Steering Committee
Jon Morris, President, JDQ Systems Inc.
Jon Morris is an accomplished business owner with 25 years of experience in the application of technology to improve business processes. Jon has an MBA from the Ivey School of Business and is an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer and Certified Six Sigma Black Belt. Jon’s experience extends from the implementation of formal quality systems for ISO 9001 registration, through the implementation of Lean Six Sigma methods, to software application design to support continual improvement efforts. As a principal of JDQ, Jon continues to consult on strategic improvement initiatives while providing leadership to the 3Spheres Robotics Project team based on quality and Agile principles.
Alanna Hendren, Executive Director, Developmental Disabilities Association
Alanna Hendren is the Executive Director of the Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) in Vancouver, Canada, with over 35 years of experience leading non-profit service providers to help people with developmental disabilities reach their full potential. Alanna has a B.A. in psychology and is a Certified Association Executive, receiving awards for: leading community development in response to provincial institutional closures, municipal access and inclusion; HR/LR in the social services sector, and for leading the implementation of mental health services for people with developmental disabilities provincially. Alanna’s recent professional interest has been the use of technology to maximize developmental potential and independence.
Derek Shackleford, Principal, JDQ Systems Inc.
Derek Shackleford has held senior management positions in the technology and manufacturing sectors, and brings considerable management experience to JDQ. With a background in database design, Derek has focused on the design and implementation of systems to support business improvement including activity based costing and production management systems, sales activity tracking, document management, and corrective action systems. Derek has directed the custom application development activities of JDQ on a day-to-day basis for over 20 years. The design and development of custom collaborative service robots is a natural progression of Derek’s craft and expertise.
Shazia Jafri, Director of Finance, Developmental Disabilities Association
Shazia Jafri is the Director of Finance of the Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA). As Director of Finance, Shazia oversees all accounting and financial reporting including the development and management of budgets, payroll, as well as manages DDA’s financial and capital resources and financial risk. Shazia is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 25 years of experience in the Non-Profit sector, working collaboratively with the board of directors, staff, stakeholders and community partners.