Speakers

Regional Vice-President, Cancer Care and Vice-President, Social Accountability, Health Sciences North

Day 2 Speaker

Dr. Natalie Aubin has been an integral part of Health Sciences North (HSN) since 2012. As the Regional Vice-President of Cancer Care and Vice-President of Social Accountability, she oversees a diverse range of services including mental health and addictions, oncology, pediatrics, ethics, and spiritual care. Dr. Aubin also spearheads the organization’s health equity strategy, focusing on key areas such as French-language health services, Indigenous health, and initiatives promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Before assuming her current leadership role, Dr. Aubin spent a decade as the Administrative Director of the two largest departments within HSN’s Social Accountability portfolio: the North East Regional Cancer Program and the Mental Health and Addictions Program. In these capacities, she successfully guided the implementation of numerous priority initiatives, including establishing the first Virtual Psychiatry Program for rural hospitals in the Northeast and leading the regional strategy for the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program. She also played a pivotal role in developing a 20-bed Addiction Medicine Unit to enhance support for the region’s needs.

In addition to her administrative expertise, Dr. Aubin is an Adjunct Professor in Rural and Northern Health at Laurentian University and a former student and researcher at the Institut franco-ontarien. Her research and practice have contributed significantly to the fields of French-language health human resource planning, healthy aging for seniors, and mental health and addictions.

Dr. Aubin’s professional journey includes management positions at Collège Boréal, Public Health Sudbury & Districts, and the Children’s Aid Society of Nipissing & Parry Sound. She is fluently bilingual and holds a BA in Psychology, an MA in Human Development, and a PhD in Human Studies from Laurentian University. She is also an alumna of the Northern Leadership Development Program.

Her commitment to community service is reflected in her involvement with several boards, including the North East Community Care Access Centre, Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario, Maison McCullough Hospice, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario, Association of General Hospital Psychiatric Services. Recently, she was appointed to the Board of Directors at Collège Boréal, furthering her dedication to enhancing health care and social accountability.

York Region Social Assistance, Partnership Engagement Team

Day 4 Speaker

Joanne Barrington brings over two decades of experience in Social Services, with a career dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations across Ontario and Alberta. Her journey began in frontline Crisis Support for women fleeing domestic abuse and evolved into roles as a Behavioural Specialist and Supervisor working with children and youth in both treatment and educational environments.

Over the past ten years, Joanne has contributed to a wide range of municipal programs, including Homeless Community initiatives within shelter systems and Social Assistance Programs as an Integrated Wraparound Caseworker. She has also provided transitional support through the Addiction Services Initiative, helping individuals navigate recovery and reintegration.

Currently, Joanne serves on the Partnership Engagement Team in York Region, where she supports Social Assistance Programs and Services. She is passionate about fostering collaborative relationships and driving meaningful, client-centered outcomes for individuals and families facing complex challenges.

Executive Director, Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine, University Health Network

Day 2 Speaker

Dr. Andrew Boozary is a primary care physician, policy practitioner, researcher, and founding executive director of the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine at the University Health Network. As the driving force behind Dunn House, Canada’s first social medicine housing initiative, he has been a leader in integrating health care and housing to address the social determinants of health. His work focuses on advancing health equity and improving outcomes for underserved populations.

Dr. Boozary completed his medical training at the University of Toronto and health policy training at Princeton and Harvard. He has served in senior advisory roles for policymakers at various levels of government, shaping public policy on primary care reform and pharmacare. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Public Health Review and holds the Dalla Lana Professorship in Policy Innovation at the University of Toronto.

Recognized for his impact in health equity and social justice, Dr. Boozary is a Clarkson Laureate for Public Service, recipient of the King Coronation Medal, and the Louise Lemieux-Charles Health System Leadership Award.

Clinical Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University

Day 3 Speaker

Dr. Jean Clinton of McMaster University is one of four renowned experts to advise the Ontario government on bold reforms to the province’s publicly funded education system.

The clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine is a specialist in child psychiatry. Her expertise is in the development of young minds and she is recognized internationally as an advocate for children’s issues. Her special interest lies in brain development, and the crucial role relationships and connectedness play therein.

She speaks to many groups, advocating the importance of relationships, early child development and brain development, parenting and asset building. Jean champions the development of a national, comprehensive child well-being strategy including a system of early learning and child care for all young children and their families, which she believes plays a vital role in promoting healthy human development.

She is equally committed to ensuring that children’s and youths’ needs and voices are heard and respected, and she actively promotes the celebration of National Child Day. She has authored papers on early child development and poverty, infant neglect, children’s mental health, resilience, and on adolescent brain development.

Dr Clinton holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Education and a medical degree and Fellowship in Psychiatry from McMaster University. Jean’s greatest accomplishment is being the mother of 5 great kids who range in age from 21-31 years.

Director, Capital Strategies and Innovation, Housing Services Corporation

Day 1 Speaker

Bio coming soon.

Principal Consultant, S.M.D. Consulting Inc.

Day 3 Speaker

Results-oriented leader and accomplished consultant with over 10 years of extensive experience managing diverse-scale project initiatives in the nonprofit and public service landscape. Proven expertise in fostering equitable partnerships and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. Accomplished trainer and facilitator with a strong background in organizational behavior, change management, and executive-level leadership. Skilled in strategic planning, community engagement and outreach, program development and implementation, leading cross-functional teams and driving organizational growth and change through innovative solutions and collaborative leadership.

