Public Advisory Council

My experience as a young ovarian cancer survivor has deeply shaped my commitment to advocating for more equitable and inclusive health care. I am driven by the belief that health data have the power to transform patient care—especially when they reflect the diverse realities of the people they serve. I aim to bring the voices of those who are often underrepresented into the conversation, guiding data-driven initiatives to make them truly patient-centred. With a Mechanical Engineering degree from McGill University, a PROSCI certification in change management, and a Professional and Personal Coach Certification from Concordia University, I bring a combination of analytical skills and a human-centred approach to my work. I also volunteer as a health citizen in research with Ovarian Cancer Canada and sit on their Board of Directors, where I advocate for early diagnosis and improved treatments for ovarian cancer. I am a member of the Quebec Cancer Coalition’s Patient Committee, working to advance cancer care across the province. My multicultural background as a South Asian Quebecoise enables me to connect with a broad range of communities. I hope to contribute to shaping data-driven health initiatives in the pursuit of better health care outcomes for all.

When I was introduced to the concept of patient engagement in 2020, I knew that I was in the right place. As someone with a basic science background who became a full-time caregiver in 2006, I wanted to contribute to research in a way that was meaningful and impactful, using the knowledge I gained as a parent navigating the health and education systems with my children. From 2017 – 2022, I was a member of a local district advisory council for education, which gave me an understanding of the importance of data to inform policy and practice. I am currently partnering on several projects related to COVID-19 and others that involve sharing or developing materials for patient engagement. I have been a member of the HDRN Canada Public Advisory Council since September 2022 and I am excited to be part of the process of using data to improve health and to educate the public about health data. I live in Prince Edward Island with my partner and six children.

I have spent more than 25 years as a charity leader. Kindness is my compass and storytelling is my superpower. My stories entertain and transform. I am the president of Leadership by Pratt, a business committed to unleashing the potential of charities and their leaders. I serve as chair of the Public Advisory Council and sit on the boards of the Kids Brain Health Network, Parachute Canada – Preventing Injuries Saving Lives, and the Regina Airport Authority. I am also chair of the Public Advisory Council for the Health Research Data Platform Saskatchewan. I co-host and co-produce the podcast For the Love of Kindness. I hold a Master’s Degree in Leadership and held the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation for 15 years.

I began volunteering as a patient partner in 2020 to act as an advocate to improve patient input in research. When I learned about the HDRN Canada Public Advisory Council, I was ecstatic at the opportunity to be involved and further my knowledge about health data. In my professional life, I am a resident physiotherapist in Nova Scotia and a graduate of the Doctor of Physiotherapy Program from Melbourne University in Australia. Since graduation in 2015, I’ve worked in Australia and Canada and as a result of my clinical experiences, I have developed a deep appreciation for health data to inform clinical practice and act as a driver to improve community and public health outcomes. I am grateful for this opportunity to sit on the Public Advisory Council, and I am incredibly excited to be involved in these efforts to help improve health outcomes in Canada.

I have a child and youth worker diploma and am currently working on a bachelor’s of Indigenous Social Work. As a person with lived experience, I have been involved in patient engagement for several years. I have co-authored opioid-related research publications, advised on drug policies, and sit on several advisory boards. I am a single mother by choice, a support worker, and a volunteer. As a social justice advocate in my community of Stratford, Ontario I promote peer support, harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches, working to address social inequalities in marginalized populations. I am also an artist, creator and avid vinyl collector.

I have dedicated my career to advancing health equity through collaborative strategies that foster thriving communities, integrating the perspectives of diverse marginalized voices. Past experiences have led me to advocate for public participation in decision-making and to promote the integration of lived experience in research. I have been contributing to local, provincial, national and international mental health initiatives for the past 20 years, helping to shape conversations on evidence-based approaches, ethics and policy advancement at the intersection of research, policy and practice. Since moving to Canada from France in 2006, I have been active in the francophone science-policy community through my volunteer work with the Canadian Science Policy Centre, and as a member of the Réseau Francophone International en Conseil Scientifique where I was recently appointed to lead a working group focused on the AI-disruptive technologies-health axis. I am an avid learner, currently pursuing postgraduate studies in European policy making (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) to deepen my understanding of the broader science-policy landscape. My undergraduate studies are in social work and I hold a Master’s degree in leadership from Royal Roads University.

