The Divergence Family
Talented. Passionate. Driven.

ABANOUB BESHAY

Abanoub is passionate about applying technology to improve patient outcomes and clinical workflows. While completing a BSc in Honours Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo and an MEng in Biomedical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University, Abanoub gained hands-on experience in a variety of clinical and research settings. This foundation has helped shape a deep appreciation for evidence-based practice and the importance of accessible, scalable tools in healthcare.

Most recently, Abanoub has worked in medical SaaS sales, where he helped healthcare providers integrate cutting-edge digital solutions into their practices. He is committed to helping clinicians adopt innovative technologies that improve both operational efficiency and client outcomes.

WADE BUTLER

Wade is a Software Developer who enjoys building apps and websites that make everyone’s lives easier. After graduating from Juno Bootcamp in 2019 and leveraging his Game Development background from George Brown College, Wade immersed himself in the tech startup scene helping companies build their products and develop their online presence. Wade is looking to use his passion to learn and grow to help others.

LAURIE GEENEN

Laurie is driven to work with organizations looking to make the world a better place. She has a varied background centred in building systems to ensure customers get the most value from their products and services while meeting their business needs. She has developed and grown customer success programs for software companies that assist local governments and Indigenous communities in North America, universities, as well as  employee and internal communications. 

Laurie is committed to partnering with clients to help deliver innovative mental health tools and practices to improve well being. She is passionate about using data and customer stories to improve each customer’s experience.

ANNA GERNEGA

Anna is the Owner and Director of Oxford Learning Centre, High Park. This leadership position drives quality and consistency of the entire centre experience. It includes many different roles: managing the centre’s day-to-day activities, teaching students, coaching and training the centre’s team, communicating with parents, expanding and implementing new programs and initiatives.

Anna is an experienced Project Manager as well as a Certified Instructional Designer. Anna has strong research techniques and is technology savvy. Anna is a dedicated educator who is specifically interested in combining the knowledge of neuroscience and pedagogy to help her students attain the best results.

HEATHER HARGRAVES, MA., C.PSYCH.

Heather Hargraves, M.A., C.Psych., is a Registered Psychologist in London, Ontario, specializing in trauma-informed clinical practice, psychological assessment, and applied neuroscience. She is a co-founder of Divergence Neuro, a software platform designed to make biometric and neurofeedback tools more accessible to clinicians and clients through remote delivery.

Heather’s clinical approach weaves somatic and body-based modalities with cognitive therapies, grounded in the understanding that lasting change requires attention to both mind and body. Her work integrates neurofeedback, neuromeditation, and biometric tools to help clients develop awareness of their physiological patterns and connect those patterns to their lived emotional experience.

She is a passionate advocate for relational technology; tools designed to support self-awareness and human connection rather than replace them. Her ongoing work focuses on developing mind-body interfaces that make physiological data clinically meaningful, offering clients and clinicians a shared language for understanding how we inhabit our bodies and relate to ourselves and others.

Her background includes research into the neurological underpinnings of altered states of consciousness, with peer-reviewed work spanning the psychophysiology of focused attention during meditation and the somatic correlates of pivotal states of consciousness. Her practice is grounded in the conviction that when read through the right lens, physiological patterns are not noise. They are signal.

JONATHAN IP, LL.B

Jonathan Ip, the founder of Iterative Law, has over a decade of experience in securities, Mergers & Acquisitions,
corporate finance and corporate/commercial matters as a business lawyer in both private practice and as company in-house counsel, working with entrepreneurs, startups, SMBs and blue chip companies.
Jonathan is passionate about startups, and technology product development that can make the world a better place to live.
Iterative Law Professional Corporation – http://iterativelaw.com/

DHUSHAN KIRITHARAN

Dhushan is a mobile developer who has a strong passion for integrating biomedical engineering into the lives of those who need it most. He’s currently studying Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University and he enjoys coding and building projects that leverage a variety of technologies for the benefits of the user.

FARROKH MANSOURI, PhD

Farrokh is a leader in applying data science and machine learning to neuroscience field. Where he works on novel applications incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence in neuro tech. Farrokh comes from a highly multidisciplinary background with experience applying data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in the fields of neuro science, climate science, and finance. He is an experienced leader having previously built and managed technical teams in various start-ups. Farrokh holds a BASc, MHSc and PhD in Engineering from the University of Toronto and has authored over 20 research papers that were published in prestigious scientific journals.
Today, Farrokh is on a mission to make the world a better place. He enjoys using multidisciplinary approaches to solve real-world problems. He is especially interested in the development and adoption of newly emerging technologies to create innovative solutions.

SNEHA MERCHANT

Sneha is a marketing professional with 5 years of experience across diverse digital marketing roles. In her current position, she is responsible for executing social media and email campaigns and crafting innovative strategies to drive engagement and growth. Her role includes developing and implementing marketing plans, analyzing campaign performance, and staying ahead of industry trends. With a passion for continuous learning, Sneha’s expertise in digital marketing is complemented by her commitment to refining her skills and leveraging new technologies to achieve optimal results.

