About Us
Our Mission is Clear
The RISE Collaborative was founded on the belief that professional learning can be designed and delivered differently—and more deliberately. We believe in relationship-forward partnerships that prioritize learning with and from our clients, just as much as they learn from us. Our collaborative brings together individuals with complementary and diverse experiences and areas of expertise. When working together, we intentionally lean on one another to provide customized, personalized, and truly impactful professional learning experiences.
Together, our collective experience and shared commitments shape the work we do—meet the educators and leaders behind The RISE Collaborative.
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Vince Bustamante
Tim Cusack
Wayne Davies
Meet Vince:
Co-Founder, Chief Education Officer, Workshop Facilitator
Dr. Vince Bustamante is a best-selling author, award-winning consultant, and educator who specializes in supporting schools and districts through their implementation journeys. He is passionate about sustainable change and ensuring initiatives are intentionally designed to improve the learning experience for students.
Vince holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Western Ontario, where his research focused on sustainable change through personalized and targeted professional learning. He brings experience as a classroom teacher, district curriculum consultant, instructional coach, and curricular resource creator.
Outside of work, Vince enjoys spending time outdoors with his two young boys, skiing in the mountains, and playing a round of golf.
Meet Tim:
Co-Founder, Lead Advisor, Workshop Facilitator
Dr. Tim Cusack is a system-level educational leader, scholar, and consultant with over 30 years of experience in teaching, school and district leadership, and supporting improvement in K–12 schools and districts across Canada and the United States. He currently serves as Dean of Education at Concordia University of Edmonton, working closely with new teacher preparation, developing aspiring school leaders, and supporting school systems to strengthen leadership capacity, instructional practice, and sustainable improvement.
Tim has held a range of senior leadership roles, including Deputy Chief Superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal (K–12), assistant principal, department head, and classroom teacher. He holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning from the University of Portland, with research focused on the development and self-efficacy of school leaders.
In addition to his work in education, Tim has served for over 35 years in the Royal Canadian Navy (Reserve) and currently commands HMCS Nonsuch in Edmonton. This breadth of experience enables him to bridge research, policy, and practice with a deep understanding of the realities facing school and system leaders. In 2023, Tim was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to K-12 education in Alberta.
Meet Wayne:
Co-Founder, Lead Advisor, Workshop Facilitator
Dr. Wayne Davies is the Director of Student Teaching at the University of Winnipeg, where he also teaches and co-facilitates courses and micro-credentialing experiences for current school leaders, teachers, and emerging educators transitioning into the profession.
Wayne holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Western Ontario, which led to his collaborative work on The Mentor’s Guidebook and Navigating the First Years. He is also the author of The Guitar Principal, a novel written to both entertain and provoke reflection among school leaders.
A member of the Red River Métis, Wayne is deeply committed to Indigenous education and serves as Chair of the Red River Métis Circle of Educators. He has been recognized nationally and internationally for his leadership, writing, and service to schools and communities.