talented teams and connecting with people. With expertise ranging from strategic planning to brand management, to managing budgets and business development, Caitlin loves all things communications. Originating from the United Kingdom, Caitlin has called Nova Scotia her home since 2008 – which she shares with her husband and daughter. Currently, she volunteers as Vice Chair on the East Hants Community Learning Association Board.

Angie Barron

Office Manager

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Angie Barron

Office Manager

Originally from Nova Scotia, Angie has over 15 years of experience in professional office positions and manages administrative duties for her colleagues at Digital Nova Scotia. Following her BSc degree at Mount Saint Vincent University, Angie could be found organizing medical clinics for Easter Seals Nova Scotia, before moving out west to work as a fund development officer for non-profit organizations in Alberta. Having relocated back to Nova Scotia in 2018, along with her four-legged friends, she continues to follow her passion for working in, and volunteering for, the non-profit sector.

Linden Mattie

Financial Controller

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Linden Mattie

Financial Controller

Linden is a seasoned CPA with an extensive background in the leadership and financial management of a diverse range of nonprofit organizations. With experience spanning healthcare, sports and recreation, education, and industry associations, he focuses on operational efficiency and ensuring robust financial controls and oversight are in place. In his spare time, Linden enjoys restoring and maintaining his 100-year-old home in Halifax, or procrastinating on those projects by the ocean or at the park with his German Shepherd sidekick, Maple.

Sarah Mullins

HR Manager (Fractional)

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Sarah Mullins

HR Manager (Fractional)

Sarah is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and a business graduate from the University of New Brunswick. She has been supporting Nova Scotia businesses for more than 20 years through traditional employment and her HR consulting company. Sarah is passionate about the digital economy and attracting and retaining talent within the industry. As a sports Mom, she frequents local hockey arenas, lacrosse fields and swimming pools. In her spare time, you will find Sarah hiking, camping, skiing or beachcombing with her family and their frenchie/boston mix, Rollo.

Greg Dobson

Member Engagement Manager

Full Bio

Greg Dobson

Member Engagement Manager

With over a decade of experience in digital marketing, business development, and account management, Greg joins DNS as our Member Engagement Manager. Most recently, he led the sales of live lobster for Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia with Clearwater. Greg brings a comprehensive skill set in marketing, web development, project management, and design to the team, complemented by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a proven ability to foster meaningful relationships.

As a dedicated philanthropist, Greg has spearheaded an annual charity event that has raised over $1.2 million for the QEII’s Inherited Heart Disease Clinic in honour of his late brother since its inception. In his role at DNS, he is committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s thriving tech sector, supporting our members, and building on our growing member network. Outside of work, Greg enjoys playing hockey, playing guitar, and spending quality time with his wife and two young daughters.

Katie Macham

Sr. Project Manager

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Katie Macham

Sr. Project Manager

Katie Macham is an accomplished Senior Project Manager with over eight years of experience in successfully delivering projects within both public and private sectors. Katie has led various projects, including strategic planning initiatives, service audits, organizational alignment, and software platform evaluations. Her people-centric approach to managing teams ensures collaborative, efficient, and transparent outcomes.

Derek Leung

Development Lead

Full Bio

Derek Leung

Development Lead

Derek has a passion for design, education, and helping businesses strive in an ever changing technology landscape. With over 10 years of experience in marketing and post-secondary education, Derek led projects at some of Canada’s top universities including Western University, University of Waterloo, and York University. On the side, he has worked on various national and international marketing campaigns for brands such as Adidas, American Express, Melitta, Sony, Sun Life Financial, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Universal Music, World Gym, and more. Originally from Ontario, he recently moved to Nova Scotia with his spouse, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.

Emily van den Hoogen

Project Manager

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Emily van den Hoogen

Project Manager

Emily graduated from the Business Administration program with a focus in Marketing at Nova Scotia Community College and was quickly immersed in the advertising industry here in Halifax. Working on clients like Subway, Nova Scotia Business Inc., Chorus Aviation, EPRA, QEII, and Tourism Nova Scotia. While working on campaigns and programs big and small, Emily honed her skills to help strategize, build and execute projects of all sizes for businesses local and international. With years of project management experience under her belt and a passion to see the province’s ICT sector flourish even more, the transition to Digital Nova Scotia was a no-brainer.

Jordan Audas

Project Manager

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Jordan Audas

Project Manager

Jordan recently graduated from the Masters of Information program at Dalhousie University, becoming the first student of that program to be successfully awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) grant for his thesis, entitled “The Price of Glass Slippers: Folklore, Intellectual Property, and Neoliberalism”. Prior to graduate school, Jordan completed his bachelor’s degree at Mount Saint Vincent University, majoring in English and graduating with distinction. An avid reader, camper, and part-time research assistant/Tolkienist, Jordan is passionate about promoting information distribution and access.

