Somia Sadiq is a Pakistani Canadian peace negotiator, planner, and award-winning entrepreneur with ancestral roots in post-colonial Punjab and Kashmir. She is the founder of Narratives, an acclaimed planning and design firm that centers human-centric, trauma-informed story work to amplify lived experience and ancestral identity. As the founder of Kahanee, Somia brings her expertise in conflict transformation to amplify storytelling and facilitated dialogue as tools for peacebuilding, both in Canada and globally. A published author and sought-after keynote speaker, she shares insights on trauma-informed leadership, women's leadership, and cultivating resilience in a rapidly changing world. Recognized nationally and internationally, Somia was recently inducted into the Canadian Institute of Planners' College of Fellows, the highest honor in the profession. She is currently completing her debut novel, Gajarah, set to release in Fall 2025.

Rometh Suriyarachchi supports the development and delivery of community-based storytelling projects, public programming, and creative campaigns rooted in equity, healing, and justice at Kahanee. Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Rometh brings a multidisciplinary lens to his work, blending policy insight, lived experience, and creativity. Rometh is deeply passionate about the power of stories to shape social change. At Kahanee, he helps design and facilitate interviews, produce original content, and support marketing and event initiatives. He is also dedicated to storytelling, art, politics, and culture, and loves to write about his experiences and the world around him. Whether writing, organizing, or curating experiences, Rometh leads with empathy and intention. His work explores the intersections of identity, migration, memory, and belonging, always with a critical eye and a heart for justice.

Courtney Friesen brings a spirit of connection, creativity, and care to her role as Director of Partnerships at Kahanee. With a background in marketing, event planning, and organizational leadership, she supports and strengthens Kahanee’s collaborative efforts across diverse communities and sectors. Courtney is known for her intuitive ability to nurture relationships, coordinate moving parts, and hold space for meaningful work to unfold. A lifelong story-listener and advocate for justice, Courtney is passionate about creating environments where people feel seen, heard, and supported. Her work is grounded in empathy and guided by a belief in the transformative power of listening. Outside of Kahanee, you can find Courtney enjoying a good book in the sun, exploring arts and culture, baking something new, or spending time with her two Siamese cats and the people she loves.