About
Improving Consultation & Engagement Through AI
Middle Ground’s vision is to be the preeminent partner to organizations wanting to enhance their consultations and engagement practices and outcomes using AI. We are an integrated team of engagement specialists, experienced AI engineers and business advisors.
We are solutions-focused, offering a tailored blend of technology and advisory services to create a safe, user-friendly AI consultation and engagement solutions that provides a simple way for the public to ask plain language questions and get clear, accurate answers about major projects.
Meet the Team
CO-CEO: ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Tamara brings 20+ years’ experience in corporate communications, public affairs and government relations to her clients, including eight years at Canada’s top two public relations and public affairs firms and almost seven years owning and running Coast Communications and Public Affairs. Before that she spent 11 years in public service advising Provincial Ministers and Mayors in B.C.
Tamara’s main interest is how to bring an integrated set of solutions to help clients communicate with audiences, build profile and reputation. She is an expert in issues management and crisis communications, in which she frequent trains clients. As a trained social scientist (Anthropologist),Tamara is committed to using research and insights on which to base programs. Tamara’s clients have included some of B.C.'s largest companies and organizations, including marine shippers, terminals and ports, business and industry associations, regulated utilities, the energy sector, including clean energy, natural gas and LNG projects and associations, forestry and mining companies, universities, transportation organizations, municipal governments, Indigenous Governments, not-for- profits and others.
Tamara spent seven years in B.C. Government communications, in Manager and Director roles, leading all communications for the Ministries of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources, Transportation and the Treaty Negotiations Office and also served as communications, government relations and marketing director for Partnerships BC (now Infrastructure BC), the provincially-owned company responsible for capital project procurement. Before that she ran a B.C.-wide consultation program for the Legislature on treaty negotiations, and spent four years advising Mayors and City Managers on Aboriginal relations and treaty negotiations.
Tamara has honours Undergraduate and Master’s Degrees in Anthropology from UBC, focused on B.C. Indigenous Nations and contemporary and historic political and cultural issues. She worked collaboratively and lived on the lands of the Stó:lō people and her Master’s research was focused Stó:lō cultural education programing.
Tamara grew up in small-town B.C. in Penticton, and lives in East Vancouver with her husband and son. She is an avid creator, including painting, sewing and calligraphy and loves to read. She has a passion for community volunteering and governance. She is a board member of the BC Parks Foundation; former Chair of the Kettle Friendship Society Board, a mental health care and housing organization; the former Chair of the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House as well as its Fundraising Committee; the former chair of the Public Affairs Association of Canada BC Chapter and is a member of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Surrey Board of Trade, Clean Energy BC, Canadian Public Relations Society, International Association of Business Communicators. She is trained in public engagement and consultation through the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2), of which she is a member.
CO-CEO: OPERATIONS & FINANCE
Julian has over 20 years of strategy consulting experience. He joined Deetken Insight, a leading Vancouver-based strategic advisory company, in 2010 and became a partner in 2020.
His specialty areas include operational strategy, business case development, financial modelling, economic impact assessments, agile-based project management methods, and performance measurement framework design. He leads Deetken’s economic and labour market research and analysis practice. A true generalist strategy consultant, he has led hundreds of engagements for senior executives across a range of public and private sector organizations.
Julian is passionate about blending rigorous analysis with deeply intentional facilitation to build winning strategies for his clients. Early in his career, Julian worked as a policy analyst for the Government of Canada in multiple departments, both in Ottawa and Vancouver. Julian completed his BA in Political Economy from Princeton University and his MA in Political Science (Public Policy) from the University of Toronto. He holds International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) and scrum product owner certifications.
Julian is deeply committed to working with community partners to help all individuals achieve their quality of life aspirations. He recently served as board chair of the BC Centre for Ability, a leading BC-based non-profit organization that provides family-centred and vocational services to people with disabilities. Julian enjoys spending time outside and exploring his East Vancouver neighbourhood with his family.
CTO - CLIENT SOLUTIONS
At the forefront of AI innovation stands Jasper Rowan, a Berkeley-educated engineer whose expertise bridges the realms of artificial intelligence, graph theory, and large language models.
With a foundation in electrical engineering and computer science from UC Berkeley, Jasper has established himself as a pioneering force in developing sophisticated AI solutions that push technological boundaries.
As Lead Full Stack Software Engineer at DSCO, Jasper architected a groundbreaking AI discovery tool that transformed social media content analysis. His innovative work with image recognition technology and management of a 14-million-profile dataset showcases his ability to handle complex data at scale. His expertise in infrastructure as code has set new standards for rapid deployment practices in both development and production environments.
