Founding Members Info

Petra Kassun-MutchPetra Kassun-Mutch (Toronto, ON)

B.A. Honours, Carleton University; EMBA, University of Toronto

Expertise: Entrepreneurship, Brand Development, Public Speaking, Strategic Marketing, Sales, Business Design, Pitch Dragon; Sectors: Food, Dairy, Publishing and Sustainability.

 Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Imagination Catalyst at the Ontario College of Art & Design University.  The Imagination Catalyst is a student and alumni centred entrepreneurship and innovation incubator/acclerator.   Prior to this, Petra served 18 years in progressive positions in the publishing industry in Canada and the US.  After 7 years as President of McGraw Hill Ryerson’s Higher Education Division in Canada, Petra left her corporate career to pursue her dream of starting a social purpose enterprise in a rural community. The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company (http://youtu.be/SSs4HdGQHdg) was her second but most recent venture as an entrepreneur. Fifth Town was incorporated in 2004 and by 2009 had become an award winning example of a contemporary social and environmental enterprise in Ontario.  After leaving Fifth Town in 2011,  Petra decided to deepen her commitment to building a vibrant social enterprise sector in Ontario and launched a social enterprise advocacy venture called The Zugunruhe Project. During this time she also served as the  Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Guelph , coaching aspiring entrepreneurs as well as teaching.  Petra also serves as Chair/Director at ZooShare (www.zooshare.ca), an exciting community based bio-gas energy social enterprise.

Francis J. LapointeFrancis J. Lapointe (Toronto, ON)

Architect, LEED, Principal, Lapointe Architects, DIPL., ARCH. TECH, B.ARCH, M.ARCH II, OAA, AP, C.E.T

Expertise: Design & construction of spaces (interior and exterior) that is responsive to the environment.  Project management.

Francis grew up in Wawa, Ontario and developed a passion for architecture and utilitarian, green building design as a result of his exposure to Northern Ontario’s spectacular wilderness, increasingly challenged by the forestry and mining industries.  Since graduating, Francis gained practical experience working for some of Canada’s award winning architectural firms. In 2001, Francis started his own social mission oriented sustainable architectural firm. Some of Francis’ work in this field led to his concepts being applied to a innovative housing project to design and build healthy homes for First Nation Communities across Canada. This project is a collaborative effort between the Assembly of First Nations and the Holmes Group (Mike Holmes of HGTV).

Graeme EvertonGraeme Everton (Wellington, New Zealand)

Board Director, Entrepreneur, Project Manager, Business Strategist, Aboriginal Policy & Issues Advisor

Expertise: Business Strategy, Governance, General Management, and sector experience in IT, Telecommunications, and the food and dairy industry.

Graeme Everton’s professional life choices and approach to enterprise development and management has been profoundly influenced by the values of Maori-the indigenous people of New Zealand, which are consistent with the values of social enterprise.  Graeme’s Maori roots also n led him to become a strong advocate for Maori self determination rights.  He is current the claimant for broadband spectrum on behalf of Maori in NZ, an initiatives which is ground breaking in terms of indigenous resource rights policy and has been featured in several publications including Computing Today.

Most recently, Graeme served as a Director for the Waituhi Kuratau Trust which is a land holding entity situated on the South/West corner of Lake Taupo in the Ruapehu district. The Trust runs a commercial farming operation consisting of sheep (12000 head) and beef (1400 head) lamb/finishing farm which has proven both highly successful and profitable.

Graeme brings his deep understanding of  sustainability, aboriginal policy and issues a, ways of knowing, plus tremendous business strategy insights to the Zugunruhe Project and rounds out our unique blend of insights which can assist our clients in designing, launching or managing a for profit social enterprise.