Hello, I’m Alek and…

A young boy dressed in formal attire holding a small Canadian flag on a city street during daytime.
Group of five people standing in front of a red curtain, posing for a photo during a celebration with a table of baked goods, candles, and autumn leaves.

I am a proud first-generation Canadian whose family escaped the war in the former Yugoslavia.

Growing up in Ottawa’s culturally rich Heron Gate community exposed me early to perspectives from around the world, something that still shapes how I see people and communities today.

When we arrived in Ottawa in 1994, it was just my parents and me. Thanks to the Serbian Orthodox Church community in Ottawa, my grandparents joined us the following year.

Growing up with both my parents and grandparents closely involved in my life was my greatest privilege and it shaped the trajectory of who I became.

A group of young boys in baseball uniforms and hats gather around a man in a white T-shirt who is squatting and flexing his arm, outdoors on a dirt ground with trees and cars in the background.

Growing up Canadian has been one of my greatest privileges.

Today, I strive to make the most of that privilege by creating opportunities for others to do the same.That belief fuels my work: leveraging technology, education, and community partnerships to build sustainable change.

"Dream Big!" - Masai Ujiri

Meeting Masai Ujiri at the premiere of Giants of Africa left a lasting mark. His message reminded me that talent is everywhere whereas opportunity is not.

Giants are everywhere, they just need us to believe in them.

Two men smiling and posing for a photo at an indoor event, with the man on the left giving a thumbs up, both dressed casually, one in a red polo shirt and the other in a dark shirt.

Creating Public Value

PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES

A woman and a man smiling and holding an award together in an indoor setting with stained glass windows.

Former Dean of Business at Athabasca University Dr. Lisa Watson
Using technology to bridge gaps in healthcare access and help youth transition into adulthood.

Building Bridges

Two men smiling at a formal event, one in a light gray suit and the other in a military dress uniform with medals and a poppy pin, in a room with blue lighting and other guests in the background.

From Long Beach to Heron Gate

Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs
Collaborating with elected officials, embassies, national police forces, and professional sports teams to create partnerships that strengthen communities.

Two men posing together indoors, one wearing a gray striped polo shirt and glasses, the other wearing a black bandana, a hockey jersey, and pajama pants with green marijuana leaf prints and red sneakers.

Global Icon Snoop Dogg
Meeting people across the socioeconomic spectrum, listening to stories that serve as a reminder to see the world as it is, not how we may wish it to be.