Our People
The Diversity At Work team: consultants, facilitators and instructors, represent a diverse group themselves and offer expert knowledge and training in diversity management, language and elocution, and human resources best practices.
Evelina Silveira, President and Principal Consultant
Diversity At Work is owned and operated by Evelina Silveira. As an expert in ethno-cultural engagement and inclusion, she is a champion of diversity and the advantages of strategically harnessing all talents in the workforce.
Evelina Silveira has been in the field of diversity and race relations in London for almost 20 years. Beginning her career in the human services sector, Evelina was one of the pioneers of ethno-cultural outreach, which led to improved services for new Canadians in a host of programs including: health, employment, and woman abuse services. She also helped to coordinate the first study on immigrant professionals and trades people in London and has worked to facilitate and cultivate linkages among employers and Aboriginal communities for the mutual benefit of job creation and employer equity goals.
Evelina was appointed to lead a dialogue group between Arab Muslim and Jewish women in London who were seeking to create a pocket of peace in their community for themselves and their children. This experience brought to light the importance of creating opportunities for honest dialogue between conflicting religious and ethnic groups.
She is known for her balanced, fair and pragmatic approach. Distinguishing herself from her competitors, Evelina is not afraid to tackle challenging diversity issues in both her consulting and training services with humour, respect and empathy. She has a well-deserved reputation for collaborative approaches, practical solutions and innovative problem solving.
Evelina is the founder and editor of The Inclusion Quarterly an ezine publication, which is dedicated to best practices for managing workplace diversity and recognized internationally as a trusted, timely, and balanced source of information for diversity practitioners and senior managers.
She has been named as the Mayor's New Year's Honour List for outstanding contributions to Diversity and Race Relations for the City of London, 2012.
Her formal education includes a degree in Sociology, a diploma in Honours standing in Political Science focused on International Politics, and a Diploma in Human Resources Management. She also speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.
Evelina has volunteered extensively in the London, Ontario community with many organizations including:
- Human Resources Professional Association of London and District, Diversity Committee.
- United Way of London and Middlesex: Human Care Division Chair and Employee Campaign Chair
- ChildReach, Fundraising Committee and Board of Directors
- Cross Cultural Learner Centre: Board of Directors
- City of London Race Relations Advisory Committee
Current volunteer positions include:
- Committee Member, London Heritage Council Cultural Awards
- Employer focus-group participant - Employment Standards Committee for Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
- Member of the Speakers' Bureau of ATN educating employers and general audiences about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the workplace
Katerina Hertman, Research and Administrative Assistant
Katerina has had an eclectic, international career. Her multilingualism landed her several exciting positions working with global companies in their sales and marketing divisions as well as a Coordinator and Commercial Translator. She has taught Italian, and as a psychologist she organized several UNICEF funded programs for children at risk. Katerina organized summer trips to Florence, Italy for children who were affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. She has a Master's Degree in Higher Education, a Diploma in Teaching the Italian Language, and a Diploma with Honours in Preschool Pedagogy and Psychology. Katerina is fluent in Belorussian, Russian, Italian, French and English.
Our Language Team
Alfredo Garcia - English Pronunciation and Elocution and Spanish Instruction
Alfredo is a certified TESL, Pronunciation and Job Search instructor with 15 years experience in assessment and facilitation skills for ESL learners. He has delivered learner-centred programs, motivating and assessing linguistic development. Alfredo's experience includes designing programs according to Canadian Language Benchmark curriculum, implementing community outreach programs for newcomers and volunteering as an interpreter and translator for English to Spanish and French. He is a skilled presenter, instructor and a published contributor in the textbook, Fieldtrips & The ESL Classroom.
Alfredo holds a degree in Arts, Applied Arts from Ryerson University in Toronto, and a TESL Certificate from the Toronto Board of Education. He has also studied modern languages, creative writing, pronunciation for ESL learners and job search skills for ESL learners. Alfredo is fluent in English and Spanish and also speaks French.
