Roya Damabi, Director, Innovation & System Transformation

rdamabi@nourishleadership.ca

Roya is a systemic design practitioner, design facilitator, and ever-curious biomimic-in-progress. She has worked in and between the public, nonprofit, and private sectors on a range of policy, strategy, engagement, and futures-forward projects from social well-being to energy futures. She has worked in and with social labs, helping to nurture and grow the social innovation ecosystem through project, capacity building, and convening work. She has built and led trainings and communities of practice, creating ways for people to learn and work together in more systemic, relational, and playful ways. Roya makes Edmonton home in Treaty 6 Territory.

ALISON FORESTELL (Chair)

Alison is responsible for the development, growth and execution of the CMA Foundation’s strategic plan. Through the power of connection and collaborative partnerships Alison develops and implements strategies and approaches to support the health of Canadians and the communities we live in. Alison’s passion for philanthropy began early in her career as the owner of a successful direct marketing agency, where she helped local and national charities raise funds and profile. This meaningful work exposed her to the vibrant and important work of Canada’s charitable sector. Alison worked directly for The Ottawa Mission and United Way Ottawa in a variety of roles including fundraising, strategic planning and donor relations, in order to help Ottawa’s most vulnerable people.

LAURA SALMON (Secretary)

Laura is originally from the Nak’Azdli First Nation in British Columbia but has lived and worked in the Yukon since graduating from the Yukon First Nations Dietetic Internship Program in 2000.  For 12 years, Laura fulfilled a broad and interesting role as Dietitian at First Nations Health Programs (FNHP), Whitehorse General Hospital.  Laura completed her Masters in 2003 in Montreal studying the impact of diabetes prevention efforts on Mohawk children in Kahnawake.  For 8 years, Laura has been in the Director role for FNHP and she is accountable for ensuring that the holistic health needs of self-identified First Nations, Inuit and Metis patients are met by Yukon Hospitals.  She also contributes to the planning and direction of corporate initiatives to advance Indigenous health and considers the impact of hospital programs, services, and individual care on people. Laura enjoys spending time with her family, and being active outdoors.  Her favorite Traditional Food is cranberries picked in Yukon autumn.

JENN THORNHILL VERMA (Treasurer)

Jenn is a non-profit executive, freelance journalist and landscape painter from Newfoundland and Labrador living in Ottawa. Before joining the McMaster Health Forum in 2021, Jenn worked for fifteen years with the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (now Healthcare Excellence Canada). As a reporter, Jenn has bylines in over a dozen publications and published her first book (Cod Collapse) in 2019 (Nimbus publishing). Jenn holds a Master of Science in Medicine (Memorial University of Newfoundland) and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction (University of King’s College). In 2020, Jenn became a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

Nicolina Farella, McConnell Foundation

Nicolina is Program Director at the McConnell Foundation since 2014. She is involved in many key portfolios, including their climate focus area, their collaborations in Montreal and their mental health portfolio.  She sits on the board of Imagine Canada and is part of the Public policy committee. Prior to working at the Foundation, she was Science and Innovation Officer with the British Consulate-General in Montréal. She also coordinated Ashoka Canada’s fellow selection process and worked as a consultant to several environmental and international development organizations. She has a PhD in environmental sciences, on the links between farming practices, deforestation and eco-health in Brazilian Amazonia.

LAURA ARRELL, Arrell Family Foundation

Laura Arrell is the Managing Director of the Arrell Family Foundation, which works to improve human and planetary health through food. A director of her family’s foundation for many years, she has been running it since 2015. Prior to working at the Foundation, Laura worked at the US investment bank Raymond James as Managing Director, US Institutional Equity Sales. She is also a mother to three children, and is passionate about cooking and anything related to food and travel.

FIONA A. MILLER, CASCADES

Fiona A. Miller, MA, PhD, is a Professor of Health Policy in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto (UofT). She holds the Chair in Health Management Strategies, is a UofT Connaught Scholar and Chairs the Research Subcommittee of the university’s Committee on the Environment, Climate Change & Sustainability.  

Miller directs the UofT Centre for Sustainable Health Systems and a national initiative for climate action and awareness in healthcare: CASCADES. In these roles, she leads and supports efforts to improve the sustainability of health systems through research, education, practice change and policy development. As a policy scholar, Miller brings a critical political economy perspective to the analysis of technological innovation and sustainability transitions. 

