About TARIS
Founded in 2007, TARIS provides advisory services to entrepreneurs, innovators, philanthropic funders and impact investors who are focused on addressing complex global challenges. Areas of expertise include strategic and human resource planning, business development and fundraising, operational efficiency and entrepreneurial coaching and mentoring.
Founder
JULIE MCDOWELL
Julie has had a long and diverse entrepreneurial career which began when she was a graduate student at Cornell University researching the impact of textile trade policy on small and medium sized businesses in North America. In 1989, she and business partner founded a successful promotional merchandise and uniform business with operations in Canada and the US, which they grew and then sold in 1999.
In 2003, Julie made a career transition to the field of global health, becoming Regional Director for Orbis Canada. In 2007, she founded TARIS and since then has worked as an advisor to philanthropic foundations and not-for-profit organizations, and as a venture advisor, board member and investor in diverse fields including services for people with disabilities, early childhood education, and sanitation in low-income urban settings.
Throughout her career, Julie has held several leadership positions including Member of the Investment Committee and Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Grand Challenges Canada, Member of the USAID Saving Lives at Birth Investment Panel, Chair of the Canadian Abilities Foundation, and Member of the Standing Selection Committee for the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada.
She holds a Master of Science in Human Ecology from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.