Innovation Strategy & Design Lead

Eryn Johnston is a consultant engaged by Sourcewell to provide innovation, strategy and design services to the AscendRural program. In this work, she provides early-stage research and discovery to inform business strategy and identify innovation opportunities that support rural well-being. Her work focuses on uncovering unmet needs, framing clear opportunity areas, and assessing where technology can meaningfully address real challenges in rural communities through stakeholder engagement, market and landscape research, and insight synthesis.

In past work, Eryn led design thinking, innovation, and strategy programs at The Idea Suite, working with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to unlock their creative potential. Her work informed product launches, organizational change initiatives, and innovation roadmaps through human-centered research, market insight, and cross-functional collaboration. Earlier in her career, Eryn led a team within a mission-driven social enterprise startup, gaining hands-on experience in the realities of early-stage innovation.

Eryn brings a strong interest in understanding human needs, market dynamics, and the role of technology in enabling practical, community-informed innovation. She is also actively involved in volunteer work with the Alzheimer Society of Canada and The SPCA, reflecting her long-standing interest in community care, aging, and well-being.