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Our Team

The Experts Behind

Plan to Protect®

Meet the safeguarding professionals who help organizations strengthen 

abuse prevention practices and build safer environments for the vulnerable.

Our Team

The Experts Behind Plan to Protect®

Meet the safeguarding professionals who help organizations strengthen abuse prevention practices and build safer environments for the vulnerable.

  • 25+ Years of Proven Experience
  • Trusted by 10,000+ Organizations
  • Certified Training & Policy Experts

Melodie Bissell, D.Min

CHAIR & SR. SAFEGUARDING CONSULTANT

Having worked with churches, charities and not-for-profits in Senior Executive & risk management roles for most of her car…

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Josh Bissell, OCT

VICE-PRESIDENT

Josh joined the Plan to Protect® team in January of 2008 and became the Chief Operating Officer in 2018. He is a graduate of…

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Naomi Suggs

SR. POLICY CONSULTANT

Naomi worked with Plan to Protect® for 7 years in a number of different roles until she left before the birth of her 3rd child…
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Bronwyn Baker

SR. ACCOUNT & RESOURCE MANAGER

Bronwyn joined Plan to Protect® in January 2024. She has served the Lord since she was a young girl in a variety of capacities…

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Craig Ratz

ONLINE SERVICES TEAM LEAD

Craig Ratz joined Plan to Protect® in January of 2022. He was familiar with Plan to Protect® for years before joining the team. He is passionate…

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Brent Sloss

ACCOUNT MANAGER & MANAGER OF EXHIBITS & SPONSORSHIPS

As an ordained minister with MNC, Brent is very interested in helping churches, charities, and not-for-profits…

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Babajide 'Jide' Ogunsakin

SAFEGUARDING GENERALIST

Babajide Ogunsakin joined the Plan to Protect® team in February 2024 as a Safeguarding Generalist. Jide holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy…

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Beth Sweatman

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Beth joined Plan to Protect® in November 2024. She has served in children and youth ministries for many years and is passionate about…

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Erica Clinton

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR & BOOKKEEPER

Erica joined Plan to Protect® in April of 2023. She began with Plan to Protect® in a customer service role as she was finishing her education. She…

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Victoria Bissell, OCT

PROTECT MAGAZINE EDITOR

Tori worked with Plan to Protect® as our Director of Training for 6 years before moving to Kenya, where she works at Rift Valley Academy providing…

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Lynda Taylor

TRAINING ASSOCIATE

Lynda joined the Plan to Protect® team in 2012 and has worked in several different roles. She loves her current role as Training Associate. . .

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Mariesandra Kibisu

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Mariesandra Kibisu is a software developer driven by a desire to create meaningful impact through technology. She began working with Plan to Pr…

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Jason Lu

TRAINING REGISTRAR & CUSTOMER SERVICE

Jason joined Plan to Protect® in January 2026. Before joining the company, Jason served as a pastor and campus missionary…

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Gladdens Lau

CREATIVE DESIGNER & USER ENGAGEMENT

Gladdens joined the Plan to Protect® team in June 2026. She values using design to make important information…

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Advisory Board

Join The Team

Interested in supporting organizations as they strive for safer communities? 

Explore opportunities with Plan to Protect®.

Contact Our Team

Join The Team

Interested in supporting organizations as they strive for safer communities? Explore opportunities with Plan to Protect®.
Contact Our Team
  • 25+ Years of Proven Experience
  • Trusted by 10,000+ Organizations
  • Certified Training & Policy Experts

Need Support From Our Team?

Our trainers, specialists, and consultants are here to 

help your organization strengthen its 

safeguarding practices.

Need Support From
Our Team?

Our trainers, specialists, and consultants are here to help your 

organization strengthen its safeguarding practices.

Melodie Bissell, D.Min

Chair & Sr. Safeguarding Consultant

mbissell@plantoprotect.com

Having worked with churches, charities and not-for-profits in Senior Executive & risk management roles for most of her career, Melodie launched Plan to Protect®. fifteen years ago with a desire to raise the bar on safeguarding the vulnerable sector. She accomplishes this through consulting and providing leaders with the tools, training and momentum needed to accomplish their vision and goals while safeguarding the mission of the organization and their people. 