JEFF MOORE

Jeff is a seasoned technology executive with a passion for bringing practical software and hardware solutions to real-world business challenges. He brings an unwavering commitment to operational excellence, championship for a culture of transparency, and a propensity for action and progress.

Jeff has held a variety of roles in Enterprise Software and technology companies. Most recently he has held the roles of Director, Technology Development, Director, Professional Services, VP, Product Development and Delivery, VP, Industry Solutions and Alliances, and VP, Sales.

ALEX NI, MBA, CPA

Alex is a seasoned technology leader who is passionate about mental health and neuroscience. Through his career, he has held many titles from developer, architect to delivery manager, innovation lead, and start-up CTO across different industries from mobile, telecom to digital media, neurotech and fintech.
A true tech nerd at heart, Alex is most passionate about building world-class technology companies by creating an open, transparent, and accountable culture that delivers quality. Other than his technical skill set, Alex also holds a CPA/CMA designation, and has his MBA focusing on technology management and valuation.

RAJ SAVALIYA

Raj is a Software Engineer dedicated to crafting innovative apps and websites. Proficient in a wide range of programming languages, software development tools, and analytical problem-solving. His journey in the tech world is marked by a continuous quest for learning and growth. Raj finds immense joy in staying on the cutting edge of technology, always eager to explore new coding languages, frameworks, and methodologies.

JEREMY STAIRS

Jeremy is an engineer who wears many hats. He started falling down the endless BCI rabbit hole when he read this article about neuralink: https://waitbutwhy.com/2017/04/neuralink.html while studying electrical+computer engineering and psychology at the University of Toronto. Jeremy works on a wide variety of technologies at Divergence. He is passionate about mental health and neuro technologies, and says that building thinking aids is the best thing to do with his time.

BRAEDEN TERPOU, PhD

Braeden is an ardent researcher who specializes in neuroimaging and mental health. Braeden has published many first-author papers in prestigious neuroscience journals, many of which focus on self-related processing disturbances, i.e., the sense of self, in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the related neural underpinnings. Braeden is currently leading a simultaneous EEG-fMRI investigation to determine the cross-modality neural correlates underlying PTSD and moral injury.

Braeden strives to identify neural correlates underlying psychopathology, as well as how these neural correlates promote the altered phenomenological states observed commonly in mental health disorders. Once these neural correlates are understood more thoroughly, targeted treatments such as neurofeedback and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may be used to improve mental health outcomes and build resiliency in mental health populations. Instrumental to the above process will be leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to tailor therapy to the individual – a vision Divergence Neuro and Braeden share passionately.

MIKE VICHNITCHKINE

Mike is a jack of all trades, with a background in customer support, programming, and life sciences. He has developed training programs for both general and specialized tech support teams, and is passionate about helping others succeed. As a total biology geek, Mike is fascinated by the prospect of personalized medicine, and how Divergence Neuro’s software tools can advance that cause.

DR. SERGIO PÉREZ

Dr. Pérez works as a medical doctor at OVID Clinic Berlin and as MIND Academy director at the MIND Foundation. He is also a certified Beyond Experience Facilitator. Currently, Dr. Pérez is training in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. Being located in Berlin, Dr. Pérez is part of an experienced team of psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and anesthesiologists that offers psychotherapy augmented by ketamine and other methods such as stroboscopic light induction (Lucia Nr. 03), EEG NeuroMeditation, and integration psychotherapy.

In the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, Dr. Pérez thinks it is necessary to standardize procedures and educate professionals and the general public in a scientific and secular way to create a safe environment and legal framework for therapy and human development.

FARROKH MANSOURI, PhD

Farrokh is a leader in applying data science and machine learning to neuroscience field. Where he works on novel applications incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence in neuro tech. Farrokh comes from a highly multidisciplinary background with experience applying data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in the fields of neuro science, climate science, and finance. He is an experienced leader having previously built and managed technical teams in various start-ups. Farrokh holds a BASc, MHSc and PhD in Engineering from the University of Toronto and has authored over 20 research papers that were published in prestigious scientific journals.
Today, Farrokh is on a mission to make the world a better place. He enjoys using multidisciplinary approaches to solve real-world problems. He is especially interested in the development and adoption of newly emerging technologies to create innovative solutions.

JEFF TARRANT, PH.D., BCN

Dr. Tarrant is the founder and Director of the Neuro Meditation Institute and author of the book, “Meditation Interventions to Rewire the Brain.” Dr. Tarrant received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri in 1997. He is a licensed psychologist and board certified in neurofeedback. Dr. Tarrant has devoted much of his professional career to working with technology-based interventions such as quantitative EEG, neurofeedback, biofeedback, and audio visual entrainment (AVE). He has also trained extensively in a variety of spiritual and meditative practices, including Zen, Vipassana, Taoism/Qigong, Arhatic Yoga, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
His research focuses on exploring brainwave changes that occur as a result of contemplative practices,technological interventions, and non-ordinary states of consciousness. He is the Chief Science Officer for Healium XR, creating biometrically controlled virtual reality experiences. He is a regular presenter at national and international conferences Dr. Tarrant offers in-office and home-based EEG NeuroMeditation sessions with BrainAvatar and New Mind systems. In his spare time, Dr. Tarrant enjoys playing the drums, attending concerts, and spending time in nature

JAY GUNKELMAN

Jay Gunkelman, QEEG Diplomate, is recognized as one of the top leaders in the field of EEG and QEEG, and has processed over 500,000 EEGs since 1972. He has served as president of The International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, as well as a board member and treasurer of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback and is a past-president of the Biofeedback Society of California. He is co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Brain Science International and is a popular lecturer worldwide on the topic of QEEG and phenotype identification of neurological disorders.

