Monica Gadsby (Tech Hub Coordinator)

Monica (she/her) has always been driven by a deep love for learning, both from new experiences and the remarkable individuals I've had the privilege to meet along the way. My academic journey began at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College, where I pursued studies in Business Technology Education. My path as an educator has evolved and embraced new passions, particularly in identity, anti-racism and mental health, recently completing a PBDE in school counselling.  I remain committed to nurturing my understanding of these areas through a continuous learning journey and see how to integrate these into our daily practices in the Tech Hub program.

I bring over 12 years of teaching experience within the division, drawing from a diverse background, including growing up in a family business. My passion for teaching extends into business education, technology and social justice, and I have had the privilege of sharing my knowledge and experiences with students.  Beyond that, I'm an avid enthusiast of technology. I'm constantly tinkering and exploring new technological advancements, particularly with AI in education, always seeking ways to introduce my students to innovative concepts and discoveries.

Moreover, I am deeply excited to introduce students to the incredible world of technology and its potential to enrich our lives while fostering a healthy relationship between technology and mental health. My commitment to teaching extends beyond the classroom, and I look forward to nurturing STEAM education with the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and lifelong learners in the Tech Hub program.

Kale Asperin

Kale is a young, relatable instructor with over five years of experience writing code, developing innovative projects, and contributing to open-source communities. Driven by a deep curiosity, Kale thrives on diving into the intricacies of software and games, exploring how they function beneath the surface. This passion for understanding and discovery fuels Kale’s teaching, where they enthusiastically share insights and inspire others to engage with technology in meaningful and creative ways.

Derek Baert

Derek is a game developer with a passion for Programming and Technical Design. He holds two diplomas from Red River College Polytech, one in Business Information Technology where he focused on Programming and Web Development, and an Advanced Diploma in Game Development (Programming). He is the Technical Director for Eneme Inc, and an Ambassador with the Winnipeg Game Collective. 

Genie Baffoe

Eugene "GeNie" Baffoe is a freestyle dancer, educator, choreographer and DJ originally from Montreal Québec. GeNie has been training, instructing and studying hip-hop culture for over a decade. GeNie has brought his community several Hip Hop events such as DANCE 4 MS, The Artist Within, Who’s the iLLEST, BeatMakeUSDance, Light it Up and More. He has choreographed 2 Blue bomber halftime shows, 3 opening numbers for WeDay at the Canada Life Centre, and was selected to be 1 of 2 Canadian choreographers to create the Sharing Dance flash mob style routine for Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2018. Honoured by the City of Winnipeg with the Youth Role Model Award in 2009 and now a CBC future 40 under 40 finalist, GeNie is a dedicated artist passionate about his community, and continues to educate and spread the culture through dance and music.  

Fabio Hofnik

Fabio Hofnik is a creative technologist, an enthusiast of innovation in marketing and business development.Fabio has worked in the virtual reality and artificial intelligence industries since 2016, helping entrepreneurs, creative professionals, brands, and businesses adopt interactive technologies. He leads Hyper, an event ecosystem designed to empower communities to learn, share, and create with VR and AI. Hyper has been instrumental in Winnipeg to connect people interested in innovation, emerging technologies and creativity, in pop-up events, conferences, and festivals. He is internationally connected, with partnerships and projects with the UK, France, Switzerland, Argentina, and Brazil. 

Belanna Johnston

Known for her caring nature, Belanna is an enthusiastic, athletic, and hardworking individual who has been working with the 7 Oaks School Division for 4+ years and continues to pursue her education further as she works alongside at-risk youth and community members. She is passionate about art and nature, and looks forward to learning more as she tackles every challenge thrown her way. With the goal of assisting youth in her care to make education not only a fun experience, but an opportunity for growth.

George Palmisani

George Palmisani is a 3D artist who graduated from the Game Development - Art program at Red River College in 2023. He first started 3D modeling after a computer graphics class in high school, continued doing it as a hobby and made some small game projects with his friends before going to college. He enjoys fighting games, reading and art history. 

Avery Powell

Avery Powell is a 3D artist with a passion for virtual production and a strong foundation in Unreal Engine and Blender. In addition to freelance work with New Media Manitoba and the Winnipeg School Division, Avery has supported students and educators through the Seven Oaks Tech Hub program, helping to bring real-time 3D workflows and creative tools into the classroom. Their experience spans cutting-edge virtual production shoots and educational initiatives, where they excel at making advanced technology approachable and inspiring for learners. Avery is committed to continuous growth, consistently pushing creative and technical boundaries while sharing knowledge with others. 

Prathmesh Soni

Brianna Sun

Brianna Sun graduated from the Academy of Art University in 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in video game development, specializing in a unique artistic style that blends photo-realism with horror elements. Since moving from Wisconsin to Manitoba in the summer of 2022 after marrying Zhaoliang Sun—whom she met online in 2016—Brianna has brought her creative expertise into the classroom. Passionate about digital art and game design, she is dedicated to helping students explore visual storytelling and artistic expression through modern tools and techniques, inspiring them to push boundaries and develop their own creative voices. 

Liang Sun

Zhaoliang Sun graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in 2017 and a Bachelor of Education in 2019. He currently teaches Interactive Digital Media at Kildonan-East Collegiate, where he brings a strong passion for game design into the classroom. Zhaoliang is dedicated to helping students explore the creative and technical aspects of game development, fostering innovation and curiosity through hands-on learning. His commitment to making digital media education engaging and accessible continues to inspire the next generation of creators. 

Q Takayuki Yoneda

Takayuki "Q" Yoneda is a UX designer and co-founder of Sadie, a branding and marketing agency he launched with his best friend and business partner, Justin, during the pandemic. He is also the art director at ENEME, a local game studio, and a published manga creator and author. Originally from Kyoto, Japan, Taq began his career in Vancouver’s advertising industry before relocating to Winnipeg, where he graduated from RRC and continued working in the same field. He recently expanded into game development—something he had long intended to pursue. Outside of work, he enjoys drawing, gaming, reading, cooking, and lifelong learning, especially in languages and philosophy. He’s still figuring things out, one colour, one line of code, and one late-night sketch at a time.