Meet The Gerard Search Team

 Phil Gérard was a fundraiser for over a decade before becoming a recruiter and is the Founder of Gerard Search. He remains actively involved in searches, working directly with clients and candidates throughout the process. Phil raised close to $20 million during his fundraising career. He understands how the work gets done, speaks the language, and knows what fundraising professionals are looking for in their next role. 

 Karen is our Office Manager and keeps the backend of every search running smoothly. She supports clients and prepares searches behind the scenes: from setting things up, organizing materials, and making sure each search is ready to launch and run efficiently. She keeps everything structured and on track so the team can focus on delivery. With over 10 years of administrative experience across different sectors, Karen brings consistency and attention to detail to every search. 

 Shynn Lie manages our recruitment systems and maintains the integrity of our CRM. She ensures our data is accurate, organized, and up to date, so searches run efficiently and the team has reliable information to work from. She also supports process improvements behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. She brings experience in HR operations and administrative management across North America, Australia, and Asia, working with diverse industries and remote teams. 

 Noah is a Senior Search Partner at Gerard Search and works closely with clients on search strategy, candidate assessment, and selection. He brings over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including senior leadership roles in fundraising and operations. His background includes positions with the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, KCI (Ketchum Canada), Canucks Autism Network, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Louis Brier Foundation. Noah understands how nonprofit teams are built and what organizations need at different stages, and brings that perspective into the search process. 

 Chris is our Executive Search Partner for TalentMatch Optimum, bringing over 20 years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit fundraising. She spent more than two decades at Simon Fraser University, including 17 years as Executive Director, Advancement, where she led major gifts, leadership giving, and gift and estate planning teams of over 20 staff. Chris has worked closely with boards and senior leadership throughout her career and understands how to support complex hiring processes at that level. She has personally raised over $30 million for the School for the Contemporary Arts capital campaign and was part of the leadership team that helped deliver $275 million for the university’s 50th anniversary campaign. 

 Emilia is our Senior Search Partner for the Eastern region at Gerard Search. She is a recruiter, career coach, and has spent close to 15 years working in the nonprofit fundraising sector. She now supports both clients and candidates through the search process, with a focus on finding strong, practical matches that work for both sides. Emilia also runs Sunny Side Up Coaching, where she works with individuals on career direction and transition, particularly within the social profit sector.