Amin Zribi

Project Manager

Full Bio

Amin Zribi

Project Manager

After a PhD in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and more than 10 years in academia, Amin showed a big passion for career development targeting the Tech sector. To hold a successful transition, he built over his transferable skills and experience in curriculum management, counselling and mentoring. He led several research projects with international universities in France and Japan, and was invited as a lecturer for partner universities in Africa. His research activities in wireless networks were published in a book, international scientific journals, and conferences proceedings. He also led a university ICT department for three years contributing to the curriculum update and strengthening partnerships with stakeholders. During the last year, Amin served as employability counsellor mentoring francophone and bilingual immigrants in Nova Scotia. Originally from Tunisia, he moved to Halifax with his wife and two kids. In his free time, you can find him enjoying a run in the Halifax neighbourhood, taking a walk with his family, or socializing with friends.

Quinn Anderson

Marketing & Communications Manager

Full Bio

Quinn Anderson

Marketing & Communications Manager

Originally from the beautiful rocky shores of Newfoundland, Quinn joins DNS as our Marketing & Communications Manager. She holds a MA in History from McMaster University and has an extensive background in not-for-profit marketing and communications, graphic design, community engagement, and DEAI policy writing and consulting. They enjoy exploring the vast natural scenery of the province with their fiancé, Amanda, and their Golden Retriever, Mr. Peanut Butter.

Vimbayi Handara

Project Specialist

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Vimbayi Handara

Project Specialist

Vimbayi was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Halifax to pursue a degree majoring in Economics. She has always had a passion for social and economic change and is very fascinated by the world of tech and the way the world is changing around it. Over the years she has developed skills in project planning, project management, business consultation and engaging with community stakeholders. In her free time, you will find her making a song from random YouTube instrumentals or swimming in a lake somewhere around Nova Scotia.

Adam Khamis

Project Specialist

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Adam Khamis

Project Specialist

Adam was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda. He graduated from Saint Mary’s with a degree in Computing and Information Systems. He gained his experience from working closley with young entrepreneurs, startups and medium sized businesses to accomplishing their business driven goals using technology. His goal is to continue to build his experience in the digital space, using creativity, entrepreneurship and ensuring he connects personally with every client he works with. As a spoken word poet and digital creator, he strives to grow as an entrepreneur and support others in their endeavours.

Eilish Bonang

Marketing & Communications Specialist

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Eilish Bonang

Marketing & Communications Specialist

Eilish joined Digital Nova Scotia in April of 2024 after a rewarding career in broadcast journalism. During her time in the industry, she was honoured to tell stories from across the Maritimes, having worked with CTV Atlantic, Global News, and a number of local radio stations. She was a Senior Digital Broadcast Journalist as well as an anchor for Global News Morning Halifax; a position she was proud to hold so early in her career.

Eilish is a graduate of Nova Scotia Community College’s Radio, Television and Journalism program, with a diploma in Broadcast Journalism. She is excited to bring her experience both in front of and behind the camera to DNS, to help share the stories from the province’s robust tech sector!

She has lived in three of the four Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick) but is happy to now be back home in Halifax and closer to her family.

When she’s not working, you can find Eilish spending time with her fiancé, Callum, swimming in the ocean, and enjoying all of her favourite foods!

Cary Yim

Project Coordinator

Full Bio

Cary Yim

Project Coordinator

Cary Yim is a dynamic IT Data Analytics graduate from NSCC who has a passion for making an impact. Originally from Hong Kong, Cary relocated to Nova Scotia with her husband in 2019 and brings with her a diverse background in business communications, administration, and project management. Cary approaches her role as a project coordinator with a focus on teamwork, empathy, and collaboration, and has a genuine love and interest in IT, data, and research. Beyond her professional life, Cary enjoys reading, learning French, and ice figure skating.

Ila Jay

Project Coordinator

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Ila Jay

Project Coordinator

Ila possesses a passion for accessibility, and believes that the technology can open doors for many individuals traditional employment roles leaves behind. Ila co-developed a federally-funded Youth Employment Program, which honed her facilitation skills and gave insight into the needs of new grads in the current employment landscape. Ila is a dedicated community-driven professional who is thrilled to be supporting tech growth in her home province.

Frances Parker

Project Coordinator

Full Bio

Frances Parker

Project Coordinator

I was born and raised in England and have proudly called Halifax my home since 2006. I graduated from the Bachelor of Management program at Dalhousie University where I gained a passion for entrepreneurship which led me to run my own roller skate business for 6 years.

Dana McCormack

Project Coordinator

Full Bio

Dana McCormack

Project Coordinator

Dana is originally from Kansas City, Missouri, USA, but currently calls Sydney, NS home. She moved to Canada in 2019 to earn her Masters Degree in Business Administration in Community Economic Development.