Heidi Bagshaw – English Pronunciation and Elocution Teacher/ Speech Disorders Coach
Heidi achieved her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, with a concentration in Speech Therapy. She completed courses in language development, speech anatomy, and the mechanics of the tongue and other articulators to form the sounds of the world's languages. Additionally, Heidi studied types of speech airflow and accompanying vocal productions. Her training has prepared her to teach clients English pronunciation, as well as assist persons with speech disorders who need to compensate when their vocal apparatus is challenged. She completed courses in semantics, as well as word and sentence formation for all types of languages.
Heidi received her TESOL Certification from Global TESOL College in Calgary, Alberta. She will be completing her TESL Ontario Certification this year. Both Heidi's ESL students and speech therapy clients have commented on her willingness to understand and adapt, as well as her patience and ability to explain difficult concepts.
Heidi's teaching and presentation skills are greatly enhanced through her involvement with Toastmaster's International.
German Gutierrez - English Pronunciation and Elocution
German has taught English as a Foreign Language and English as a Second Language since 1981. He also has 25 years experience in Radio and Television as a journalist, news anchor and voice talent, including work with the Discovery Channel in the United States. He was nominated by the Colombian Association of Broadcasters for Best Commercial Voice of the Year in four consecutive years (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999). Prior to moving to North America, German was a simultaneous interpreter and translator for the Colombian Ministry of Education. His career also includes work in the communications field wherein he founded two companies, providing copywriting, script-writing, campaign consultancy in the U.S. and Colombia. Currently, he is a professor of ESL at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. He also records and writes copy and script for radio spots and TV commercials for agencies in the U.S. and Colombia.
German obtained his Bachelor of Science in Communication, with a major in Journalism from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogota, Colombia. He is a TESL certified teacher of English who has taught at Wheable Centre for Adult Education and the Chinese Canadian National Council LINC program, both in London, Ontario. In 2006, German received a Certificate of Recognition from the Province of Ontario for his work in support of newcomers and in 2004 he was recognized by the Province of Ontario for dedicated volunteerism at the Wheable Centre for Adult Education.
Margaret Agbalizu - English Grammar and Business Writing
Margaret comes to us with a strong background in adult education and language acquisition. She has taught both EFL and ESL in different contexts and in various capacities. Margaret has worked for Thames Valley District School Board, Fanshawe College, and Al Ain University of Science and Technology. Margaret is an EAP specialist and adult ESL instructor. Currently she is a language and interpretation program trainer. She enjoys researching EAP related issues. Margaret advocates basing skills lessons on meaningful contexts while following an eclectic approach.
Margaret holds a Masters degree in English Language Teaching from British University in Dubai; Cambridge ESOL Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adult and a TESL Trainer Accreditation from TESL Ontario. Margaret speaks Arabic; she is also proficient in French. Margaret is also involved in community welfare. She is a Peer Leader for South West Self Management Program.
Business Diversity Advisors
Marta Pabon Gaitan - Latin American Business Advisor
Marta brings over 30 years experience in the Travel and Tourism industry and has worked in Colombia, Belgium, and the United States. Throughout her career Marta has developed marketing strategies, conducted market research, executed global public relations campaigns, coordinated special events and acted as a corporate spokesperson, among other marketing, communications and front-line responsibilities.
Her education includes diplomas in Social Tourism and Hotel Management from Ceria University in Brussels, Belgium and Office Administration and Travel Management from Belair Polytechnic in London, England. Marta is also fluent in English, Spanish and French.
Wen Zou, PMP - Chinese Business Advisor and Technical Support
With over 10 years of experience in a senior management position within the Chinese IT industry, in addition to his active ties and business development in China; Wen offers a wealth of experience and knowledge in managing Chinese employees. He is able to provide counsel to Canadian businesses seeking to expand their markets into China. He is highly accomplished in the field of project management and has formed a non-profit organization called CPMPAC (Chinese Project Management Professional Association of Canada) with six other colleagues. He has obtained a certified Project Management Professional Certificate and holds a Master's Degree in Information Technology Application as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Physics. He speaks Mandarin and English.