André Palaguine

CEO

A seasoned industry leader and CEO, André commands over 25 years of invaluable experience, where he has empowered multimillion-dollar companies with competitive business strategies. His unwavering commitment to innovation and business excellence has consistently placed him at the forefront of this dynamic industry.

With a visionary mindset, André embodies a results-driven leadership style that exudes dynamism and influence. His capacity to motivate and inspire others sets him apart, making him a true catalyst for transformation and growth.

André has earned an impeccable reputation in the industry, underpinned by his unswerving dedication to his duties and a track record of stellar achievements. He leads by example and consistently delivers outstanding results, driven by his leadership acumen, professionalism, and unwavering integrity.

At NATIONS Translation Group and Language Marketplace, André is spearheading a new era of innovation and evolution. His strategic business expansion plan is transforming both companies, ushering in a phase of unprecedented growth and investment in cutting-edge capabilities and technological solutions. This commitment ensures the delivery of high-quality, professional linguistic services and an exceptional client experience.

In recognition of his industry stature, André has served as a board member since 2017 and chaired at the Board of Directors at CLIA, the Canadian Language Industry Association. In 2022, he assumed a role as a member of the technical committee of the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), representing NATIONS and contributing to the federal government’s standards and regulatory initiatives.

Ema Dantas

VICE-PRESIDENT INTERPRETATION SERVICES

Ema Dantas, founder of Language Marketplace, is now NATIONS’ Vice-President of Interpretation Services. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the language services industry and has particular expertise in the world of interpretation and will be instrumental in enhancing our simultaneous interpretation services.

Sarah Danjaw

DIRECTOR, CLIENT CARE CENTRE

Sarah is a lifetime Ottawa resident with over 15 years of experience in business administration for private sector companies with a dual background in social work. Since joining the NATIONS team in 2020, Sarah has held positions across several departments providing day to day support for fellow staff members and clients in a friendly and efficient manner.

As Director of our Client Care Centre, Sarah works in collaboration with leadership team to ensure that our staff are prepared to support each client’s unique requirements. Sarah is committed to maintaining a high level of service standard through continual process improvements and administrative staff development. 

Beau Brock

DIRECTOR, LINGUISTIC SERVICES

Passionate about languages from an early age, Beau Brock, PhD, has an MA in Romance Languages from the University of British Columbia and a PhD in French Linguistics from the University of Toronto. He has been translating and revising professionally since 2007 and is ATIO-certified in both French and Spanish to English.

In addition to his work at NATIONS, Beau has chaired the Canadian Language Industry Association’s Industry Development Committee since 2021 and became co-managing editor of the Editors Canada blog in June 2022.

Elizabeth Blonde

DIRECTOR, PUBLIC SECTOR CLIENTS RELATIONS

Elizabeth Blonde is a public sector Clients Relations and Bid Manager with more than 15 years’ experience, working with, managing, and supporting clients in both federal and provincial government agencies.

Elizabeth joined NATIONS in September 2013 and has played a pivotal role in securing many sizable bids and subsequent contracts -helping to boost NATIONS’ business volume by nearly 40%.

Elizabeth, with her positive and energetic attitude, has a passion for quality and detail, which has been nurtured and strengthened during her years at NATIONS. Her level of experience has made her a trusted partner to the company’s public sector clients, supporting them to exceed their expectations and achieve their goals.

Jean-Michel Bastien

DIRECTOR, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Jean-Michel Bastien serves as Director of Information Technology and Digital Transformation.

During his 20-year career in IT, Jean-Michel has held multiple roles including Senior Project Manager, Product Manager, and IT Manager.  He brings his wealth of experience and superior technical skillset to NATIONS with the aim of implementing state-of-the-art business solutions and helping increase operational efficiencies. 

Jean-Michel joined NATIONS in September 2021 as the Information Systems Manager and quickly demonstrated the leadership and expertise required to steer the company’s information systems to new heights.

In his current role, Jean-Michel, reporting to the CEO, leads strategic initiatives to develop and implement leading-edge technologies. He is also responsible for overseeing all aspects of IT and digital services. This includes designing and supervising web and application development, directing the implementation and maintenance of IT security, and guiding NATIONS through a digital transformation as the company enters new markets and embraces emerging modernization requirements.

Alex Skrypnyk

FINANCIAL OFFICER

Originally from Kiev, Ukraine, Alex studied Business Administration in the United States and has previously performed financial administration for NGOs. He is NATIONS’ Financial Officer, overseeing payroll, benefits administration, receivables, payables, and day-to-day finances.

Waneek Horn-Millar

MANAGER, CLIENT RELATIONS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Waneek hails from the Mohawk communities of Kahnawake and Ohsweken. As one of Canada’s few Indigenous Olympians, she has worked extensively in both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds as a motivational speaker, a facilitator and in business sales. She has melded her love of all things Indigenous with her collaborative, excellence-oriented approach to advance the goals of Reconciliation through social and economic development.