News
2024-25 Careers Breakfast Series
Our annual Careers Breakfast series offers the chance for Senior students to hear from BSS alum who are actively working in industries they might be interested in pursuing.
Held monthly from October to March, this series features alumnae employed in the fields of life and health sciences, STEM, business, communications, design, fine art, architecture and the humanities, as well as those who have pursued unconventional or diverse career pathways.
If you’re an alum who is interested in participating in the Careers Breakfast Series or other volunteer opportunities, please ensure you are registered with BSS Connect at bssconnect.ca.
Click the links below to read about our alunnae panellists.
Lydia BECK ’07
Lydia is an occupational therapist (OT). She graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in 2011 and from the University of Toronto with a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2014. She has worked in various clinical roles as an OT in the community, supporting patients to return to work after health challenges. She has done private consulting around mental health in the workplace and started her own company in this area. Since 2016, she has worked at Prince Margaret in various roles, and is currently the Clinical Manager of the Department of Supportive Care.
Dr. Allie DENNIS ’08
Dr. Allie Dennis is a chiropractor and acupuncture provider practicing in Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Kinesiology from Western University and a Doctor of Chiropractic from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. Additionally, she recently returned to school to complete a Master of Clinical Science through Western University in Interprofessional Pain Management. She also holds a certificate in Contemporary Acupuncture from McMaster University. Dr. Dennis practices in a patient-centred, evidence-informed manner. Her biggest goal is to get patients out of the clinic quickly and back to enjoying the activities they love doing. In her spare time, she likes to travel, play soccer and spend time with her husband and their rescue dog, Luna.
Dr. Colette MASCARENHAS Martyres ’10
Dr. Colette Martyres is a dentist who practices all aspects of general dentistry in a clinic located in downtown Toronto. She is dedicated to providing exceptional care and advocating for her patients’ oral health in a friendly and welcoming environment. She stays up-to-date with the changing dental curriculum by participating in continuing education courses. Dr. Martyres obtained her undergraduate degree at York University and then completed a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Toronto. In her spare time, Dr. Martyres enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, travelling and exploring new cuisines.
Zoé LÉTOURNEAU ’11
Zoé has worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) at SickKids hospital in Toronto since completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at York University. She values continued learning and the ability to have a dynamic and evolving career path. Her area of specialization is orthopaedic surgery in the operating room, and some of her previous specializations included neurosurgery, the trauma unit, the cardiovascular unit, sedation for diagnostic imaging, and SickKids’ bridge-to-community-care program. In her spare time, Zoé enjoys travelling, learning ballet, watching documentaries and spending time with family and friends.
November - Diverse Pathways
Estelle PHILLIPS '14
Estelle graduated from BSS in 2014. She is a Toronto-based makeup artist with a passion for creativity and connection. A graduate of the Complete Makeup Artist Program at CMU College of Makeup Art & Design, Estelle’s expertise has been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, The Coveteur and BRIDES magazine. She currently balances her editorial work with her role as a makeup artist at LAC+Beauty, one of Toronto’s premier beauty destinations. For Estelle, makeup artistry is more than skin deep — it’s about building lasting relationships and helping people feel their best.
Julia GALLAY '14
November - Diverse Pathways
Estelle PHILLIPS '14
Estelle graduated from BSS in 2014. She is a Toronto-based makeup artist with a passion for creativity and connection. A graduate of the Complete Makeup Artist Program at CMU College of Makeup Art & Design, Estelle’s expertise has been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, The Coveteur and BRIDES magazine. She currently balances her editorial work with her role as a makeup artist at LAC+Beauty, one of Toronto’s premier beauty destinations. For Estelle, makeup artistry is more than skin deep — it’s about building lasting relationships and helping people feel their best.
