Dr. Angela Colantonio is the Director of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute and Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is also senior scientist at the KITE Research Institute Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-UHN. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, and the American College of Epidemiology. She received her PhD in epidemiology and public health from Yale University and has a MHSc in Community Health and BSc in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Colantonio holds a Canada Research Chair in Traumatic Brain Injury in Underserved Populations. She currently co-leads an internationally recognized program of research on acquired brain injury (www.abiresearch.utoronto.ca) with diverse foci on women, sex and gender considerations, work-related traumatic brain injury, and brain injuries in underserved populations, such as women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), individuals who intersect with the criminal legal system and persons who are vulnerably housed/homeless.

Dr. Jade Witten is a postdoctoral research fellow in the CEDAR Lab (Collaborative Evidence: Developing Awareness and Research for Brain Injury) at the University of British Columbia and in the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. She is a neuropsychologist by background (registered in South Africa), and completed her PhD in Psychology at Bangor University in the UK. Jade’s PhD research implemented emotion management tools to reduce frustration and anger for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) living in the community. Jade is committed to neurorehabilitation research that aims to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of people with ABI and their families.

Michelle is an accomplished non-profit professional with over two decades of experience working in the sector in both Toronto and Ottawa. She brings a wealth of knowledge to any role she undertakes and has a proven record of growth in both revenue and reach for small organizations. As Chief Executive Officer of Brain Injury Canada, she has led the organization in a new strategic direction solidifying its position as a credible information source, knowledge mobilizer and ally for those with lived experience, families, the healthcare/service provider community, as well as the medical and research community. In addition to managing day-to-day operations, she also oversees the development of all Brain Injury Canada’s education and awareness programs, as well as advocacy initiatives. Her demonstrated focus on collaboration and partnerships gives her the ability to look at the big picture, but also all the moving parts and how they fit together effectively and efficiently. She currently sits on the Executive Committee for the Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium, the Accessibility Advisory Committee for the Canadian Transportation Safety Agency, the Executive Committee for the Canadian Concussion Network and is Co-Chair of the Governing Council for Neurological Health Charities Canada. Past roles include Executive Director at the Brain Injury Society of Toronto and in Health Promotion at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Past committee involvement includes Toronto ABI Network Planning Advisory Committee, Toronto ABI Network Concussion Task Force and Ontario Advisory Council (OAC) for the Ontario Acquired Brain Injury Community Associations.

With over three decades of dedicated experience in trauma and brain injury advocacy, Janelle Breese Biagioni brings a wealth of personal and professional insight to her work. As the CEO of the CGB Centre for Traumatic Life Losses and a clinical counsellor, she spearheads initiatives aimed at providing support to individuals affected by trauma and loss, particularly survivors and their families grappling with the repercussions of brain injury.

In her advocacy role, Janelle serves as the Community Lead for the BC Consensus on Brain Injury, Mental Health, and Addiction. Notably, she played a pivotal role in shaping Bill C-277, advocating for the establishment of a National Strategy on Brain Injury Act at the federal level.

Driven by her extensive experience and unwavering dedication, Janelle is deeply committed to effecting positive change and raising awareness for those impacted by brain injury and associated challenges.

Dr. Brittany Dennis MBBS, PhD is a clinician scientist with training in general internal medicine and an area of focused competency in addiction medicine. She currently holds academic appointments as a full-time Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Social Medicine at the University of British Columbia and part-time Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine – Adjunct at McMaster University. She joins the British Columbia Center on Substance Use as a Clinician Scientist, with protected time from her role as an attending physician in Providence Health Care’s (PHC) Division of Addiction. Dr. Dennis has been awarded the 2023 Michael Smith Health Research BC/BCCSU Partnered Scholar award to support her leadership role on the research evaluation of the Road to Recovery Initiative. Dr. Dennis’ program of research within the BCCSU includes a collection of studies investigating emerging treatments and novel models of substance use care.

Prior to her undergraduate medical training at the University of London (MBBS), she completed a PhD in health research methodology at McMaster University. To establish capacity in large-data base analytics she received post-doctoral training at Stanford University, the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), and through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Research in Addiction Medicine Scholars Program (Boston and Yale University). Dr. Dennis has been an important contributor to 100 peer-reviewed publications, 20 national and international presentations, an expert panel for Canada’s 2023 national guidance on opioids for chronic non-cancer pain, and a textbook chapter on opioid use disorder.

Jules is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, having overcome immense challenges as a brain injury survivor. After enduring a grueling five-month coma and undergoing three surgeries, he embarked on a remarkable journey of rehabilitation, relearning to walk and talk with unwavering determination. Despite the odds, Jules has not only recovered but has also achieved the pinnacle of physical fitness, believing fervently that brain injuries are not permanent obstacles but rather challenges to be conquered on the path to healing and renewal.

Shirley Wilson is a long-serving trustee in the Abbotsford, BC school district, serving 20,000 students in a fast-growing city of 150,000+ residents. In her 19th year of elected service and much longer in community non-profit and charitable work, Wilson has committed to improving the lives of children, youth, and families with every role she has pursued.

Wilson was Mum to Jacob Wilson. He was the son of her family of two children, with Maddison being her daughter. Both Maddi and Shirley and his father Paul, have been left to grieve the loss of Jacob since November 11, 2021. At the too-young age of 24, Jacob lost his fight of addiction to overdose by fentanyl.

Colin’s practice focuses on labour and employment law, workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, privacy law and human rights. He is a trusted advisor and counsel to workplaces of all sizes, and takes pride in providing responsive, methodical and common-sense legal advice.