OUR TEAM
Senator Deacon and his team are committed to finding solutions that challenge the status quo. Specifically, we are looking for ways in which Canada’s diverse and innovative communities can be empowered by building an inclusive culture of entrepreneurship.
The Honourable Colin Deacon
Independent Senator, Nova Scotia
Senator Colin Deacon (he/him) was appointed to represent Nova Scotia in the Senate of Canada in June 2018. A lifelong entrepreneur, he passionately believes that we must build a more inclusive economy if we want a more resilient economy. As a result, Senator Deacon believes that entrepreneurship is a tool to not just enable economic empowerment in communities across our country, but to create positive social change. Recently, he is most focused on harnessing the digital economy, improving Canada’s public and private sector competitiveness, and incentivizing and empowering the private sector to aggressively address climate change.
For press inquiries, Senator Deacon's official biography and photo can be found here. A profile of the Senator can also be found here.
David Dlab
Director of Parliamentary Affairs
(2020 - )
David (he/him) is a corporate finance professional with close to ten years of private sector experience before joining Senator Deacon's office. He has held key positions at George Weston , Finning International, and ExxonMobil, gaining exposure to the retail, mining, maritime and energy sectors. His roles in the treasuries of these companies focused on capital structure, corporate liquidity management, credit analysis and M&A.
David is passionate about finding market-based solutions to the challenges facing Canadian society and the global economy. He speaks four languages and has lived in various cities across Canada, as well as in Europe and Asia.
David holds a MBA from the UBC Sauder School of Business and a BSc in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Montreal.
Mikayla Ozga
Parliamentary Research Assistant
(2026 - )
Mikayla (she/her) is an public service professional with experience at Global Affairs Canada and Public Safety Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science from Queen’s University (2022) and a Master of International Affairs (2024) from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, where she specialized in Intelligence Studies.
Mikayla brings over five years of research experience with Queen’s University’s Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, with a focus on global financial crime and financial regulation. Her academic and professional work reflects a strong interest in the intersection of economic policy and national security.
In the office of Colin Deacon, Mikayla supports committee work, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning initiatives. She approaches her work with a collaborative mindset and a commitment to thoughtful, evidence-based policy development.
Natasha Karim
Legislative Development Intern
(2025 - )
Natasha (she/her) is a JD candidate at the University of Ottawa specializing in technology law and data governance. She holds an Honours BA in Philosophy and Political Science from Western University, where she was awarded the gold medal in Philosophy. She brings experience from her research with Professor Michael Geist and advanced study at The Hague Academy of International Law. Natasha has also gained practical litigation experience at Babin Bessner Spry LLP, supporting partners on complex commercial matters through research, drafting, and client preparation.
Before law school, she served as an Intelligence Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy, training in strategic assessment and information analysis. In Senator Deacon’s office, Natasha contributes to legislative research and policy development focused on Canada’s digital economy, emerging regulatory challenges, and evidence-based innovation that strengthens public trust.
Tyler Li
Legislative Development Intern
(2025 - )
Tyler Li (he/they) is a third-year law student at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law and an incoming articling student at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. He previously worked at international law firms in Hong Kong and China, focusing on debt finance and capital markets. Tyler received an award for his research on digital assets, banking, and securities law, and has co-authored work published in the Canadian Competition Law Review and Global Legal Insights’ Private Credit publication.
Tyler holds a BA in Political Science from Western University, where he competed in varsity debate, ranking among the top 25 debaters globally. He hopes to combine his analytical skills with his private-sector experience to support intentional and innovative approaches to the issues shaping Canada’s legal and economic landscape.