Who is the UP Family?
Mihiri Leitan (She/Her), Founder, President and CEO
As a mother of a pre-mature child, I was always concerned about my child’s development, and I wanted to provide her with all the tools that could help her reach her developmental milestones. The desire I had to help my daughter reach her developmental goals inspired me to create toys that could promote and support a child’s developmental needs, while being fun and engaging. My goal for UP TOYS is to make toys that are engaging, and that will support and promote a child’s learning and developmental needs. As a mom, I strive to provide my child with toys that are free from toxic materials. That is why every toy we make is free from toxic materials, is made with natural beech wood, and contains no harmful coatings or paints. For the future of UP TOYS, I would like to create products that will continue to engage and promote the development of your little one throughout their early childhood. By observing your child, you will be able to choose the toys that are right for them while knowing that they are designed to promote their developmental needs.
Through my years of experience as a paediatric nurse I have engaged with children from infancy to their teens with acute and chronic illnesses, and have gained valuable experience in assessing their growth, development, and mental health. Further, with my previous experience in molecular biology and biochemistry, I understand the harmful effects toxic materials can have on the human body, and that is why it is so important to me that we provide you with toys that are safe for your precious little ones.
All our toys are designed by me and handcrafted by a family-owned business. Just like the famous African proverb says, “it takes a village to raise a child”. Likewise, I think it takes a village to build toys that meet your child’s needs. Please meet the rest of our UP Family.
Photo credit: modabellaphotography
Thilini Leitan (She/Her), Co-Founder, VP Research & Development
Thilini is an educator who believes that education can be fun and that we are all educators for the children in our lives. She holds a Masters of Education and is passionate about education as a building block for the future leaders of tomorrow. Thilini brings years of experience working with youth and young adults empowering them to be future leaders at a large post-secondary institution. Thilini is deeply involved in Girl Guides of Canada both as a leader and as a youth member. As a district co-commissioner and a Girl Guide leader, Thilini was able to help girls and young women discover their potential, develop their skills and abilities, and grow into leaders themselves.
Both Thilini and Mihiri were inspired by their mother who is an early childhood educator of 20+ years. As immigrants to Canada, they saw how learning through play supported their development and numerous other little ones. Further, as women of colour they are excited about the opportunity they have to share their passion for education and play. With each UP TOY they hope that you will build connections with your little ones and see them go from trying something for the first time to mastering it.
Stephanie Cyrus (She/Her), AVP, Research & Development
Stephanie is a middle school teacher with a master’s in art therapy and counseling. She is passionate about supporting the development of young minds, and the impact of social-emotional learning through play. As an educator she is always learning and discovering new ways to inspire and engage her students. She has facilitated art therapy groups for young children. And she believes art and play are super important for a child’s growth and development. Stephanie’s creativity and passion for educational toys, is driving her to design new toys that will be included in our future product offerings.
meet the rest of our team
Joseph Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Joseph Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Joseph Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Joseph, a proud dad to his little girl, believes in building a sustainable economy for his little one and yours. He brings years of experience in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) as a responsible investing professional in the financial industry. Joseph believes that long-term sustainability is paramount for UP TOYS and he ensures that all relevant factors are accounted for when assessing risk and returns.
Joseph is dedicated to developing sustainable toys that provide a chance for you to bond and foster stronger relationships with your little one.
Salman Arif (He/Him)
Joseph Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Joseph Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Salman, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) professional, has a passion for using data-driven design principles coupled with advances in cognitive science to build products that focus on child development. His experience in AI and machine learning gives him a unique perspective in thinking about children’s cognitive abilities and how your child can improve their interpersonal and intellectual skills through innovative toys. He believes in building products that allow children to feel connected, stimulated and challenged.
Angelo Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Joseph Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Angelo Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Angelo, an actuary by profession, has a knack for numbers and problem-solving. He is excited to be part of a company that develops toys to help young children develop early problem-solving and numerical skills. As a former instructor at a learning center, Angelo enjoyed motivating students to think of different ways to solve complex math problems.
He believes that just like when confronted with a challenging math equation, a child playing with an UP TOY will develop perseverance as they try to solve the problem in front of them. He encourages his niece to count all the different UP TOYS and use toys as a way to gain a passion for numbers, just like him.
Peter Vo (He/Him)
Joseph Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Angelo Kurukulasuriya (He/Him)
Peter is an experienced sales professional who believes in building loyalty and trust with customers. He values all our customers and strives to ensure that UP TOYS provides the best experience for parents and their little ones. He has a passion for creating community engagement and believes that as you connect with the UP Family you are growing the community of support for your little one. Peter values family and is excited for you to join our UP Family through the purchase of an UP TOY.