Dana’s previous career was in technical writing, and she specialized in making complex information simple, clear, and easily understood. She’s worked in various sectors, including medical nonprofits, global aerospace, and the USA federal government. In her spare time, she watches and reads a lot of anime and scifi, dabbles in art and music, and explores the outdoors.

Talon Beek

Student Engagement Facilitator

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Talon Beek

Student Engagement Facilitator

A native of New Brunswick, Talon has worked in Halifax since 2014. With 10+ years of experience in the tech sector, specifically in CS & adoption, Talon has a proven track record of driving adoption and satisfaction through his focus on customer needs and his ability to build strong relationships with clients. In his free time, he enjoys music, art and travel. Talon is joining our team as a consultant with Bluedrop ISM on the Skills for Hire Atlantic Program.

Gevonna Samuel

Project Coordinator Co-op

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Gevonna Samuel

Project Coordinator Co-op

Gevonna Samuel is a third-year student at Dalhousie University pursuing a degree in Management (BMgmt), with a major in Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a minor in Computer Science. She is focused on learning about how to be a good manager while furthering her knowledge about how to communicate effectively and work with people from different backgrounds. Her interest in computer science stems from a passion to be able to create easy, useful applications for others, and a desire to see more representation of women of colour in the tech sector. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies she intends to apply to graduate school to further her knowledge in information technology.

Sophie de Verteuil

Marketing & Communications Co-op

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Sophie de Verteuil

Marketing & Communications Co-op

Sophie was born and raised in Toronto and moved to Halifax to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce Co-op Degree at Dalhousie University, where she is currently in her third year. She completed a marketing co-op in the aerospace industry, which sparked her interest in the tech sector and ultimately led her to join DNS for her current co-op. Sophie is excited to learn more about the growing tech sector in Nova Scotia and apply her passion for marketing to it!

Ben Ruthard

Project Coordinator Co-op

Full Bio

Ben Ruthard

Project Coordinator Co-op

My name is Ben Ruthard, and I am currently in my third year at Dalhousie University pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree. I was born and raised in Toronto, but moved to beautiful Halifax to pursue my post-secondary education. In the past, I have worked in both sales and client service roles, which has allowed me to develop strong communication and interpersonal skills. When I am not working on my craft, you can catch me playing or watching sports, writing movie reviews on Letterboxd, or having a heated debate with one of my friends.

Mahtab Ahmed

Project Coordinator Co-op

Full Bio

Mahtab Ahmed

Project Coordinator Co-op

Originally from Dhaka, Bangladesh I moved to Vancouver to attend SFU. Later, I completed an Associates Degree and joined Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre in Operations where I worked for two years. Once I gained my PR in Canada, I decided to move to Halifax to attend Dalhousie University and finish my undergraduate degree. Currently, I am in the third year of the Bachelor of Commerce program and majoring in Finance. My last work term was with RBC in Bedford as a Business Analyst in the Technology & Operations team and I also supported the International Trade Finance division with the Toronto team. I’m excited to learn and contribute to Digital Nova Scotia’s mission and enjoy this work term!

Ashley Field

Marketing Manager (On Maternity Leave)

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Ashley Field

Marketing Manager (On Maternity Leave)

Ashley brings nearly a decade of experience as a broadcast journalist to her role at Digital Nova Scotia. Throughout her career, she has covered a wide range of stories, from national breaking news to political and court reporting, across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. A passionate visual storyteller, Ashley excels at highlighting people-driven success stories, with a special focus on innovation, technology, and healthcare.

Originally from Winnipeg, Ashley is a graduate of Red River College’s Creative Communications program, where she gained a comprehensive education in public relations, advertising, media production, and journalism. In 2019, she relocated to Nova Scotia with her husband and their dog, embracing the province’s vibrant community and natural beauty. In 2021, she welcomed her daughter, and in her free time, Ashley enjoys exploring Nova Scotia with her family, reading, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Kelemoi Tedeneke

Senior Project Manager (On Maternity Leave)

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Kelemoi Tedeneke

Senior Project Manager (On Maternity Leave)

I grew up in Montreal and Toronto then moved to Ottawa where I got my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Critical Sexuality Studies at Carleton University. Whatever my role, surgical consultant or Research Assistant at Dalhousie’s Resilience Research Centre, or community volunteer I have always been motivated to help people find their own success and wellbeing. Most recently, my time at Shopify was working in Recruitment Operations & Coordination then Program Management for the DE&I team. While there, I designed, built and implemented inclusive systems and programs for everyone, from prospective candidates, internal employees to the merchants using the platform. This next chapter at DNS is the culmination of all my experience in tech and community development.

Digital Nova Scotia

Digital Nova Scotia (DNS) is the industry association for Nova Scotia’s $3.6 billion ICT and digital technologies sector.

Our History

Our Board of Directors

Digital Nova Scotia

Meet Our Team