Julia GALLAY '14
Julia Gallay is the founder and pastry chef behind Gallz Provisions Micro-bakery, a business celebrated for its innovative and artisanal creations. Julia graduated from BSS in 2014 and later earned a BSc in Biology and Media, Information & Technoculture from the University of Western Ontario. After graduating, Julia worked in the medical technology field before pursuing her passion for the culinary arts. After years of honing her skills in the culinary world, Julia founded Gallz Provisions, which has quickly gained a loyal following. Her work has been featured in several prominent publications, including The New York Times, The Globe and Mail and Chatelaine. Notable clients include Mejuri, Holt Renfrew, Reformation and KOTN, where her desserts are revered for their precision, creativity and flavour.
Molly ALLGOOD '07
Molly is an accomplished carpenter based in the Toronto and Durham regions, currently working toward her Red Seal certification. With experience ranging from small projects like building custom shelves to large-scale renovations and full custom home builds, Molly has a diverse skill set. As the lead framer and site supervisor at Brolaws Construction, she plays a key role in the construction and management of projects from start to finish, with a particular passion for framing hand-cut roofs and trim work. Molly’s expertise has led her to collaborate with several HGTV stars, including an appearance on Property Brothers. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her niece and nephew, and staying active with hobbies like archery and longboarding. Whether in the city or at the cottage, Molly finds joy in nature and values the balance between work and personal life.
January - Business & Communications
Nicolle SIRISKO ‘02
Nicolle was recently appointed as Chief Operating Officer at Redstone, a leading association management agency named one of The Globe and Mail’s Top Growing Companies in the 2023 Report on Business. Nicolle was previously COO at Avida, a prominent digital retail experience agency. Prior to her role as COO, Nicolle worked in senior project management and operations positions at various agencies, including global branding agency Interbrand (Omnicom) with clients spanning tech, software, marketing/advertising, branding, retail, finance, insurance and non-profit. Nicolle is an entrepreneur at heart.
Outside of her day job she is co-founder of AndThenIWasFree.org, a non-profit that provides mental health and identity support to LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous communities; an independent business operations consultant; and co-founder of an early-stage edu-tech startup. Nicolle holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University and a Master of Business Administration from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. Nicolle is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Nicolle lives on the lake in the Kawarthas with her partner and two pups after choosing to leave Toronto city life behind, and spends her free time enjoying the outdoors.
Caitlin IMRIE Newton ’02
Caitlin is the Director, Category Management, Mass Cosmetics at Shoppers Drug Mart. Caitlin has more than 15 years of experience in buying, merchandising and product development across a variety of categories including designer womenswear, cosmetics, baby and home with some of the largest retailers in Canada, including Loblaws/SDM, Target Canada and Holt Renfrew. Caitlin’s passion for retail began at a young age, and after graduating from Dalhousie with a Bachelor of Commerce, she pursued her AAS Fashion Marketing at Parsons, The New School for Design, in New York City where she was able to gain invaluable educational and practical experience through internships with Prada, Christian Louboutin and Ralph Lauren. Caitlin is now a proud BSS parent of Isla in Junior Kindergarten and looks forward to sharing her passion for all facets of retail!
Clio TEMPLETON ‘04
Clio graduated from BSS in 2004 and earned a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University. She then moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she lived until 2021. During her time in Melbourne, Clio worked in real estate and construction, specializing in project management and acquisitions for major property developers.
As a passion project, Clio began teaching Reformer Pilates on the side and quickly fell in love with it. Upon returning to Toronto in 2021, she realized there was a noticeable lack of Reformer Pilates studios in the city.
In February 2023, Clio decided to leave her corporate career behind, and by March 2023, Assembly Movement was born — an athletic Reformer Pilates studio. Due to the incredible support of the community, Assembly Movement expanded, opening its second location in July 2024.
February - STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)
Marsha CHAN ‘02
Molly ALLGOOD '07
Molly is an accomplished carpenter based in the Toronto and Durham regions, currently working toward her Red Seal certification. With experience ranging from small projects like building custom shelves to large-scale renovations and full custom home builds, Molly has a diverse skill set. As the lead framer and site supervisor at Brolaws Construction, she plays a key role in the construction and management of projects from start to finish, with a particular passion for framing hand-cut roofs and trim work. Molly’s expertise has led her to collaborate with several HGTV stars, including an appearance on Property Brothers. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her niece and nephew, and staying active with hobbies like archery and longboarding. Whether in the city or at the cottage, Molly finds joy in nature and values the balance between work and personal life.
January - Business & Communications
Nicolle SIRISKO ‘02
Nicolle was recently appointed as Chief Operating Officer at Redstone, a leading association management agency named one of The Globe and Mail’s Top Growing Companies in the 2023 Report on Business. Nicolle was previously COO at Avida, a prominent digital retail experience agency. Prior to her role as COO, Nicolle worked in senior project management and operations positions at various agencies, including global branding agency Interbrand (Omnicom) with clients spanning tech, software, marketing/advertising, branding, retail, finance, insurance and non-profit. Nicolle is an entrepreneur at heart.
Outside of her day job she is co-founder of AndThenIWasFree.org, a non-profit that provides mental health and identity support to LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous communities; an independent business operations consultant; and co-founder of an early-stage edu-tech startup. Nicolle holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University and a Master of Business Administration from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. Nicolle is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Nicolle lives on the lake in the Kawarthas with her partner and two pups after choosing to leave Toronto city life behind, and spends her free time enjoying the outdoors.
Caitlin IMRIE Newton ’02
Caitlin is the Director, Category Management, Mass Cosmetics at Shoppers Drug Mart. Caitlin has more than 15 years of experience in buying, merchandising and product development across a variety of categories including designer womenswear, cosmetics, baby and home with some of the largest retailers in Canada, including Loblaws/SDM, Target Canada and Holt Renfrew. Caitlin’s passion for retail began at a young age, and after graduating from Dalhousie with a Bachelor of Commerce, she pursued her AAS Fashion Marketing at Parsons, The New School for Design, in New York City where she was able to gain invaluable educational and practical experience through internships with Prada, Christian Louboutin and Ralph Lauren. Caitlin is now a proud BSS parent of Isla in Junior Kindergarten and looks forward to sharing her passion for all facets of retail!
Clio TEMPLETON ‘04
Clio graduated from BSS in 2004 and earned a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University. She then moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she lived until 2021. During her time in Melbourne, Clio worked in real estate and construction, specializing in project management and acquisitions for major property developers.
As a passion project, Clio began teaching Reformer Pilates on the side and quickly fell in love with it. Upon returning to Toronto in 2021, she realized there was a noticeable lack of Reformer Pilates studios in the city.
In February 2023, Clio decided to leave her corporate career behind, and by March 2023, Assembly Movement was born — an athletic Reformer Pilates studio. Due to the incredible support of the community, Assembly Movement expanded, opening its second location in July 2024.
February - STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)
Marsha CHAN ‘02
Marsha is an actuary. She completed her Bachelor of Mathematics with a major in actuarial science from the University of Waterloo. She obtained her Fellowship of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Fellowship of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) in 2013 and 2014 respectively. She worked in the life insurance industry for 12 years prior to joining the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, which is an independent agency of the Government of Canada that regulates and supervises more than 400 financial institutions and 1200 pension plans.
Laura MACNEIL ‘10
Laura is a Managing Consultant at IBM Canada. She graduated from BSS in 2010, attending the University of Guelph for her undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering. After completing her undergrad, Laura continued her studies completing her Masters in Applied Science - Biomedical Engineering, studying the effects of virtual physical therapy on stroke patients. Laura now works with Canada’s largest organizations, helping them transform their technology experience. Her clients range across industries including healthcare, travel and transportation, financial services, and the provincial and federal government.