Melodie is an author of numerous books and journal articles, her most recent book is the 2022 version of Plan to Protect® A Safeguarding Guide for children, youth and adults. As a Victim-Advocate, Melodie is committed to giving voice to victim-survivors of abuse as she stewards the disclosures and stories of abuse on behalf of clients. In 2022, Melodie received her doctorate at the University of Toronto. The focus of her thesis was on nurturing the spiritual healing of victim-survivors of abuse. 

Josh Bissell, OCT

Vice President

jbissell@plantoprotect.com

Josh joined the Plan to Protect® team in January of 2008 and became the Chief Operating Officer in 2018. He is a graduate of Tyndale University College and Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy as well as a Bachelor of Education degree. Josh lives in Leeds, in the United Kingdom with his wife Esther. Josh is an avid reader and board-game enthusiast who uses his creative abilities to write games for his friends. Josh enjoys serving at his church, leading the University Fellowship and teaching regularly.

Naomi Suggs

SR. Policy Consultant

nsuggs@plantoprotect.com

Naomi began working for Plan to Protect® in 2011 and had a number of different roles over those first 7 years before she left for the birth of her 3rd child. After 5 years, and a 4th child, she returned to Plan to Protect® in 2023 in a new role oversee the Policy department. Naomi has a Master’s of Theological Studies from Tyndale Seminary and puts that degree to use as the Associate Minister for Children and Youth at her church, All Saints Kingsway. With four kids of her own, and with her work with Children and Youth, Naomi is deeply aware of and passionate about protecting the vulnerable. She is excited to be able to assist Plan to Protect’s clients and members with their policies as they strive to create safe environments for Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults.

Naomi lives in Mississauga with her husband, Brian and their four wonderful children, ranging in age from 16 years to 16months old. When she manages to carve out some time for herself, she enjoys being outside or curled up reading a good book.

Bronwyn Baker

Sr. Account Manager & Resource Manager

bbaker@plantoprotect.com

Bronwyn joined Plan to Protect® in January 2024. She has served the Lord since she was a young girl in a variety of capacities, both vocationally and non-vocationally, and has worked with all age demographics in the Church and also in the charity/not-for-profit sector. Bronwyn is a graduate of Liberty University and holds a Master of Arts in Worship Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Worship and Music Studies. Prior to joining Plan to Protect®, Bronwyn served as COO & Deputy Director of an international mission and held the role of worship leader in churches in Canada and the United States. Bronwyn is passionate about abuse prevention and safeguarding, and is committed to helping create environments where vulnerable people are protected, valued, and able to thrive.

Craig Ratz

Online Services Team Lead

cratz@plantoprotect.com

Craig Ratz joined Plan to Protect® in January of 2022. He was familiar with Plan to Protect® for years before joining the team. He is passionate about protecting the vulnerable sector, and helping others learn about and prevent abuse. He brings many years of technical training and customer service skills to the team, and was recently at Newmarket Alliance Church serving in a Technology Support and Communications role. He graduated from Tyndale University with a degree in History & Global Studies and English in 2020, and was married a few months later. He is newly serving as a Board Member for Newmarket Alliance Church.

Outside of work, you can usually find Craig reading a book or playing games with friends. He can talk all day about a variety of sports as well, and he gets way too excited about NCAA College Football.

Brent Sloss

Account Manager & Manager of Exhibits & Sponsorships

bsloss@plantoprotect.com

As an ordained minister with MNC, Brent is very interested in helping churches, charities, and not-for-profits establish policies, procedures, and best practices for abuse prevention and protection.

Brent is also the President and Founder of C2Sea Evangelistic Association.  He holds a MTh from Florida Christian University and he is also an author.  Brent and his wife Chani reside with their family in Kingston, ON.

Babajide 'Jide' Ogunsakin

Safeguarding Generalist

jogunsakin@plantoprotect.com

Babajide Ogunsakin joined the Plan to Protect® team in February 2024 as a Safeguarding Generalist. Jide holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a Masters degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, both from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. He is also enrolled in a Graduate Program in International Development at Humber College, Ontario, Canada.

Jide has been trained on Child Protection both in Africa (Nigeria) and North America (Canada) and has been working in this field since 2017.

