JULIE MCDOWELL
Julie has a long and diverse entrepreneurial career which began when she was a graduate student at Cornell University researching the impact of textile trade policy on small and medium sized businesses in North America.  In 1989, she and business partner, Pam Bovey Armstrong, founded a successful promotional merchandise and uniform business with operations in Canada and the US, which they grew and then sold in 1999. 

Throughout her travels as a business owner, Julie became increasingly interested in applying her entrepreneurial skills and experience to challenges she was witnessing in low-and-middle income countries.  In 2003, she made a career transition to the field of global health, becoming Regional Director for Orbis Canada, where she raised funds and engaged volunteers, philanthropists and eye care professionals in the organization’s efforts to build eye care capacity in developing countries. 

In 2007, she founded TARIS and since then has worked as an advisor to philanthropic foundations and not-for-profit organizations, and as a venture advisor, board member and investor in diverse fields including services for people with disabilities, early childhood education, and sanitation in low-income urban settings. 

Throughout her career, Julie has held several leadership positions including Member of the Investment Committee and Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Grand Challenges Canada, Member of the USAID Saving Lives at Birth Investment Panel, Chair of the Canadian Abilities Foundation, and Member of the Standing Selection Committee for the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada.

She holds a Master of Science in Human Ecology from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

ANGELICA SIEGEL
Angelica Siegel works with TARIS as a subject matter expert in food sustainability and circular innovations. As the company’s lead communications advisor, she also provides expertise that combines innovation scale-up, sustainability, communications and branding. 

She has been a part of the TARIS team since 2016, providing research, brand positioning & strategy, project management, investment pitch development and general communications expertise. Additionally, she supports internal communications through streamlining operational processes, developing training manuals, business plan writing and brand guidelines.

In addition to her work with TARIS, Angelica currently oversees green communications for Cream Productions and plays an active role in moving the film & television industry towards sustainability targets. Other clients have included UNICEF, Jewish National Fund of Canada, Rally Rally Design and The Food Coach. Formerly, she was Communications Manager at Bruce Mau Design, a multidisciplinary brand design studio in Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York.

Angelica has an academic background in sociology, food systems and circular economy practices, with a focus on scaling circular food innovations. Angelica currently sits on the Dutch-Canadian Circular Alliance, bridging innovative circular business solutions in the Netherlands and Canada.

She holds a BA, Sociology from Queen’s University and a Master of Science in Economics & Food Sustainability from Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

RACHEL VAN GEEST
Rachel loves helping people and organizations thrive. She began doing this professionally in 2008 as the national administrator of a disability advocacy network, where she organized a large training conference for disability advocates. After pursuing graduate studies in community/international development and theology at the University of Toronto, she coordinated event rentals, including film shoots and weddings, for a large church and community space in downtown Toronto. This led her to the social services’ sector, where she ran a transitional housing program at The Salvation Army in Toronto and then worked as an Employment Specialist at The Career Foundation.  

While at The Career Foundation, Rachel helped generate millions of dollars annually from provincial and federal governments for a wide range of employment programs. Since having children, she shifted her focus to recruitment/HR and working as a freelance copywriter and resume writer.  

She also holds a double-major in English and Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University.  

Rachel recently joined TARIS as a Human Resource Assistant and Advisor.  She has quickly become a valued member of the team, providing support and advice to the company’s President and its clients, with a focus on human resource strategy and development.  She works with clients on supporting hiring processes and developing employee policies, procedures and resources including Employee Handbooks, Operations Manuals, and Business Continuity and Succession Plans.