Elizabeth Taylor, PhD
Chair of the Board
Clinical Professor Emerita, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta
Elizabeth is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, as well as Associate Dean Professional of Programs and Teaching in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. She holds a Doctorate in Education – her research was entitled “Siblings growing up with a Sibling with Schizophrenia”. She teaches community development and mental health in occupational therapy, and is a course coordinator for INTD 410, a required inter-professional scenario based health science course in which over 1100 students participate each year. Her current research is in interprofessional team development as well as in mental health recovery programs.
A long term community advocate, who believes that research, must impact action - she has developed programs for those who live with mental illness; woman and children leaving abusive situations, and “Streetworks” a Harm Reduction Program. Over the past few years, she has been actively advocating for increased early access to rehabilitation and return to work programs for our injured Canadian soldiers and veterans.
She is the President of The House Next Door Society, a program that provides housing and support for those living with severe persistent mental illness. Awards have included: the Alan Blizzard Teaching Award for Interprofessional work; the Dr. Helen P. LeVesconte Award for professional service; a Fellowship in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists for her work in developing the current national educational accreditation program. She has been a consultant in education for the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, the Canadian Physical Therapy Association and the Ontario Government Graduate School Council. She is the past President of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.
Dr. Steven Smith
Deputy Chair of the Board
Deputy Vice-Principal Research
Dr. Smith is currently the Deputy Vice-Principal Research at Queen’s University, the Vice-President, Health Sciences Research at Kingston Health Sciences Centre, and the President & CEO of the Kingston General Health Research Institute.
As an internationally recognized structural biologist and biochemist, Dr. Smith has made remarkable contributions to Queen’s and the wider scientific community through his research on the role of macromolecular complex assembly in human health & disease, and as well as biomass turnover in the environment. These studies include a focus on transcription factor/coactivator complexes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and cardiovascular disease, as well as the enzymatic systems bacteria employ to degrade environmental and human-based complex carbohydrates. In recognition of his research accomplishments Dr. Smith has received the Queen’s University Chancellor’s Research Award, the Faculty of Health Science’s Mihran & Mary Basmajian Research Award, and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award. As an invited speaker, Dr. Smith has presented his work nationally and internationally, including in the U.S.A., Portugal, France, and Israel.
Prior arriving at Queen’s in 2001, Dr. Smith completed his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Western, where he also earned his PhD in 1998. He then completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oxford as a Burroughs Wellcome Hitchings-Elion fellow and McGill University as CIHR postdoctoral fellow. While at Queen’s, Dr. Smith has taken on a number of leadership positions, including Associate Head for the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Chair of the Undergraduate Biochemistry Program, and most recently Vice-Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Dr. Smith has demonstrated his commitment to students’ learning as an exceptional educator. His numerous awards include the Faculty of Health Sciences Education Award and Life Science Student Choice Teaching Award. Since 2004, he has also regularly received the Biochemistry 3rd Year Teaching Award.
Dr Marc Bilodeau
CEO, CISSS de l'Outaouais
Dr Marc Bilodeau is the President and CEO of the Outaouais Integrated Health and Social Services Center, in Gatineau, QC. He transitioned to this role after serving as Surgeon General for the Canadian Armed Forces, in Ottawa, ON, the culmination of a long military career with numerous clinical leadership and governance roles
Marc obtained his specialist certificate in family medicine in 2000. He also obtained specialist certification in emergency medicine in 2003. In 2014, he was awarded the Canadian Certification of Physician Executive (CCPE), that of Certified Health Executive (CHE) in 2017, Fellow (honorary) of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2021 and Fellow of the Canadian College of Health Leaders (FCCHL) in 2022.
In 2013, he became a surveyor for Accreditation Canada. He is a graduate of the National Security Program of the Canadian Forces College and completed a master's degree in public administration from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2019. Since 2020, he has been on the board of directors of the Canadian College of Health Leaders in addition to chair its finance and audit committee since 2022 and has just taken over as chair of the Fellows Council.