Jide is a missionary and a teacher of the Word of God. He was a Sunday School teacher for many years with Foursquare Gospel Church Utako, Abuja Nigeria where He taught the Children class, Teenagers class, Baptismal class and Young Adult class. He is also a worship leader who has led various church and school choirs since his Secondary School (High School) days. Outside of work, you will find Jide enjoying his private time with family.

Beth Sweatman

Account Manager

bsweatman@plantoprotect.com

Beth joined Plan to Protect® in November 2024. She has served in children and youth ministries for many years and is passionate about creating safe spaces for young people to learn and grow in their relationship with God. She is honoured to serve the members of Plan to Protect® and help them create and maintain safe spaces for the vulnerable. Beth is also an Assistant Pastor at Crossfire Assembly serving in the Children’s Ministry. In her spare time, Beth enjoys playing tennis, walking her dog, and spending time with friends.

Erica Clinton

Office Administrator & Bookkeeper

efeld@plantoprotect.com

Erica joined Plan to Protect® in April of 2023. She began with Plan to Protect® in a customer service role as she was finishing her education. She graduated with an Accounting Diploma and has moved on to the role of bookkeeper. Erica is passionate about safeguarding the vulnerable sector and uses her experience in work and volunteering at her church to protect and prevent abuse. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends. She also enjoys all outdoor activities, especially swimming and anything by a lake!

Victoria Bissell, OCT

PROTECT Magazine Editor

vbissell@plantoprotect.com

Tori worked with Plan to Protect® as our Director of Training for 6 years before moving to Kenya, where she works at Rift Valley Academy providing Child Protection Supervision to over 500 students. She graduated from Wilfred Laurier University and Nipissing University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Education. She loves children and has worked with kids as a Day Camp Director, Assistant Children’s Pastor and Teacher.

Tori loves traveling and has traveled extensively across Canada, USA, Italy, Bolivia and the UK. She is creative and loves photography and scrapbooking.

Lynda

Training Associate

ltaylor@plantoprotect.com

Lynda joined the Plan to Protect® team in 2012 and has worked in several different roles. She loves her current role as Training Associate where she supports our students as they move through our various certification courses.

Lynda is aware of the need to have Plan to Protect® Trainers in organizations to help safeguard the vulnerable sector and those who serve them. One role she loves is coaching those presenting their practicums and encouraging them along within their certification.

Outside of work, Lynda loves to read and spend time with her family and friends over a coffee or meal.

Mariesandra Kibisu

Software Developer

mkibisu@plantoprotect.com

Mariesandra Kibisu is a software developer driven by a desire to create meaningful impact through technology. She began working with Plan to Protect® in October 2025, where she contributes to safeguarding efforts by supporting the development of thoughtful, reliable digital solutions that help organizations better protect their communities.

Former student at McGill University, Mariesandra pursued a degree in Software Engineering and Economics. Her studies reflect a strong interest in how technology and economic systems can work together to improve access, efficiency, and long-term impact.

Born in Kenya, Mariesandra brings a global perspective to her work, shaped by her background and commitment to continuous learning. She is passionate about using her skills to build tools that not only solve problems but also make a difference in people’s lives.

Jason Lu

Training Registrar & Customer Service

jlu@plantoprotect.com

Jason joined Plan to Protect® in January 2026. Before joining the company, Jason served as a pastor and campus missionary in Greater Toronto Area. He holds a Master of Theological Studies from McMaster Divinity College. Jason enjoys providing tech support, passionate about God’s people, safeguarding the vulnerable sector, and raising awareness of abuse prevention. Jason lives in Markham with his wife, Maggie, and their son, Eugene. Outside of work, he
enjoys history, archery, driving manual, and exploring good food spots.

Gladdens Lau

Creative Designer & User Engagement

glau@plantoprotect.com

Gladdens joined the Plan to Protect® team in June 2026. She values using design to make important information easier to access and understand. Her work helps safeguarding resources reach the people who need them most. She is grateful to use her God-given gifts to support the company’s mission. Gladdens holds an Honours Bachelor of Interaction Design from Sheridan College, where she developed a foundation in user-centred design thinking and user interaction principles.

Outside of work, Gladdens enjoys photography, sewing, and other hands-on crafts, along with spending quality time with friends and family.