SARAH STERN, Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security

Sarah Stern leads Community Involvement for Maple Leaf Foods and the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security. The Centre works to increase reliable access to good food and reduce food insecurity for all Canadians. This includes increasing public awareness and engagement, building collaboration across all sectors, investing in community-based interventions, and advocating for policies that provide structural solutions. Sarah has an MBA from the Rotman School of Management and a BA from Mount Allison University and has spent the majority of her career in the non-profit sector working to build cross-sectoral partnerships to create social change.

JULIANA SPROTT, Sprott Foundation

Chief Giving Officer, The Sprott Foundation travels to more than 30 countries, in particular trips to India, Kenya, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, resulted in Juliana’s three main themes which guide her philanthropic work: compassion for those in need, having enthusiasm for life and its possibilities, and savouring the moments of pure fun on this beautiful planet.

She is driven by genuine compassion about a charity’s financial needs which are aligned with the Sprott vision. She builds deep relationships with grantees to figure out together how Sprott gifts can help alleviate homelessness and hunger. Innovation is key.

Juliana has a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario and completed the one-year program, The Philanthropy Workshop, at the Institute for Philanthropy. She is fluent in English and French. Prior to her work in philanthropy, Juliana was in sports broadcasting, including on Hockey Night in Canada and in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Schad Foundation is a private Canadian family foundation founded in 1987. We work to build a healthy future for people and nature through grants supporting environmental education, biodiversity conservation, and access to nutrition.

MARK CABAJ

Mark supports Nourish to apply a Developmental Evaluation approach to understanding results and impact across our various streams of work. Mark is President of the consulting company, From Here to There. He has been a front-line worker in human service and Indigenous community organizations in north-eastern Alberta and held executive positions with the Polish government’s international aid departments, the UNDP, the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, and mostly recently as Vice President of the Tamarack Institute. In 2012, Mark founded Here to There to work directly with organizations and communities tackling complex issues such as neighborhood renewal, poverty and homelessness, food security, community safety, educational achievement and health. He is particularly active in the areas of social innovation, collective impact, multi-stakeholder processes and developmental evaluation. Mark lives in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) with his partner Leann and their children Isaiah and Zoë.

KELLY GORDON, RD, B.Sc (Nutri. Sci.), CO-CHAIR

Kelly has worked as a registered dietitian for 20 years, prioritizing community wellness. Kelly is Kanyen’keha (Mohawk), French and Irish, also a proud mother of two energetic children. A graduate from McGill University, she has strived to use her experience and knowledge to support well-being within Indigenous communities. Currently Kelly works with Six Nations Health Services as a Portfolio Lead, Community Health & Wellness. She is co-chair of the Nourish Indigenous and Allies Advisory, supporting work to increase access and availability of Indigenous foods within healthcare settings. Kelly has presented and advocated to a variety of audiences speaking to how “food is a pathway towards reconciliation”, looking towards Indigenous food and food ways in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada’s calls to action. Her work focuses on acknowledging Indigenous knowledge and how it can be integrated into her everyday work, supporting community members on their journey towards their own wellness.

TESSIE HARRIS

Tessie Harris is a registered dietitian with a particular interest in local and traditional food systems. She is fascinated by the intersections of food, health, culture, society and policy and the opportunities for innovation within these systems. She completed the Nourish Innovator Program while working and living on the land of the Haida Nation, on Haida Gwaii, BC. During this time, she facilitated the food service transition at the Northern Haida Gwaii Hospital from re-therm to on-site cooking, in turn increasing the opportunities to include local and traditional foods on the patient menu. Through the Nourish Innovator Program, Tessie was introduced to new ways of working, collaborating, and exploring systems change, which she brings to her role on the Nourish Indigenous and Allies Advisory, as well as supporting the Nourish Indigenous Foodways work. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics and a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Public Health, and is committed to supporting self determination, healthy equity, and culturally safe healthcare.

KATHY LOON

Kathy Loon is the VP of Indigenous Services, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre. Her professional background is business and corporate development. She started working for Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre in June 2013 with a mandate to further develop/implement the traditional programs within the Hospital. These programs included Wi’Chiwewin (patient/client support services), Odabidamagewin (governance and leadership program), Andaa’iwewin (traditional and ceremonial practices), Mashkiki (traditional medicines) and Miichim (traditional foods). Her role changed in 2015 to Traditional Programs Manager, and in 2021 as the Executive Lead for Indigenous Collaboration & Relations. She has almost 30 years’ experience working for First Nations and Indigenous organizations/businesses in the areas of economic, business and corporate development. 

