Biography

Event Planning Consultant & President, SmartLink Strategies Anthony is the president of SmartLink Strategies, a full-service event management and live stream production agency. Prior to founding SmartLink Strategies, Anthony was a project coordinator at a government network under the Canadian Federal Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) and has also worked with various [...]

Executive Director, Able2 Heather Lacey is currently the Executive Director of ABLE2. Her background includes leadership positions with the Ontario Ministry of Children & Youth Services (now known as the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services) and a British Columbia Delegated Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency. She holds a BA in [...]

CEO & Scientific Director, MITACS John Hepburn studied at the University of Waterloo (BSc, 1976) and the University of Toronto (PhD, 1980), followed by two years as a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He began his academic career back at the University of Waterloo, where he was appointed an [...]

Associate Executive Director, Cerebral Palsy Alberta Mezaun Lakha-Evin first joined the disability sector 30 years ago when her daughter was born with cerebral palsy. She is the Associate Executive Director with the Cerebral Palsy Alberta since 1998. Her area of expertise includes advocacy, changing attitudes and raising public awareness about the remaining challenges [...]

Human Rights Officer, Canadian Council for Disabilities Steven Estey is an International Human Rights consultant, with a focus on the human rights of people with disabilities.   In June of 2020 Steven finished a very successful two-year term as interim National Coordinator of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD).  He is also a [...]

Research Scientist, Brain and Mind Institute & Research Professor, Western University Bobby is a Research Scientist at the Brain and Mind Institute and Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario. He is interested in the social and cognitive development, the underlying changes to the brain, and the [...]

Dean, Faculty of Science Simon Fraser University Dr. Brooks-Wilson is the new dean of the Faculty of Science at Simon Fraser University starting October 31, 2022. She has significant experience in academia with degrees in Biochemistry, Medical Biophysics and Genetics from SFU, University of Toronto and University of British Columbia respectively. She has [...]

Director of Technology Licensing & IP Counsel, Simon Fraser University Kamaldeep is an IP Lawyer primarily focused on leading a team at Simon Fraser University (SFU) to spark innovation and help guide researchers on paths to IP commercialization. This involves growing and maintaining a comprehensive patent portfolio, managing a team to engage with [...]

Senator, Senate of Canada Senator Jim Munson is best known to Canadians as a trusted journalist and communications advisor. He reported on current affairs for more than thirty years, most notably as a bureau chief and foreign correspondent for CTV News. His reporting touched upon events around the globe – from Belfast to [...]

Chief Executive Officer, AIDE Canada Joanna is an experienced leader, passionate about disability advocacy and the non-profit sector. She is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School (Juris Doctor) and York University - Glendon College (Bilingual Master of Public Affairs).