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.

Emily Mohring - Program Manager and Administrative Coordinator

Emily grew up in Hamilton and has been on the water sailing the Great Lakes since she was young. Passionate about sailing and seamanship, Emily joined Sea Cadets in 2012, and through her teens became involved in regional seamanship regattas, competition band, and attended the Royal Military College of Canada for summer training, where she received her Basic Sail Qualifications in 2013.

Emily continued with Sea Cadets in leadership roles until her departure in 2017, holding the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class. Emily began her Brigs journey aboard TS Playfair as a trainee in 2016. She quickly realized just how much she loved sailing tall ships, joining Winter Program and continuing to sail and volunteer as an alumna. In her spare time, Emily enjoys volunteering with various groups, most notably Brigs and the Hamilton Naval Association. Emily is passionate about youth development and has a diverse background in skilled trades, public service, and leadership.

She graduated from Mohawk College in 2021 from the Welding & Fabrication program, and in 2024 from Mohawk’s Police Foundations program with Honours and the Mohawk College Community Mobilization Award of Excellence for Elder Safety. She is currently pursuing a B.A., Hons. in Public Safety (with Advanced Standing) at Wilfrid Laurier University. Emily served as a member of Brigs Board of Directors since 2023 until departing the board to join the staff as Program Manager.

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.

K. Bolden - Chief Mate (Summer), Training Officer (Winter)

Bolden first sailed as a trainee in 2019 and returned in 2021 with every friend they could muster. Since then, they have volunteered extensively in winter and summer programming. Bolden joined the crew in 2022 and Playfair's wardroom in 2023. They graduated from the Etobicoke School of the Arts in 2023 and are now a student in McMaster University's Arts & Sciences program.

Bolden holds a Master Limited, <60GT certificate and Small Vessel Machinery Operator certificate for Playfair. In their spare time, Bolden enjoys learning more about chemistry, and is a talented illustrator who has made several fine paintings of the brigantines.

Nina Nissim-Stem - Operations Manager and Chief Mate

Nina first sailed as a trainee on Playfair in 2019, continuing to volunteer with Brigs however she could throughout the Covid19 pandemic and the organization's move from Toronto to Hamilton. In 2021 she joined Playfair's wardroom and in 2022 was awarded the Deep Sea award from the Naval Officer's Association of Canada to take part in a sailing exchange to the Morning Star in Scotland, as well as traveling to Spain to volunteer for winter maintenance with the Spanish sail training vessel Atyla.

Nina holds a Master 60GT and Small Vessel Machinery Operator certificates for Pathfinder, serving as Pathfinder's XO for the 2023 season. Nina joined the Bluenose II in Nova Scotia as a deckhand for the 2024 season before returning to Brigs as Operations Manager and Winter Training Officer.

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.

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.