board of directors
As an organization, IDC is committed to ensuring that its board represents the interior design industry with respect to varying experience and cultural, age and gender make-up that is representational of the membership and fibre of the Canadian population.
IDC’s Board is comprised of elected members from across Canada who have an impact on the challenges affecting the interior design community.
Board of Directors 2023/2024
PRESIDENT
Jennifer Wiwchar-Fast (MB)
Jennifer Wiwchar-Fast is a Professional Interior Designer who has been practicing for 17 years with experience in residential, corporate, healthcare, hospitality and institutional design. Immediately after graduating she began to volunteer with her provincial organisation which in turn resulted in holding various positions on the board, including serving as president. Jennifer thrives on continual learning opportunities and collaboration with the compliment of individuals who comprise the project team. She is a strong advocate on behalf of the interior design profession and strives to constantly educate the public on what an interior designer can offer to elevate their project. In addition to design education and credentials she obtained a Project Management Professional certification and is currently serving as a committee member on the CIDQ P/X exam committee.
VICE PRESIDENT
Sean Crawford (AB)
Sean grew up in a family of contractors and builders. He started his professional career on jobsites and then as a drafter, and estimator. After the family business was bought out, while he was working for a developer in Japan, Sean returned to school to pursue a degree in Interior Design. Sean was always drawn to planning and design and was fortunate enough to see a few of his designs executed while working in Japan. Although he looked at architecture, Sean ultimately decided the level of detail and the interaction of interior spaces, that interior design focused on, would be a better fit. He has worked in a range of firms from two-person interior design firms to larger architecture and interior design firms with over 300 people/employees. Currently he is a partner at a national architecture and interior design practice and leads the interior design team. He is an ardent sports fan (kids, dance, hockey, baseball, skiing, golf) and has spent countless hours over the last 15 years in and on studios, rinks, diamonds, hills and courses…and he loves it.
PAST PRESIDENT
Keshia Caplette (SK)
Keshia Caplette is a versatile and innovative Interior Designer with the Interior Designers Association of Saskatchewan (IDAS). With over eight years of experience in the interior design, architectural and construction industries, Keshia has worked on a variety of projects ranging from residential, multi-family, industrial and institutional work, along with healthcare and corporate ventures. For Keshia, the last the last three years of serving on IDC’s board of management has been an opportunity to grow, both as a designer and an individual. Keshia brings a strong voice for members from across the country based on the network that she has helped grow through the PROpel program and her involvement with board activities. Keshia strongly believes in the advocacy efforts that the board has undertaken and is passionate about ensuring the interior design professions is moving forward.
PAST PRESIDENT
Shannon Robinson (ON)
Shannon has 11 years of professional experience in real property and corporate interior design with a focus on project management and client relationships. She has a diverse background with expertise working on complex projects across Canada working for top tier firms. She has many years of project experience working with various stakeholders on multi-disciplinary/cross functional teams. Shannon has a proven track record for developing an in-depth understanding of client needs to maintain, build, and foster relationships at all levels. She brings valuable skills to every project and team. Most recently, she worked closely with the Practice Leader as Senior Project Interior Designer-Studio Project Manager at HOK in Ottawa, managing the interiors team and studio projects. However, Shannon is now making a transition back into project management where she will be working for Tiree in Ottawa, working on the largest restoration project in Canada – Center Block. Shannon is passionate about leadership and fostering a positive work environment while maintaining demanding schedules to achieve client success.
Apart from her professional life, Shannon enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle by cycling, swimming, and trying new healthy recipes. She loves to learn new alternative ways to cook without using gluten and dairy. Managing a healthy work-life balanced lifestyle is something she is always striving to improve.
