The Advisory Framework
Moving organizations from strategic intent to rigorous execution through four distinct pillars.
Strategy
Designing actionable, forward-looking roadmaps for sustainable growth
Transformation
Structuring and guiding institutions through complex operational and cultural shifts.
Program Management
Driving disciplined execution to ensure alignment with overarching corporate goals.
Digital Enablement
Aligning technology with operations to maximize performance and efficiency.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Our leadership team brings together decades of experience in strategy, research, program design, technology, advisory, economic development, and organizational transformation. We work directly with our clients, combining evidence, practical experience, and execution-focused advice to help organizations turn ambition into outcomes.
Leadership Team
Meet Our Founders
Darren Hedges
Co-Founder & Managing Director
darren@shiftnine.ca
Darren Hedges is a seasoned executive and advisor known for helping governments and organizations navigate complexity with clarity, purpose, and confidence. Over the past two decades, he has led large-scale transformation, strategy, and delivery programs across Canada and internationally, including national P&L leadership, major modernization initiatives, and cross-sector partnership development. His work blends strategic insight with practical execution, enabling teams to move from intention to impact with focus and discipline.
Darren’s career spans public sector modernization, economic development, service design, and organizational transformation. He is recognized for building high-performing teams, strengthening delivery frameworks, and helping leaders make decisions that are grounded in evidence and aligned with real-world conditions. His approach consistently brings structure to ambiguity while keeping people, outcomes, and long-term value at the centre.
As co-founder of ShiftNine, Darren brings a deep belief that progress is both a mindset and a practice. He works closely with clients to create clarity, strengthen strategy, and build services that genuinely improve people’s lives. His leadership reflects a commitment to purpose, thoughtful collaboration, and measurable results that endure beyond the project.
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Alexandra Cutean
Co-Founder & Managing Director
alexandra@shiftnine.ca
Alexandra Cutean is a respected researcher, policy and program advisor, and systems strategist with a career dedicated to improving how organizations understand and serve their communities. With extensive experience in public policy, data and research, innovation, and design and delivery of national-scale initiatives, she brings a thoughtful and rigorous lens to complex challenges. Her work focuses on turning evidence into meaningful insight and designing policies and programs that reflect the needs of diverse populations.
Alexandra is known for her ability to navigate complexity with calm precision, making sense of emerging trends, social dynamics, and structural barriers that influence outcomes. She has advised leaders across governments, non-profits, and industry, helping them interpret data and trends, shape effective initiatives and investments, and build services that are equal parts ambitious, practical, and sustainable. Her approach combines analytical depth with a strong commitment to human-centred design and inclusive engagement.
As co-founder of ShiftNine, Alexandra brings a belief that systems change comes when it's grounded in people and applied with intention. She works with partners to uncover gaps and opportunities, and drive paths forward in ways that are responsible, thoughtful, and aligned with long-term public value.
No one person or team has every answer. That’s why ShiftNine works with a trusted network of experienced professionals and subject matter experts across Canada and the U.S., bringing in specialized expertise where it adds the greatest value. Depending on the engagement, we may collaborate with researchers, economists, data engineers, technical advisors, cybersecurity specialists, AI practitioners, and communications professionals. We believe in building the right team for the work, combining ShiftNine’s hands-on leadership, experience, and accountability with specialized expertise to deliver meaningful outcomes.