Scott Messenger

Editor, techlifetoday

In addition to editing techlifetoday, NAIT’s online magazine, Scott Messenger has written about a variety of subjects for magazines and newspapers across Canada, in the U.S. and the U.K. His first book, Tapping the West, an account of the origins and growth of Alberta’s craft beer industry, was published in 2020. He lives just outside of Edmonton with his wife, two young daughters, a pair of dogs who were recently discovered to be cousins, and a black lionhead rabbit named Bun-bun.

Tom Gazzola

Host, Edmonton Sports Talk

Tom Gazzola covers the Oilers on a daily basis. Over the course of his career he has built strong relationships inside the locker room and at the hockey operations level. You can catch Tom hosting the Oil Stream Pre & Post-Game show and Hello Hockey. He is also an Edmonton Correspondent for NHL Network. Gazzola is a graduate of the Radio & Television Arts program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Ishita Verma

Associate producer, cbc

Ishita Verma is an associate producer for CBC Edmonton, focusing on local and diverse voices in the city. She graduated from MacEwan University in 2020.

Shelby Blackley

Newsroom seo editor, the athletic

Co-founder, WTF is SEO?

Shelby is award-winning journalist, digital marketer and communicator with more than 12 years experience. She works as the newsroom SEO editor for The Athletic, and is the co-founder of the “WTF is SEO?” newsletter. 

Sherece Burma

Graphic Designer, NAITSA

A MacEwan University alumni, Sherece Burma has over a decade of experience as a graphic designer, contributing her skills in both in-house and agency settings in Canada and New Zealand. Notably, Sherece was part of a team that won two ACE awards in 2016 for the APPI Planner’s Guide to Edmonton. Currently, Sherece dedicates her creative energy to the NAIT Students’ Association, shaping the organization’s brand identity and producing dynamic work across a variety of mediums. She thrives on curiosity and collaboration, and is most proud of the designers she has mentored over the years.

John Sutherland

Manager, Mawji centre for new venture & student entrepreneurship

John Sutherland has over 15 years of experience in sales and marketing roles working in industries such as professional sports, advertising, and post-secondary.  John believes in a client-centric approach and establishing oneself as a trusted advisor leading to deep business relationships and ongoing business and career development opportunities.

Scott Lilwall

Science Communicator, amii

After graduating with a Bachelors of Psychology from the University of Alberta, he got his start—almost accidentally—at a radio station in Edmonton. A couple years later, he packed up and headed to the east coast to attend journalism school in Halifax. Since then, he has worked as a digital and radio reporter for outlets such as the Globe and Mail and CBC News as well as making documentaries for CBC Radio. After a stint writing and making podcasts at the Banff Centre and CKUA Radio Network, he struck off on his own as a freelance journalist to focus more on science reporting. 

Andrew paul

marketing & communications associate, edmonton community foundation

Andrew Paul is an award-winning writer and podcaster with 20 years of experience in journalism and non-profit communications. As a Marketing & Communications Associate at Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF), Andrew oversees the production of the Foundation’s award-winning Legacy in Action magazine and co-produces ECF’s national award-winning The Well-Endowed Podcast. In 2021, he was selected as one of Edify magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 for his work in Edmonton’s storytelling community.

Stephanie Swensrude

curator/reporter, Taproot edmonton

Stephanie is a curator and reporter at Taproot Edmonton. She is a proud NAIT alumni and worked at the NAIT Nugget as assistant entertainment editor, video journalist and news editor. She is passionate about student papers and thinks they are essential for young journalists to learn the basics and get bylines before graduating. Stephanie has worked at CBC, CFJC in Kamloops, and 630 CHED in Edmonton. When not reporting, you can find Stephanie roller skating, knitting, playing video games, baking, or chilling with her two adorable cats Juno and Pepper.

Alison Tedford Seaweed

Indigenous relations consultant

Alison Tedford Seaweed is an author and storyteller whose work focuses on sharing the experiences of Indigenous people and communities. Her work has been published by outlets such as the Walrus, Broadview Magazine, Al Jazeera, CBC and by universities, corporations and nonprofits looking to share about their partnerships, collaborations and initiatives relating to Indigenous people. She is the author of a number of business and educational books including The Canadian Business Owner’s Guide to Reconciliation. 

nasr ahmed

media union organzier, cwa

Nasr Ahmed is a media union organizer with CWA Canada. As a former media worker himself, he strongly believes that all media workers deserve to have union representation at work. In the face of an unstable media landscape, Nasr and CWA Canada are fighting to preserve sustainable jobs in media, because we know that quality jobs mean quality journalism. Nasr is a former producer at CBC Toronto & Technical Director with the Brampton Beast of the ECHL.

Sean amato

Journalist, CTV Edmonton

Sean is a journalist at CTV News Edmonton. He joined the news team in 2010. A NAIT graduate, he‘s also worked as a reporter in Medicine Hat and Dawson Creek and travelled Canada reporting Indigenous-focused stories for APTN.
Since joining CTV News Edmonton, Sean has made breaking news his specialty, scooping details of the Slave Lake wildfire in 2011, the Fort McMurray wildfire in 2016 and the Edmonton terror attack in 2017. 

Tamara Baluja

Producer, CBC First Person

Tamara Baluja produces columns for CBC First Person, which showcases the personal stories and experiences of Canadians in their own words. She is based in Vancouver. She has previously worked as a social media editor and reporter for CBC British Columbia. She’s also been part of the social media editorial teams for CBC Indigenous and CBC Olympics during Tokyo 2020. 

Sam Brooks

Photo, video, audio producer

Sam Brooks still doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up. An engineer turned journalist turned entrepreneur, he’s built a diverse media career blending technology and storytelling. Beginning as a photo volunteer at the Gateway, Sam’s career went on to be president of the Canadian University Press, work for community engagement programs for Postmedia, co-found Full Circle Visuals and launch Real Talk, a local news and current affairs streaming talk show. He’s now an independent photo, audio and video producer and all around creative problem solver who spends most of his time at CBC Edmonton.

Sarah Chan

Writer, publisher, advocate

Sarah Chan is a musician, teacher, writer, publisher, small business owner, social advocate, and registered yoga instructor. She currently leads Community Engagement and Relationships at Alberta Mentoring Partnership. And, is also the Founder and Project Lead of Make Your Mark, United Way’s student leadership program.
In 2021, Sarah contributed to and co-published the anthology Midlife with Jhenifer Pabillano. The COVID project went from a phone call to finished product in 4 months, featuring 27 contributors reflecting on midlife. As a creative, connector, and community builder, Sarah values quality and authenticity in all her relationships.

valerie ouellet

broadcast reporter, cbc 

Valerie Ouellet is an award-winning broadcast reporter based in Toronto. Her data-driven stories for the CBC News Investigative Unit often explore women’s health, medical devices, the carceral system, social injustice and systemic inequalities. In 2022, she was awarded the prestigious St. Clair Balfour Fellowship at Massey College. Her stories were nominated multiple times for the CAJ Data Journalism Award and she won an Amnesty International Media Award for documenting COVID cases in Canadian jails during the pandemic. She teaches data journalism at the Toronto Metropolitan University and mentors early career journalists with the Canadian Association of Journalists.