Sharon has worked in the Human Service Sector for over 25 years. She has held a variety of senior management positions from Executive Director, Director of Community Investment, United Way of Peel Region (UWPR) and most recently as Principal, SMD Consulting Inc.

Employment Services Worker, County of Simcoe

Day 4 Speaker

Bio coming shortly.

Director, Community Development and Services, Cochrane District Services Board 

Day 4 Speaker

As the Director of Community Development and Services, Christine Heavens brings extensive expertise to her role within the CDSB. She excels at conceptualizing, articulating, and executing solutions to address complex, multifaceted regional and community issues through culturally inclusive and person-centred approaches supported by strong community and business partnerships. With 25 years of management and leadership experience in the public sector—over half of which as a senior corporate leader —Christine has successfully led both in-person and remote teams.

Her innovative approaches and collaborative efforts to address systemic barriers have earned her considerable respect within the Cochrane district and across the province. Ms. Heavens is an active member of the Boreal SSM consortium and executive team, serves as chair of the Far Northeast Training Board, and the District School Board Ontario Northeast Special Education Advisory Committee.

Christine holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on global leadership, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a focus on Leadership in Learning, is a Certified Engineering Technologist, and a Survey Technician.

Director, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions; Professor, Department of Medicine, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto; Canada Research Chair in Homelessness, Housing, and Health

Day 2 Speaker

Dr. Stephen Hwang is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Director of St. Michael’s Hospital’s MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Homelessness, Housing and Health. He is a physician specializing in general internal medicine who has worked as a health care provider for people experiencing homelessness for more than 3 decades. Dr. Hwang’s research focuses on interventions to end chronic homelessness and to improve the health of homeless patients.

Director of Advocacy and Legal Services at the Advocacy Centre for Tenants (ACTO)

Day 1 Speaker

Bio coming soon.

Chief Executive Officer, Peterborough Child & Family Centres

Day 3 Speaker

Nicola Lyle is Co-Chair of the Early Years Provincial Network, representing nearly 80 community organizations, municipalities, and school boards delivering EarlyON services across Ontario. She also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Peterborough Child & Family Centres (PCFC), a charitable non-profit supporting expectant families, parents, and young children across Peterborough City and County.

At PCFC, Nicola provides strategic leadership for a wide range of services, including EarlyON programs, licensed child care, and federally funded initiatives such as the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and the Community Action Program for Children.

With a career dedicated to human services, Nicola brings expertise in early years programming, community partnerships, and family engagement. She is committed to ensuring inclusive, accessible, and high-quality supports for all families. Prior to joining PCFC in 2003, she worked in child welfare and municipal social services. Nicola holds a Master of Education in Adult Education, specializing in Community Development and Evaluation.

Educator/Consultant; Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia

Day 3 Speaker

Based in British Columbia, Canada, Dr. Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after inclusive education researcher, teacher, consultant and storyteller. She has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world. Her research explores how to support teachers to design for all learners in grade level academic classrooms that include students with intellectual disabilities using strength based and responsive approaches. Shelley completed her undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her Masters at Simon Fraser University, and her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia.

Affordable Housing Coordinator, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville

Day 1 Speaker

Caroline Rigutto is a dedicated public servant who has been working for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville’s Community and Social Services Division for almost 25 years. Caroline is an experienced policy analyst, building local policy to address the needs of persons living in low-income and to increase affordable housing options in Leeds and Grenville.  Through her work she has also supported non-profit housing providers’ operations and governance to have successful tenancies.   

Assistant Professor, Political Science, Centre for Social Sciences, Athabasca University

Day 1 Speaker

Alex B. Rivard is an assistant professor of political science in the Centre for Social Sciences at Athabasca University. He holds a PhD in political science from the University of British Columbia and his research focuses on public opinion in relation to housing. More specifically, he is interested in why people oppose new housing and whether we can change peoples’ minds about density and the construction of new housing.

Director, Mushkegowuk Employment & Training, Mushkegowuk Council

Day 4 Speaker

Bio coming shortly.

Founder and CEO, Pathways Housing First Institute & Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA

Day 2 Speaker

Sam Tsemberis developed Housing First based on the belief that housing is a basic human right. Housing First is an evidence-based program that operates in cities throughout the United States and in other countries. Dr. Tsemberis is a clinical-community psychologist and serves as CEO of the Pathways Housing First Institute and Clinical Associate Professor, at UCLA’s Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences. He has published numerous articles and two books on homelessness and mental illness and received recognition for his work from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, American Psychiatric and American Psychological Associations, Government of Canada, and in 2024 was recognized as one of the TIME100 world’s most influential people.

Child & Family Services Program Manager
Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre

Day 3 Speaker

Rhonda Turbide is the Child and Family Services Program Manager at the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre where she has worked for last 7 years. Children and youth have always been her passion since a young age. She is a registered Early Childhood Educator and has been working in the field for over 37 years in various capacities, including as manager, coordinator, supervisor, faculty and frontline worker.

Owner, Consultant, Trimeda Consulting

Day 4 Speaker

Bio coming shortly.