I am a volunteer with several organizations involved in patient research and patient engagement, including as a Community Representative on the Health Research Ethics Board; as a Patient Representative for the Patient Advisory Council, NL SUPPORT, Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University; as a Patient Representative on the Citizen Advisory Committee for CIHR Strategic Planning 2020; as a Patient Partner with NL and Diabetes Action Canada – Virtual Care Demonstration Project; and as a Patient Partner with the SPOR Evidence Alliance. My volunteer activity in health care began when I retired from Bell Aliant after a career in communications, marketing, advertising and training. I have lived experience as a caregiver and an interest in promoting patient engagement in research.

My interest in health research began in 2022, when I was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, a form of soft tissue cancer and became heavily involved in patient research and patient engagement. Since then, I have volunteered through several organizations including Young Adult Cancer Canada; I also sit on the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Priority Setting Partnership Steering Group as a patient partner. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Chemistry and am in my final year of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I strive to use my advocacy role to help marginalized populations. I am both Mi’kmaq (through my dad) and a first-generation Canadian (through my mom), lenses I seek to utilize in my work with the Public Advisory Council.

I have extensive experience working with diverse populations in Manitoba and have served the settlement and integration sector for over 20 years. I am co-founder of the Ethno-cultural Council of Manitoba – Stronger Together, as well as co-founder of the Community Engaged Research on Immigration Network (CERI Network). I pioneered and directed the first comprehensive Indigenous Orientation Tool Kit for the settlement sector in Manitoba and beyond. I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor and marriage and family therapist, as well as a regulated Immigration Consultant. My current work as a Cross-Cultural Mental Health Specialist with Winnipeg Regional Health is to facilitate connections and bridge the formal mental health system with the ethnically-diverse newcomer population in Winnipeg. I have completed degrees in the areas of political science, religion and culture, and immigration consultancy as well as marriage and family therapy. My goal as a family therapist is to change the world one family at a time.

I work in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, as an exercise therapist, facilitating both pulmonary and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. In this role, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the complexity of health and how health data can be gathered and applied from a clinician’s perspective. I have also come to better understand the concerns clients face in managing both their health and their health information. Beyond therapy, I remain deeply connected to my hometown of Nipawin, Saskatchewan, a small but diverse community where I have had the privilege of coaching youth soccer, working in leisure services, assisting in chronic disease management through exercise therapy and even working as a cashier at my family’s local grocery store. These experiences, alongside my work in Moose Jaw, have shaped my passion for improving the well-being of our population. Through the Public Advisory Council, I am grateful for the opportunity to play a role in strengthening health data management and research across Canada.

I am Dakelh (Carrier) and belong to the Lhojuboo (Bear clan) in Northern British Columbia. I work as the Elder Wellness/educator at Soonats’ooneh Community Health Centre (previously CINHS), located in the traditional territory of Lheidli T’enneh, Prince George, BC. I received my social work diploma from the College of New Caledonia and mental health and addiction certificate from the University of Northern BC. I provide cultural training for staff, working with a wide range of health care providers, social workers, outreach support workers, mental health clinicians and administrators. This work has allowed health care professionals to understand the impacts of residential schools and systemic racism, as well as how to break down barriers of care and how providers can maintain positive therapeutic relationships with clients. I also work with many community partners and sit on various boards as an advocate for Indigenous people.

I am an engineer who is passionate about health care technology and how it helps improve people’s lives. My curiosity uprooted me from a rural village in Botswana and brought me to Canada where I graduated with a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Manitoba. I volunteer with various organizations, including Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation and SPOR Primary and Integrated Healthcare Innovations Network.

Helping family members through health challenges reinforced for me the importance of patient-centred care and how data can make a meaningful difference in health outcomes. It also strengthened my belief in the power of stories to build understanding and drive change. As a television journalist and communications professional, I’ve built a career connecting with people and sharing experiences that matter. People have always been at the centre of my world, and I bring that perspective to the Public Advisory Council, helping guide conversations and uncover new insights.

I am a registered dietitian and graduate student. I have been involved in research and patient engagement since 2019. I started as a member of the Youth Advisory Committee for the Canadian Collaborative for Childhood Cannabinoid Therapeutics and have gone on to work on projects in patient engagement with organizations including the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Canadian Nutrition Society, and Clinical Trials Ontario. I became a member of the Public Advisory Council to contribute a youth perspective to this national group as well as learn more about health data in Canada. Aside from academics and research, I am also a Team Canada para-fencer and compete internationally in wheelchair fencing.