Andrea GONZALEZ ‘15
Andrea studied mechanical engineering at the University of Toronto. During university, she worked on the R&D team at Profound Medical Inc., where she designed robots that treat prostate cancer. After graduating university in 2020, she joined the company's manufacturing team, and learned about the intricacies of bringing engineering designs to life. In 2022, she left manufacturing to embark on a new chapter as a founding member of Blue Labs, Walmart Canada's first ever customer-centric innovation lab. At Walmart, she led the implementation of the first ever in-store robotic auto-fulfillment machine. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and film photography, and is currently learning how to develop her own film in a darkroom.
April - Humanities, Education & Design
Lisa GRASSA '03
Lisa is an educator who has been supporting young learners for more than 15 years. She is currently the Grade 3 teacher at The Mabin School in Toronto, where she has held a range of roles, including classroom teacher and learning strategist. Lisa holds a teaching degree from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Psychology from Western University. She is a Reading and Special Education Specialist, with additional training in intervention approaches for both literacy and math. Lisa has contributed to research and professional development initiatives and has presented on inquiry-based learning for educators. She has taught in classrooms across Scotland, Ghana and Mexico, and has contributed to curriculum development and educational strategy for organizations including the StopGap Foundation, the Akosia Foundation, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young daughters.
April - Humanities, Education & Design
Lisa GRASSA '03
Lisa is an educator who has been supporting young learners for more than 15 years. She is currently the Grade 3 teacher at The Mabin School in Toronto, where she has held a range of roles, including classroom teacher and learning strategist. Lisa holds a teaching degree from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Psychology from Western University. She is a Reading and Special Education Specialist, with additional training in intervention approaches for both literacy and math. Lisa has contributed to research and professional development initiatives and has presented on inquiry-based learning for educators. She has taught in classrooms across Scotland, Ghana and Mexico, and has contributed to curriculum development and educational strategy for organizations including the StopGap Foundation, the Akosia Foundation, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young daughters.
Brooklyn HULL '12
Brooklyn graduated from BSS in 2012 and went on to do her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Guelph, specializing in voice studies and child, youth and family studies. She developed a deep interest in psychology and human development. Her passion for the intersection of music and mental health led her to complete graduate studies in creative arts therapy, specializing in music therapy, at Concordia University.
Brooklyn graduated from BSS in 2012 and went on to do her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Guelph, specializing in voice studies and child, youth and family studies. She developed a deep interest in psychology and human development. Her passion for the intersection of music and mental health led her to complete graduate studies in creative arts therapy, specializing in music therapy, at Concordia University.
Today, Brooklyn is a certified music therapist and registered psychotherapist, using music as a powerful tool for self-expression, connection, motivation and healing. She currently works as a Child and Youth Therapist in community mental health, and is also part of the Wounded Warriors Canada team, supporting children and youth affected by PTSD and operational stress injuries in their families.
Brooklyn has had the privilege of working with individuals across the lifespan — from newborns to centenarians — offering emotional, cognitive and social support during some of life’s most difficult moments. Music and therapy have been transformative forces in her own life, and she is deeply passionate about sharing those gifts with the people she serves.
Akiko MORIYAMA '19
Akiko is a Desktop Publisher on the Multimedia Team at CIBC. Her interest in design and technology started at BSS, which led her to pursue a major in film and media at Queen’s University. There, she was also an active member of the Queen’s cheerleading team. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 2022, Akiko began her career at CIBC. In her position, she designs visual content, edits podcasts, creates animations for social media and ensures material meets brand and AODA standards. In her spare time Akiko enjoys crocheting, baking and adventuring with her friends.
Akiko is a Desktop Publisher on the Multimedia Team at CIBC. Her interest in design and technology started at BSS, which led her to pursue a major in film and media at Queen’s University. There, she was also an active member of the Queen’s cheerleading team. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 2022, Akiko began her career at CIBC. In her position, she designs visual content, edits podcasts, creates animations for social media and ensures material meets brand and AODA standards. In her spare time Akiko enjoys crocheting, baking and adventuring with her friends.
