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Who I Am

As a white settler, queer parent with ADHD, I bring lived experience, layered perspectives, respect for complexity and empathetic awareness to everything I do.

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I’m a connector at heart: of people, of ideas, of seemingly messy systems that are just waiting to be clarified. I'm known for bringing diverse groups into alignment, making sense of complexity and helping others feel valued and purposeful. I'm down to earth and people appreciate my 'high on humour and relatability, low on ego and rigidity' balance My compass is based on social justice principles. My equity and inclusion values are present in everything I do, from who I work with to facilitation practices to volunteer work to conference organizing and beyond.

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I’m a mom to two brilliant, hilarious boys who keep me humble, grounded and motivated. I carry an unshakable love for music (especially live shows), which always remind me of the magic of human connection, family and being outside / in nature. Also sweets.

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This past year brought me through a deep period of burnout...a kind of dark night of the soul. What I carry now is a quieter kind of wisdom: more courage, new and different strength and a refreshed commitment to doing work that feels both meaningful and sustainable. 

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My feminism is intersectional. My humour is dry. My curiosity never stops. And my love for this sector—and what’s possible in it—runs deep.

What I Do Now

 

I'm the founder of Spark and Signal, where I convene and guide nonprofit leaders through digital complexity and AI uncertainty. As a mapmaker and trusted translator between sector realities and future possibilities, I partner with people and organizations to shift mindsets and unlock momentum through strategic convenings, tailored workshops, and consulting that create clarity and connection.

 

Whether facilitating curated and confidential leadership sessions, organizing convenings, or conducting digital audits, I help nonprofit leaders chart their path forward with strategic clarity and emotional intelligence.

 

My work creates the common ground needed for organizations to navigate change from AI disruption to digital complexity, delivering future-literate experiences that transform how leaders think about and approach technological change.

​My Background

 

With over 20 years in the nonprofit trenches as a digital fundraising strategist, agency leader, and partnerships director, I've spent my career as a translator between where organizations are and where they need to go. Long before "digital transformation" entered the nonprofit lexicon, I was speaking at conferences about leveraging technology for social good, always keeping my eye on what's coming next, posting 'loving rants' on LinkedIn before it became a flooded AI-based sea of sameness posts. Don't get me started on those...

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I co-founded and co-organize Xlerate, a national conference for digital progressive fundraisers, comms, marketing, tech and engagement leaders, demonstrating my commitment to bringing the sector together around shared challenges and opportunities. Is it hard? Yep. Messy? God yes. Worthwhile? Every damned day.​​​​

Recent Work Highlights

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CONFERENCE SESSIONS

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AI for Nonprofits & Advocacy Summit
Center for Digital Strategy, July 29 - Aug 2, 2025

-> Beyond the Prompt: the Cultural, Strategic and Practical Playbook for AI Adoption

Ryann Miller & George Irish

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Western Canadian Fundraising Conference
June 11th - 13th, 2025

-> No More Bandaids: Building Digital & AI Strength

Ryann Miller

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RUNNING NOW! (OCT 2025)
 

AI For Nonprofits and Advocacy Cohort (online course)

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I'm one of 5 leads co-designing, creating and running this offering. Beginning in Sept 2025, this is a 3-month, hands-on cohort designed for nonprofit and advocacy professionals who want to responsibly adopt AI, create strategic frameworks, and apply real-world tools across their teams.​

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Learn more / sign up here! ​

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How to reach me​

 

Email: ryann@sparkandsignal.ca

Calendly (30 min call): https://calendly.com/ryann-sparkandsignal

Ready to transform your mission’s potential? Let’s talk. 

Spark and Signal operates on sacred and traditional land that has been a site of human activity for over 15,000 years. We’re grateful to be on this land, and we struggle with the injustice of how we came to be here, striving to deepen our understanding and solidarity with Indigenous peoples. We are on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

 

This territory is part of ‘the Dish with One Spoon’ wampum, a Treaty made between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas, and Haudenosaunee, where nations entered into an agreement to protect the land, and responsibly care for its resources in harmony. Toronto, a Mohawk word meaning ‘where there are trees standing in water’, is covered under the Toronto Treaty 13 of the Upper Canada Land Surrenders, and the Williams Treaties. We have all been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect. We are also mindful of broken treaties that persist across Turtle Island today and recognize our responsibilities as Treaty people to engage in a meaningful, continuous process of truth and reconciliation with all our relations. 

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