Our Team

We are a multi-national, interdisciplinary team that works with our shared values of honesty, equity, communication, and continuously learning.

With a combined 20 years of experience in science, software, and entrepreneurship, we are always collaborating on exciting new projects! 

Co-Founders:

Sarah R. Nicholson

MASc., BEng.

Chief Executive Officer

Sarah’s passion for the environment, art, and engineering helped her build a freelance graphic design company while studying mechanical engineering and developing her knowledge in geographical systems. With the mission to find a solution to energy and housing issues in remote and northern communities, Sarah’s award-winning research during her Master’s of Applied Science Degree has become the basis for commercialization and expansion of multi-year/multi-organization projects. She used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and her knowledge of environmental systems to create a new method to keep permafrost from thawing, while providing renewable energy through geo-exchange.

Sarah has presented her technical work internationally, and has been a guest lecturer, podcast guest, researcher, and mentor on improving the conditions for women in engineering and technology. Along with her experience as Marketing Director and CTO, Sarah’s mission is to use her skills to innovate the business of sustainable technology – by making high-tech solutions genuinely accessible and empowering for all, while prioritizing the holistic health of the global economies and environments that we’re a part of.  

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Sylvie Antoun

PhD. (she/her)

Chief Science Officer

Sylvie is a lifelong learner. This started in Lebanon where she attended the American University of Beirut, and completed her undergraduate and masters in mechanical engineering. Inspired to dive deeper, this led her to complete her PhD in mechanical engineering at Ryerson University, for which she was honored with the Gold Medal for her academic performance and community work. Her research regarding sustainable energy was successful in improving thermal storage and solar technology with nanofluids. She worked as a Postdoc at Ryerson (TMU), with a focus on geothermal energy systems.

From her time spent living in Lebanon and Canada, Sylvie is optimistic that we can engineer sustainable energy technologies –specifically those that replace dirty fuel generators in underserved communities. It’s important work that she believes in. So much so that she has co-founded Umny, to make sure this work gets out into the world faster.

Sylvie describes herself as endlessly curious. She enjoys tackling the toughest problems that advance our understanding of the universe. Born in an ocean town close to the mountains, it is her connection to nature that entertains her inquisitive side and drives her to lower the environmental impact of engineering systems. When not doing work, Sylvie is looking for her next adventure in nature and traveling the world.

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Sheldon Frith

Chief Technology Officer

Sheldon wrote his first program when he was 13, and has had a passion for computer systems ever since. As a software developer he believes that the focus should be on providing value to clients above all other considerations. He also brings an outside perspective to the table, due to his years of experience in non-academic fields such as regenerative agriculture and construction.

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Copyright © 2021 – 2023. Umny Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2021 – 2023. Umny Inc. All rights reserved.