Geraldine Cahill (she/her)
Director, UpSocial Canada
With UpSocial Canada, Geraldine leads social innovation projects involving multi-stakeholder facilitation, stewardship and project design in areas of complex need. She also partners on strategic development processes, systems mediation and communities of pratice. Geraldine launched UpSocial Canada in 2018 to collaborate on social projects. UpSocial Canada builds on the experience and wisdom of UpSocial Global based in Barcelona, Spain.
Previously, Geraldine worked with Social Innovation Canada as Director of Engagement where she was the project lead on the Hamilton Transit Oriented Affordable Housing Lab, and guided SI Canada’s strategic communication and engagement direction.
Geraldine was part of the team that pioneered the Social Innovation Generation (SiG) initiative (2007 to 2017), a foundational initiative that aimed to build a “culture of continuous social innovation in Canada.” Geraldine is co-author of a history of that time: Social Innovation Generation: Fostering a Canadian Ecosystem for Systems Change, published in November 2017.
Drawing from this experience, Geraldine has also worked within academia to develop social innovation curriculum for undergraduate university students and non-profit professionals. Before her foray into the innovation space, Geraldine worked in community-owned and run media organizations, and produced independent documentary film projects. Find out more on LinkedIn.
Jo Reynolds (they/them)
Social Projects Collaborator
With over two decades of leadership experience, Jo specializes in social and environmental mandates with organizations leading systemic change. Their expertise spans leadership roles in the fields of social innovation, social finance, and social enterprise development in Canada, bringing deep knowledge of community investment, impact measurement trends, sustainability practices, and equity models within social innovation design.
While at the Centre for Social Innovation (2016-2022), Jo worked on contract in collaboration with the leadership team at Common Approach to Impact Measurement to establish the governance model for its inaugural Board. Additionally, they had the opportunity to work with Global Affairs Canada for 18 months as the Impact Investing Specialist supporting the strategic planning, governance, and business model for the National Advisory for Impact Investing in Peru.
As the Director of Partnership and Development for Social Innovation Canada from (2022-2024), Jo supported the start-up phase of a new charitable organization. They are trained facilitators in the Art of Hosting and supported the Climate and Equity Lab designing and leading facilitations across Canada. Prior to this role they had the great opportunity to lead social enterprise development with the Centre for Social Innovation (2015 -2022); to be a founding team member of the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing (2011-2015) and work with Social Innovation Generation (2008-2011) with a focus on social finance. Their roots are in community development with West Neighbourhood House, where they had the privilege of working with youth, newcomer families, and many diverse communities striving to meet their potential in a caring way. Find more on LinkedIn
Global team
UpSocial Canada works with UpSocial’s global office and is building a team of local collaborators to design and deliver impactful projects for your organization.
“Maybe” is not a cautious word. It is a defiant claim of possibility in the face of a status quo we are unwilling to accept.”