DIRECTOR
Christine Craik (BC)
Christine is a Professional and Registered Member of the Interior Designers of Canada and the IIDA, a Board-Certified Healthcare Interior Designer with the AAHID and a Certified Eden Associate, specializing in geriatric environments: senior living, long-term and complex care, multifamily and health and wellness projects. With 25 years of experience in the design industry, she has worked in both the US and Canada. As a guest lecturer for Senior Living Interior Design at the university level, a regular conference presenter and a recognized industry mentor and award juror, she is a regular contributor to thought leadership in environmental gerontology in this sector. Her current and recent design and peer-review work, both new construction and renovations, includes large- and small-scale senor living and healthcare projects in both the private and public sector. They include luxury independent living and assisted living, through to memory care, geriatric behavioral health, and long-term care communities, including fast-tracked projects with tight budgets. Above all, Christine strives to create communities where we can happily and healthfully live our best lives.
DIRECTOR
Kathryn Lawrence (ON)
Kathryn is a Jamaican-born interior designer with experience working on small to large scale corporate, government, institutional, and recreational projects across Canada. She has worked with multi-disciplinary Toronto-based design firms such FORREC Ltd, Perkins&Will and currently Brook McIlroy, as well as GW Architects in Kingston, Jamaica. She is NICDQ licensed, and a registered member of the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) and the Interior Designers of Canada (IDC). Her desire to pursue design stemmed from her need to explore an avenue that would allow her to embrace her love for the visual arts and her fascination with how the built environment shapes and influences society. In addition to her work in the design industry, Kathryn has a strong passion for creating impact specifically in the Afro-Caribbean community. This led her to create the Ubuntu Creative Arts Project, a Jamaican-based initiative meant to support young creatives in the Caribbean. Kathryn is also a co-founder of Nobellum, a Canadian organization with the mandate of supporting the start-up of 100 Black-led businesses in STEM by the year 2025. Her ultimate hope is to use design to improve the lives of others and help to pave the way for other emerging creatives.
DIRECTOR
Paola Marques (QC)
Paola’s passion for design started with an introduction by her high school calculus teacher to his spouse, Eleanor Brydon, one of the founding partners at Rice Brydon, a powerhouse interior design firm based in Toronto. Paola was toured around the office and had the privilege of spending time with Eleanor Brydon, who was very supportive and inspiring. Eleanor gave Paola a signed copy of their book “Organization & Design: The Double Discipline and she still has it. Paola was hooked and knew this was her future! Paola has a B.A.A.I.D from Ryerson Polytech (now TMU) and started her career in Toronto learning about design & office planning, retail design, and project management. A move to Montreal allowed Paola to hone her design skill set while managing national and international projects. These opportunities touched on multiple retail categories including hospitality, health & wellness and food & beverage. Paola has partnered on projects for singular retail brands as well as on large scale retail development initiatives. Managing teams with varied and diverse expertise over the years, Paola has benefited from the knowledge those relationships impart. Paola is grateful to have had the privilege of continuously evolving in and sharing a creative profession with other passionate people.
DIRECTOR
Sandra Lester (ON)
Sandra is the founder of affectingchange, a boutique green building consulting practice established in 2010. She is a nationally-recognized expert and has worked on groundbreaking high-performance green building design, deep energy retrofits and community transformation projects across Canada for over 30 years. Her expertise is in diverse areas includes architectural design, building science, strategy mobilization, and project management. Sandra and her team provide interior design consulting, Passive House design advice, deliver sustainability strategy, write grants and funding proposals, and provide project management services.
DIRECTOR
Joanna Tiffin (ON)
Joanna Tiffin has been working as a resource in the Architectural + Design industry for over thirty years. Her focus is commercial specifications, predominately in the floorcovering sector. Joanna’s drive and passion for her work has led her to dedicate a significant amount of time to many organizations that support our industry. Through working with IDC and CSC, and on the BOD for IDCEC, Joanna’s contributions have led to many incredible opportunities and platforms which provide her the opportunity to advocate for design for accessibility, interdependence, and dignity.
IDC FOUNDING MEMBERS
Jack Bell (ON)
Doris Hasell (SK)
David Treusch (MB)
Tomislav Cerkvenac (AB)
Michele McLoughlin Guest (BC)
André Dubois (QC)
Maryla Szymanski (NS)