Jasper's mastery of advanced AI technologies, particularly in Large Language Models (LLMs), embeddings, and cross-encoder architectures, has revolutionized how organizations approach knowledge management and data analysis. His work in developing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems and graph-based knowledge representation demonstrates a deep understanding of cutting-edge AI architectures and their practical applications.
At BlockBeat, Jasper's engineering prowess shone through in the development of a sophisticated news aggregation platform. By implementing advanced AI models for content analysis and creating intuitive data visualization interfaces, he proved his ability to translate complex technical capabilities into user-friendly solutions. His work seamlessly combines backend AI processing with engaging frontend experiences, showcasing his full-stack expertise.
As Co-founder of Cypress AI and former Lead Engineer at GreenVault, Jasper has demonstrated not just technical excellence but also strategic business acumen. His experience in product management, investor relations, and legal compliance adds a valuable dimension to his technical leadership. At GreenVault, he led the successful development of a cryptocurrency product MVP, highlighting his ability to navigate both technical challenges and business requirements.
What distinguishes Jasper is his comprehensive approach to AI development. Whether architecting RAG systems, implementing graph-based solutions, or deploying full-stack applications, he brings a holistic perspective that combines technical innovation with practical business value. His work demonstrates that effective AI solutions require not just technical expertise, but also a deep understanding of how these technologies can be leveraged to solve real-world challenges.
Today, Jasper continues to advance the field of AI technology, focusing on developing sophisticated systems that combine LLMs, graph theory, and machine learning. His journey from computer science graduate to AI innovator exemplifies the kind of technical leadership needed to drive the next generation of intelligent solutions.
CTO - ENGINEERING AND PRODUCTS
At the intersection of artificial intelligence and practical innovation stands Callam Ingram, a Berkeley-educated computer scientist whose work is reshaping how organizations harness AI technology.
Rising from his foundations in behavioral science and computer science at UC Berkeley, Callam has built a reputation for turning complex AI concepts into tangible business solutions.
As co-founder of Cypress AI, Callam pioneered an AI-driven platform that has revolutionized RFP response management. At the heart of this innovation is a sophisticated RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) system that combines cross-encoder architectures, AI-generated knowledge graphs, and contextual retrieval technologies. This groundbreaking approach transforms traditionally labor-intensive proposal processes into a streamlined, intelligent system that delivers unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. His innovative approach to AI development demonstrates a keen understanding of both technical requirements and business needs, consistently delivering solutions that drive efficiency and growth.
Drawing on his expertise in cloud architecture and machine learning, Callam's work spans from grassroots development to strategic leadership. His mastery of advanced AI technologies, particularly in Large Language Models (LLMs), embeddings, and RAG systems, has revolutionized how organizations approach knowledge management and data analysis. His stint as Founding Engineer at DSCO showcased his talent for developing sophisticated AI models for social media analysis, while his role as Director of Strategy at GreenVault demonstrated his ability to translate technical capabilities into business value through economic benchmarking and strategic planning.
What sets Callam apart is his unique combination of technical mastery and strategic vision. His expertise in graph-based knowledge representation and infrastructure deployment complements his ability to architect complex AI systems. Whether developing advanced AI models for proposal creation or implementing data integration solutions, he brings a problem-solver's mindset and an innovator's spirit to every project. His work consistently demonstrates that AI isn't just about automation – it's about reimagining what's possible through the sophisticated interplay of cutting-edge technologies.Beyond his technical accomplishments, Callam has proven himself as a bridge-builder, fostering strategic partnerships and leading digital marketing initiatives that amplify organizational impact. His approach combines technical excellence with practical business acumen, making complex AI solutions accessible and impactful across industries. His work seamlessly integrates backend AI processing with engaging frontend experiences, showcasing his full-stack expertise.
Today, Callam continues to push the boundaries of AI application, focused on developing sophisticated systems that combine LLMs, graph theory, and machine learning. His journey from computer science graduate to AI innovator reflects not just professional growth, but a commitment to transforming how we work through intelligent technology.
MANAGER - ANALYTICS & INTEGRATION
Josh Syer is a Business student who is fascinated by the application of AI in public consultation and engagement.
Josh created the initial prototype which served as a model that guided the development of Middle Ground into the product it is today. Josh is always seeking the newest technology to implement into Middle Ground.