Staff

Stephanie Geosits - Executive Director

Stephanie has wealth of experience working with charities and youth programming. She has previously served as Executive Director for the Burlington Youth Soccer Club and the Carnegie Initiative.

Stephanie has a background in Sports Journalism and a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University which focused on diversifying hockey for the NHL. Through her consulting practice, All About Sports, she has worked with the Oakville Aquatic Club and Dive Ontario in areas of grants, strategic planning, Safe Sport training, education and reporting.

Stephanie is an Independent Director of Canada Soccer and as Head of Delegation, acted as the Women’s National Team’s Safeguarding and Integrity Officer at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Payton Surette - Harbour Camp Director

Payton's sail training days began at 13, on board the Ottawa-based brigantines Fair Jeanne and Black Jack. He spent several years volunteering there as crew, as well as on board Brigs' vessels, Pathfinder and Playfair. Payton designed the inaugural Harbour Camp program conducted on board STV Pathfinder in Hamilton Harbour in 2025, and is working towards his Master Ltd <60GT and Small Vessel Machinery Operator licenses. Payton is also an illustrator, comic artist, and jack-of-all-trades repair guy.

Christine Chesterman - Captain

Christine joined Brigs as Captain of TS Playfair in 2021. In addition to sail training, she has a background in youth work focusing on outdoor education, volunteering, and mental health. Christine's passion for youth work is driven by the idea that all young people deserve opportunities, community support, and positive role models to reduce the impact of systemic barriers and give them the best chance at developing a meaningful life of their choosing.

Christine began sailing at 17 as a trainee with Bytown Brigantine out of Ottawa, ON. She volunteered and worked there for 6 years, sailing as a watch officer on STV Fair Jeanne and later Captain of STV Black Jack, running winter programs and working on many winter refits. In 2014 she joined Brigs as First Mate of STV Pathfinder under Cpt Andrew Fryer. She has also volunteered with the crews of the Norwegian training ship Sorlandet, the whale research yacht Balaena, and with the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. She is a past Canadian Youth Council Representative to Sail Training International.

In Scotland, Christine ran Duke of Edinburgh's Award youth work projects with the charity Friends of the Award. Through partnerships with local high schools and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, she supported at-risk youth experiencing mental health difficulties, or struggling to stay in mainstream education, to engage in volunteering and outdoor programs as a way to support recovery and re-engage with their communities.

Christine has earned a B.Sc.Hons. in Geography from Queen's University, a Post-graduate Certificate in Outdoor Education from the University of Edinburgh, and holds a Master 150GT from Transport Canada.

Naz Nazari - Accountant

Naz Nazari Stirling is a distinguished Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a long career spanning over two decades. Through her business NRN Accounting Services, Naz supports Brigs with book-keeping, reporting, and payment processing.

Mya Salawu - Administrative Assistant

Mya first sailed as a trainee on Playfair in 2021 shortly before heading off to university, and has sailed as volunteer crew whenever the opportunity presented itself since then. Mya completed her B.Mus. in Music Education at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2025, and is now studying to be a secondary school teacher at the University of New Brunswick.

Captains and Mates

We rely on additional Captains and Mates seasonally to run our summer sailing programs. Our Captains are usually alumni of Brigs or a similar sail training program, such as Tall Ship Expeditions Canada or Tall Ships Adventure (Bytown Brigantine).

Captains are required to hold a Master 150GT Certificate, Small Vessel Machinery Operator or above, and to lead with respect and patience.

Chief Mates are required to hold a Master, Limited <60GT and Small Vessel Machinery Operator certificate restricted to the brigantines.