BRAEDEN TERPOU, PhD

Braeden is an ardent researcher who specializes in neuroimaging and mental health. Braeden has published many first-author papers in prestigious neuroscience journals, many of which focus on self-related processing disturbances, i.e., the sense of self, in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the related neural underpinnings. Braeden is currently leading a simultaneous EEG-fMRI investigation to determine the cross-modality neural correlates underlying PTSD and moral injury.

Braeden strives to identify neural correlates underlying psychopathology, as well as how these neural correlates promote the altered phenomenological states observed commonly in mental health disorders. Once these neural correlates are understood more thoroughly, targeted treatments such as neurofeedback and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may be used to improve mental health outcomes and build resiliency in mental health populations. Instrumental to the above process will be leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to tailor therapy to the individual – a vision Divergence Neuro and Braeden share passionately.

HEATHER HARGRAVES, MA., C.PSYCH.

Heather Hargraves, M.A., C.Psych., is a Registered Psychologist in London, Ontario, specializing in trauma-informed clinical practice, psychological assessment, and applied neuroscience. She is a co-founder of Divergence Neuro, a software platform designed to make biometric and neurofeedback tools more accessible to clinicians and clients through remote delivery.

Heather’s clinical approach weaves somatic and body-based modalities with cognitive therapies, grounded in the understanding that lasting change requires attention to both mind and body. Her work integrates neurofeedback, neuromeditation, and biometric tools to help clients develop awareness of their physiological patterns and connect those patterns to their lived emotional experience.

She is a passionate advocate for relational technology; tools designed to support self-awareness and human connection rather than replace them. Her ongoing work focuses on developing mind-body interfaces that make physiological data clinically meaningful, offering clients and clinicians a shared language for understanding how we inhabit our bodies and relate to ourselves and others.

Her background includes research into the neurological underpinnings of altered states of consciousness, with peer-reviewed work spanning the psychophysiology of focused attention during meditation and the somatic correlates of pivotal states of consciousness. Her practice is grounded in the conviction that when read through the right lens, physiological patterns are not noise. They are signal.

JEREMY STAIRS

Jeremy is an engineer who wears many hats. He started falling down the endless BCI rabbit hole when he read this article about neuralink: https://waitbutwhy.com/2017/04/neuralink.html while studying electrical+computer engineering and psychology at the University of Toronto. Jeremy works on a wide variety of technologies at Divergence. He is passionate about mental health and neuro technologies, and says that building thinking aids is the best thing to do with his time.

RANDY KNUDSON, JD

Randy is a practicing attorney in New Mexico with a life-long interest in the philosophy and science of consciousness.
Over the last decade he has discovered that the neuro-feedback integrated with neuro-headsets was revolutionary in helping to guide a serious user to flow, peak and bliss states of consciousness. These initial devices are only the first step in developing devices and practices which will transform human consciousness and evolution. Randy is very excited to be a part of the Divergence team which will blaze new trails in the field of consciousness and for the good of humanity.
Randy is happily married with to his wife Laura for 36 years, and has 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren.

ALEX NI, MBA, CPA

Alex is a seasoned technology leader who is passionate about mental health and neuroscience. Through his career, he has held many titles from developer, architect to delivery manager, innovation lead, and start-up CTO across different industries from mobile, telecom to digital media, neurotech and fintech.
A true tech nerd at heart, Alex is most passionate about building world-class technology companies by creating an open, transparent, and accountable culture that delivers quality. Other than his technical skill set, Alex also holds a CPA/CMA designation, and has his MBA focusing on technology management and valuation.

BORIS GERNEGA

Boris is a seasoned technology leader who is passionate about learning, mental health, and building great tech companies. Boris helped build Trapeze Group – his last company from a tiny start-up to a 100 million dollar software and technology giant powering hundreds of top-tier transit agencies in North America.
After transitioning to the next phase of his professional life, Boris’ passion for building great technology companies brought him together with Alex on the journey to build the next great Canadian story – one that is near and dear to his heart – with deep connections to machine learning, AI, neuroscience and cloud.

JEFF MOORE

Jeff is a seasoned technology executive with a passion for bringing practical software and hardware solutions to real-world business challenges. He brings an unwavering commitment to operational excellence, championship for a culture of transparency, and a propensity for action and progress.

Jeff has held a variety of roles in Enterprise Software and technology companies. Most recently he has held the roles of Director, Technology Development, Director, Professional Services, VP, Product Development and Delivery, VP, Industry Solutions and Alliances, and VP, Sales.