IDEA represents a collaboration of lifelong learners, educators, and advocates, united by a shared passion for debate education. Our team’s diverse backgrounds and experiences serve as the cornerstone of our commitment to transformative learning.
Director
Benjamin Hagwood
Development Director
Benjamin Hagwood brings a wealth of expertise and a fervent passion for debate education. To his role as Director of IDEA. With years of experience in teaching and coaching, Benjamin is dedicated to empowering historically marginalized students through the transformative power of debate. Partnering with Vancouver Debate Academy and Ace Education Group, Benjamin channels his pedagogical beliefs into IDEA – a nonprofit committed to providing equitable access to debate training. As Director, Benjamin spearheads initiatives to cultivate community interest and develop tailored services for underserved youth in Metro-Vancouver. His unwavering commitment to inclusivity and empowerment drives him to ensure that every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive and succeed in the world. Together with his team, Benjamin is reshaping the landscape of debate education, creating a more equitable and accessible future.
Board Members
Michael Mityok
President
BA & BEd. Writer, founder of ACE Education Group, a private academy which includes the Vancouver Writing Academy and the Vancouver Debate Academy. With a proven ability for delivering exceptional pedagogical and curricular results, Michael has gained extensive founder experience building and managing ACE, which now has over 400 students.
Yun Feng
Treasurer
MBA & CFP. 20 years of consulting experience in management and finance across China, the US, and Canada. Since immigrating to Canada in 2009, she has established Vancouver as her home base, where she channels her expertise into financial planning as a co-founder and partner at Yunix Financial Group, specializing in tax optimization and asset allocation for high-income business owners and high-net-worth professionals and immigrant families. Avid reader and seasoned traveler with a global perspective.
Harmeet Singh
Secretary
As Principal Group Program Manager at Microsoft, Harmeet brings a wealth of expertise cultivated over 25 years in IT. Extensive, diverse leadership and executive positions, consistently prioritizing strategy and innovation. Acknowledged for dynamic leadership style and unwavering focus on delivering results, seamlessly integrating a deep understanding of both functional and technical domains.