Kingston Young Professionals

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Kingston Young Professionals Network & Connect with Young Professionals in Kingston!

Kingston Young Professionals brings together people aged 18 to 39 to strengthen and grow the young professional community. We motivate young professionals to become more active members of the community by participating in social events and skill building workshops. KYP promotes a more open and friendly atmosphere among young professionals in Kingston and the surrounding area.

09/16/2026

⭐️ Meet 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Isabelle Grenier-Pleau, PhD⭐️

Dr. Isabelle Grenier-Pleau spent years doing the research - now she makes sure Queen’s University discoveries don’t sit on the self. A Vanier Scholar with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a PhD in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences from Queens University, she built an impactful doctoral career studying blood stem cell aging, with findings published across five peer-reviewed journals.

Today, she brings that same rigor to commercializing Queen’s research as Partnerships Development Coordinator, while training to become a licensed patent agent. For nearly a decade, she’s also built mentorship programs connecting Queen’s researchers with Kingston youth, with a focus on Indigenous engagement and gender equity in science.

Isabelle is proudest of the impact spanning both innovation and community: championing intellectual property from Queen’s and mentoring students into confident, empowered leaders.

09/16/2026

⭐️Meet 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Tanzila Afrin⭐️

Tanzila Afrin is a researcher and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing healthcare innovation. As a startup co-founder, she has helped support the development of new technologies aimed at addressing unmet clinical needs. She is most proud of helping bring together research, collaboration, and practical problem-solving to create solutions that have the potential to improve patient outcomes.

09/16/2026

⭐️Meet 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Dr. Xiaying Xin ⭐️

Dr. Xiaying Xin is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Queen’s University, where she leads a research program on emerging contaminants in water and wastewater and is recognized as an emerging leader in nanobubble treatment technology. As a Great Lakes city, Kingston’s water future depends on people like her. She has built close working relationships with Utilities Kingston, the City of Kingston, and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, bringing their staff into her classroom as guest speakers so students can learn directly from the people who run the region’s water systems and explore career opportunities in the field. She’s especially proud of connecting her research directly to the community she calls home, while also mentoring the next generation as a champion for women in engineering.

09/16/2026

⭐️Meet 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Mandana Liao ⭐️

Mandana Liao is a purpose-driven leader who serves as Director of Business Integration at CARE Canada. She leverages operational rigor to advance strategy ex*****on, enterprise risk management, and process optimization at CARE Canada, aiming to maximize global impact for women and girls in the communities CARE serves worldwide. In the Kingston community, she proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Eastern Ontario, an organization close to her heart that supports health, wellbeing, and inclusion in Kingston and the surrounding communities. Her proudest impact lies in bridging disciplined organizational leadership with passionate advocacy, strengthening vital resources both locally in Kingston and for vulnerable populations worldwide.

09/16/2026

⭐️Meet 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Kyle Compeau ⭐️

Kyle Compeau is the Director of Licensing and Enforcement with the City of Kingston, bringing more than a decade of experience in municipal government, enforcement, and public service leadership. In his role, Kyle oversees a diverse portfolio that includes municipal law enforcement, property standards, animal control, business licensing, parking operations, and the City’s Special Constable Program.

Throughout his career, Kyle has focused on modernizing municipal enforcement, developing practical solutions to complex community issues, and building strong partnerships with police, community agencies, and municipal leaders. He is an appointed Special Constable, Certified Municipal Enforcement Officer, Certified Ontario Property Standards Officer, and holds his Certified Municipal Management Level III-Municipal Enforcement Executive designation.

09/16/2026

⭐️Meet 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Nikki Lance, CHRP ⭐️

Nikki Lance is the Director of Operations for the Kingston Humane Society. Nikki has spent her career focusing on making working life a little more human. As an HR specialist, she has worked to support employees and management in feeling safe, supported, and able to bring their whole selves to work. She is passionate advocate for an interconnected model of human well-being and animal welfare in our community. When our community thrives, so do our animals.

09/16/2026

⭐️Meet 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Jordan Kanko⭐️

A Queen’s University Engineering graduate, Jordan came to Kingston in 2008 for his undergraduate degree and never looked back. Over his 10-plus years with IPG Photonics Canada – originally the Queen’s University spin-off company Laser Depth Dynamics – he has helped pioneer optical process monitoring tools for high-precision laser welding, enabling applications from consumer electronics to pacemakers and electric vehicles. Today, he leads the Kingston-based Canadian software group, driving cutting-edge innovation as part of a global IPG Photonics team. While proud of his contributions to the LDD process monitoring product line, Jordan is especially proud of the role he played in building a high-performing, deeply collaborative software team and hopes to continue strengthening Kingston’s growing technology sector.

09/16/2026

⭐️Meet 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Kaycee Leigh Hargadon ⭐️

Kaycee Leigh Hargadon is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, host, and proud mother of three boys. She has worked in the screen industry for more than 20 years, beginning her career as a child actor before moving behind the scenes and building more than a decade of experience across film, television, and digital storytelling. In recent years, Kaycee’s production company KLH Creative Co. has worked across broadcast, commercial production, and documentary filmmaking, with a particular interest in intimate, character-driven stories that explore identity, family, and the human experience. A 2026 Centennial College Alumni of Distinction, Kaycee is also a passionate advocate for the arts, mental health, maternal health, and underrepresented communities. Kaycee currently serves on the board of directors for the Chinese Canadian Association of Kingston and District and the Kingston School of Dance.

09/16/2026

⭐️Meet 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Kent Williams⭐️

Kent Williams is a corporate lawyer who has contributed to the growth and achievements of many Eastern Ontario businesses and not-for-profit organizations as a trusted legal advisor.  Kent now works as Legal Counsel with Empire Life, one of Kingston’s stalwart corporate citizens.  Kent is also committed to advancing the overall success of the Kingston community through volunteer engagements, including having served as a dedicated advocate and ambassador for the business community (as Chair of the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce); the charitable and philanthropic sector (as Secretary of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area); the arts (as Vice-Chair of the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning); and the legal profession (through engagements with local and national industry organizations including the Frontenac Law Association and The Advocates’ Society).

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