Team
Eloise Duncan
CEO and Founder
Eloise is Founder and CEO of the Financial Resilience Institute and is known as one of Canada’s leading experts in financial health and resilience in Canada. She is a high-energy impact-preneur and Certified Management Consultant (C.M.C) with over twenty-five years of experience in financial services, strategic consulting and financial health research, strategy and impact measurement. Eloise was also the previous Founder and CEO of Seymour Management Consulting Inc, established in 2009 and the creator of the Seymour Financial Resilience Index®.
Eloise Duncan was also awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award (October 2021) by the Association of Certified Management Consultants of B.C. in recognition of her Index and her purpose-driven work for Canadians.
Dual nationality Canadian and British, Eloise lives in Vancouver with her family. When she’s not working, she loves skiing, travel and photography.
Patrice Mirindi
Senior Data Analyst and Consultant
Patrice Mirindi, Senior Data Analyst and Consultant at Financial Resilience Institute, and is driven by a passion for data-driven solutions. With over eight years of international experience in analytics, impact measurement and consulting, he transforms complex data into actionable insights: a crucial aspect for improving financial health and financial well-being in Canada and globally. Patrice has managed multi-country development projects funded by organizations such as the CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Dutch Embassy (RVO), GIZ, and the IFC, a member of the World Bank.
Kujtim Koci
Senior Associate, Analytics and Insights
Kujtim is Senior Associate, Analytics and Insights at the Financial Resilience Institute and has worked with the organization for several years. He has led hundreds of market and social research projects, mainly for international donor organizations like the World Bank, UN Agencies, USAID, NATO, European Union and several Canadian FIs. Kujtim is the lead statistician for Financial Resilience Institute and works with a team of statisticians and Associates to support the Institute’s projects. As a Fulbright scholar, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pursuing an MBA degree, specializing in Marketing Research.
Shawna Zegarra
Office Manager
Shawna Zegarra is the Office Manager for Financial Resilience Institute, where she supports operations, administration and communications. Shawna also works as a Board, Subscriber and Client liaison and as the Executive Assistant to Eloise Duncan. Her passion lies with helping people who are helping others.
Gaurangi Gyanesh Singh
Insights and Impact Analyst
Gaurangi is a Data Insights Analyst and Intern with specialty knowledge in marketing, communications and data analysis. She works with passion to support Institute research analytics, consulting projects, marketing and innovation. A fourth-year student at UBC Sauder School of Business, Gaurangi drives impact in the community, loves to travel and cook.
Shela Tran
Data Insights and Marketing Consultant Intern
Shela is a Data Insights and Marketing Consultant Intern. She is a UBC Sauder School of Business student, with specialty knowledge in business technology management and data analytics. Shela has a keen interest in engaging in meaningful work by staying involved in the community. Outside of work, she loves to play guitar and watch basketball.
Associates
Maggie Baker, PhD
Senior Associate, Money Psychologist
Maggie has been a practicing clinical psychologist for 30 years, specializing in couples, relationship issues, anxiety and depression. Over the last nearly 20 years, Maggie has developed expertise in the psychology of money and financial wellness. Although she still works with other types of issues, her main focus is now on financial therapy, public speaking and doing workshops about her book, Crazy About Money: How Emotions Confuse Our Money Choices and What To Do About It, behavioural economics and financial wellness. Maggie partners with Eloise and her team on research and work related to money scripts, financial resilience and wellness and the disconnects between consumer and financial goals and behaviours.
Ivan Medovikov, PhD, CIM
Senior Consultant, Analytics and Technology
Ivan is a Senior Consultant, Analytics and Technology at Financial Resilience Institute. He has a Ph.D in Financial Econometrics (Data Science) and has a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation, combined with 10+ years’ experience in advanced data modelling and analytics, financial technology, and business leadership. Ivan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Brock University, has led diverse technological and scientific teams to deliver mission-critical custom data modelling solutions for some of the largest clients in the Canadian asset management industry.
Elisabeth (Lilli) Graf
Behavioural Finance Consultant
Lilli is a seasoned professional with over fifteen years’ experience working across sectors, and a specialized focus on financial services and fintech. She is an expert at leveraging service and behavioural design to gain profound insights into customer needs, behaviours, and attitudes towards money. Lilli works with the Institute’s team and clients to help design prevention solutions and customer experiences that help people build healthy financial behaviours and their financial and overall resilience. In addition to leading innovation projects, she teaches Design and User Research at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland.
John Lo, MBA
Senior Associate, Research and Analytics
John has 20 years of experience in marketing research and business analytics. Ten of those years were spent working in financial services where he gained hands-on experience in customer analytics, data mining and modelling, working at Vancity Savings Credit Union. John provides tailored analytical solutions in support of strategy development and validation for clients. John helped to create the first Financial Well-Being study working with Eloise Duncan back in 2017, and supports her as an Associate on Institute projects.
Anton Shishkin, M.Sc, Microsoft-Certified IT Professional
Senior IT Consultant and Developer
Anton is a Senior IT Consultant and Developer at the Financial Resilience Institute. He has 15+ years’ experience in system administration, cloud computing, programming and building full-stack solutions for large financial services clients. With deep experience in programming and proven skills in database management, network architecture and security protocols, Anton has multiple Microsoft Certifications of Excellence designations, and a fluency in programming in languages like PHP, C#, Python, HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. He helps to optimize IT infrastructures, virtualization, and security while delivering leading edge scalable, technology solutions with a human touch.
Andra Dauti, Bsc.
Senior Associate, Brand Marketing Strategy and Visual Design
Andra is an Industrial Design Engineer with a diploma from the Hague University of Applied Sciences. With a keen eye on detail and understanding of data, Andra is an expert on Data Visualization and Illustration. Andra’s experience includes branding, visual presentation, content creation, social media marketing and management.