Mr. Michael Brennan
Chief Administrative Officer, National Police Federation
Michael Brennan is Chief Administrative Officer of the National Police Federation. He has 30 years’ experience in Third Sector leadership and health policy. Prior to taking the reins at NPF he was Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants and a consultant specializing in healthcare and association strategy & management.
From 2008 to 2017 he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. He was Co-chair of Organizations for Health Action – HEAL from 2013 to 2017. He was recently a visiting professor at National University in Bogota, Columbia, and he delivered the 2016 Founders’ Lecture for the United Kingdom Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Institute of Military and Veteran Health Research, and member of the Governance Committee of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Michael has published articles on health economics, the role of associations in generating social capital, responsible lobbying and non-profit Board strategic thinking. He lives in Ottawa, Canada with his wife Sandy and their two children.
Darren Johnston, C.D.
Associate, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
Darren Johnston is lawyer with Gowling WLG in Ottawa. Darren’s practice focuses on insurance and professional liability, as well as administrative law matters. Darren obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Ottawa in 2023.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Darren worked for the Department of National Defence where he served as an Operator for 17 years in Canada’s Tier-One Special Operations Force, Joint Task Force Two. Darren has received numerous medals and commendations for his work internationally and domestically on many high-profile operations of national interest.
Prof. Cecile Malardier-Jugroot
Vice-Principal Research at the Royal Military College of Canada
Prof. Cecile Malardier-Jugroot, as Vice-Principal Research at the Royal Military College of Canada, promotes research excellence in the rich and diverse environment of this Canadian Federal Institution and University. The Research Office supports and encourages all inquiry-based research while promoting RMC’s role as Leader in Defence Research. Dr. Malardier-Jugroot was appointed VPR in July 2020 and is a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Dr. Malardier-Jugroot was also Head of the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at RMC from 2017-20.
Dr. Malardier-Jugroot received her PhD from McGill University in Materials Science and held a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California at Berkeley in the field of protein folding and water dynamics before joining the Royal Military College of Canada as an Assistant Professor in 2007. Her research expertise is recognized in the field of nanomaterials for application in targeted drug delivery for cancer treatment and development of new materials as nanoreactors for applications in new energy sources. She holds a Canada Research Chair Tier2 in Self-Assembly and Nanomaterials.
Prof. Cecile Malardier-Jugroot is a very active member of the organizing committee of “Science meets Parliament”: a program presented in partnership between the Office of Canada’s Chief Science Advisor and the Canadian Science Policy Centre. The program is aimed at strengthening the connections between Canada's scientific and political stakeholders.
Dr. William Montelpare
Professor & Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island
Dr. Bill Montelpare completed his PhD from the University of Toronto in Community Health, specializing in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Exercise Science. He was the first director of the Health Studies Program at Brock University and was later appointed as director of the School of Kinesiology at Lakehead University. There, Dr. Montelpare worked with colleagues in Nursing and Professional Studies to create the first Masters in Public Health (MPH) program in Canada.
Dr. Montelpare's research is ongoing in the areas of evaluation of maternal/neonatal and child health with a specific emphasis on health in the early years (ages 1-5). A major research focus includes health promotion through the delivery of health science education in the elementary school classroom, as well as the development of web-based applications for data capture, data analysis, and dissemination of findings leading to the development of approaches for health surveillance as well as for the development of online delivery of curriculum.
Giselle Drew Walsh, CD
Veteran and Advocate
Giselle Drew Walsh, a passionate advocate for Veteran mental health, is a powerful voice for those who have served. As both the daughter of an Infantry soldier and a former Infantry soldier herself, she possesses a deep-rooted understanding of the unique challenges faced by those in the military and on the front lines.
Through her advocacy work, including her podcast "Breaking Dress Regs" and her role as Mrs. Canada Universe, Giselle leverages her platform to raise awareness, provide support to veteran organizations, and foster a culture of resilience. By representing Canada's military history and honoring the sacrifices of its soldiers, she aims to inspire and empower others to prioritize mental health and seek the necessary support.
With a personal connection to the military community, Giselle is committed to breaking down stigmas surrounding mental health and advocating for increased access to resources. Her dedication to this cause has made her a respected figure in the field, and her work continues to make a significant impact on the lives of veterans and frontline workers across Canada.