Bardh Ulaj, Bsc
Senior Associate, Brand, Digital Marketing and UX Design
Bardh is a Management & Entrepreneurship, Graphic Design and Multimedia graduate with a diploma from the Rochester Institute of Technology. With a passion for user experience and human-centered design and almost a decade of experience in the industry, he has honed his skills in designing effective and visually appealing digital experiences for users. Bardh’s design process is centered around creating designs that not only look great, but also function seamlessly and enhance the user experience.
Vesselina Davenport
Public Relations Manager
Vesselina is a seasoned Public Relations Manager with over 15 years of experience in PR strategy, communications, and media engagements. Ina holds an MA in Mass Communications and Journalism and has worked as a journalist in Europe and the United States.
Team
Eloise Duncan
CEO and Founder
Eloise is Founder and CEO of the Financial Resilience Institute and is known as one of Canada’s leading experts in financial health in Canada. She is a high-energy impact-preneur and Certified Management Consultant (C.M.C) with over twenty five years of experience in financial services, strategic consulting and financial health research, strategy and impact measurement. Eloise was also the previous Founder and CEO of Seymour Management Consulting Inc, established in 2009 and the creator of the Seymour Financial Resilience Index®.
Eloise Duncan was also awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award (October 2021) by the Association of Certified Management Consultants of B.C. in recognition of her Index and her purpose-driven work for Canadians.
Dual nationality Canadian and British, Eloise lives in Vancouver with her family. When she’s not working, she loves skiing, travel and photography.
Kujtim Koci
Senior Associate, Analytics and Insights
Kujtim is Senior Associate, Analytics and Insights at the Financial Resilience Institute and has worked with the organization for several years. He has led hundreds of market and social research projects, mainly for international donor organizations like the World Bank, UN Agencies, USAID, NATO, European Union and several Canadian FIs. Kujtim is the lead statistician for Seymour Consulting and works with a team of statisticians and Associates to support Seymour’s projects. As a Fulbright scholar, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pursuing an MBA degree, specializing in Marketing Research.
Shawna Zegarra
Office Manager
Shawna Zegarra is the Office Manager for Financial Resilience Institute, where she supports operations, administration and communications. Shawna also works as a Board, Subscriber and Client liaison and as the Executive Assistant to Eloise Duncan. Her passion lies with helping people who are helping others.
Shela Tran
Data Insights and Marketing Consultant Intern
Shela is a Data Insights and Marketing Consultant Intern. She is a UBC Sauder School of Business student, with specialty knowledge in business technology management and data analytics. Shela has a keen interest in engaging in meaningful work by staying involved in the community. Outside of work, she loves to play guitar and watch basketball.
Associates
Maggie Baker, PhD
Senior Associate, Money Psychologist
Maggie has been a practicing clinical psychologist for 30 years, specializing in couples, relationship issues, anxiety and depression. Over the last nearly 20 years Maggie has developed an expertise in the psychology of money and financial wellness. Although she still works with other types of issues, her main focus is now on financial therapy, public speaking and doing workshops about her book, Crazy About Money: How Emotions Confuse Our Money Choices and What To Do About It, behavioral economics and financial wellness. Maggie partners with Eloise and her team on research and work related to money scripts, financial wellness and the disconnects between consumer and financial goals and behaviours.
John Lo, MBA
Senior Associate, Research and Analytics
John has 20 years of experience in marketing research and business analytics. Ten of those years were spent working in financial services where he gained hands-on experience in customer analytics, data mining and modeling, working at Vancity Savings Credit Union. John provides tailored analytical solutions in support of strategy development and validation for clients. John helped to create the first Financial Well-Being study working with Eloise Duncan back in 2017, and supports her as a Associate on Institute projects. John also serves on the Institute Advisory Council.
Vesselina Davenport
Public Relations Manager
Vesselina is a seasoned Public Relations Manager with over 15 years of experience in PR strategy, communications and media engagements. Ina holds an MA in Mass Communications and Journalism and has worked as a journalist in Europe and the United States.
Elisabeth (Lilli) Graf
Behavioural Finance Consultant
Elisabeth is a seasoned professional with five years of experience in the banking and fintech industry. She is an expert at leveraging service and behavioural design to gain profound insights into customer needs, behaviours, and attitudes towards money. Lili works with the Institute’s team and clients to help design prevention solutions and customer experiences that help people build healthy financial behaviours and their financial and overall resilience.
Andra Dauti, Bsc.
Senior Associate, Brand Marketing Strategy and Visual Design
Andra is an Industrial Design Engineer, with a diploma from the Hague University of Applied Sciences. With a keen eye on detail and understanding of data, Andra is an expert on Data Visualization and Illustration. Andra’s experience includes branding, visual presentation, content creation, social media marketing and management.
Bardh Ulaj, Bsc.
Senior Associate, Brand, Digital Marketing and UX Design
Bardh is a Management & Entrepreneurship, Graphic Design and Multimedia graduate with a diploma from the Rochester Institute of Technology. With a passion for user experience and human-centered design and almost a decade of experience in the industry, he has honed his skills in designing effective and visually appealing digital experiences for users. Bardh’s design process is centered around creating designs that not only look great, but also function seamlessly and enhance the user experience.
Gaurangi Gyanesh Singh
Data Insights Analyst Intern
Gaurangi is a Data Insights Analyst and Associate Intern with specialty knowledge in marketing, communications and data analysis. She works with passion to support Institute research analytics, consulting projects, marketing and innovation. A fourth-year student at UBC Sauder School of Business, Gaurangi drives impact in the community, loves to travel and cook.