Her passion for equitable access to quality health care is complemented by her experience in lobbying and negotiations, project management, finance and economic growth, corporate restructuring and strategic planning- all of which guide her day-to-day work with our senior team. 

Kathy is originally from Slate Falls First Nation. She is fluent in Ojibway and is an avid hunter and loves to net fish.

MAURICE MATHIEU

Maurice (Moe) Mathieu is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of Canada for Culinary Arts and its Applied Degree in Culinary Operations. He is a certified Red Seal Chef as well as a past Chef Instructor. He is also a proud Saskatchewan Metis and recently retired as Director of Nutrition for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Moe’s culinary experiences ignited a flame for excellence and he always strives to be involved in as many local boards and groups that focused on local food and Saskatchewan people. When Moe is not working on food related projects, he can be found in his garden where he is always working on how to grow the world’s best tasting tomato.

CHARLOTTE PILAT BURNS

Charlotte Pilat Burns lives on Treaty 6 territory and the homeland of the Métis.  She is a retired Registered Dietitian at the Saskatchewan Health Authority where she promoted the importance of food in healing and nourishing the body, mind ,and soul.  As a Nourish Innovator, she collaborated on several national projects including Indigenous Foodways and Sustainable Menus. Charlotte is Métis and is actively learning more about the land we live on as part of the pathway to Reconciliation.

LAURA SALMON 

Laura is originally from the Nak’Azdli First Nation in British Columbia but has lived and worked in the Yukon since graduating from the Yukon First Nations Dietetic Internship Program in 2000.  For 12 years, Laura fulfilled a broad and interesting role as Dietitian at First Nations Health Programs (FNHP), Whitehorse General Hospital.  Laura completed her Masters in 2003 in Montreal studying the impact of diabetes prevention efforts on Mohawk children in Kahnawake.  For 8 years, Laura has been in the Director role for FNHP and she is accountable for ensuring that the holistic health needs of self-identified First Nations, Inuit and Metis patients are met by Yukon Hospitals.  She also contributes to the planning and direction of corporate initiatives to advance Indigenous health and considers the impact of hospital programs, services, and individual care on people. Laura enjoys spending time with her family, and being active outdoors.  Her favorite Traditional Food is cranberries picked in Yukon autumn.

ROXANNE NOTELY

Roxanne works with an Indigenous organization serving the interest of over 6000 members in the position of Food Security Coordinator. Due to increasing concerns for food security and sovereignty, the NunatuKavut Community Council created an office in 2021 to address the challenges and ensuring that members always had access to nutritional food. Roxanne is a very proud Inuk and feels very fortunate to be offered the opportunity to make such an impactful contribution to her community. She continues to work and live in her home town of Port Hope Simpson, a small village along the south coast of Labrador.

Roxanne enjoys all there is to do and experience in Labrador. She is involved in many outdoor activities, which include fly-fishing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, skiing, hiking, berry picking, hunting, cutting firewood, boil ups, kayaking, etc. This way of life is remarkable and she understands how blessed she is to be able to continue living where she grew up when so many have had to leave in search of an easier way of life. For over 20 years her work primarily involved preserving the “Labrador Lifestyle” through working with various partners with the goal to secure a strong vibrant region. She has served on numerous boards and involved in many think tanks that influence policy and the wellbeing of people around her. She is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her dedicated service to her peers, community and Canada. Also, a commendation medal from Brigadier-General, Commander Land Forces Atlantic Area in recognition for professionalism and swift action conducted during a Ground Search and Rescue mission.

Roxanne’s goal is to effectively work with NunatuKavut and key partners, ensure that members always have access to affordable healthy foods.

SHELLY CRACK

Shelly Crack has been a registered dietitian with Northern Health for 15 years. She focused the first half of her career on providing community dietitian services to a variety of first nation communities in Northern British Columbia.  Living and working on Haida Gwaii, an island off the coast of BC with an abundance of local and traditional food, has taught Shelly the importance of people’s connection to their land and food.  Shelly believes that serving traditional food from the land and sea in hospitals supports all forms of wellbeing including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.  Jenny Cross and Margaret Edgars have been mentors to Shelly over the years and she is grateful for their teachings.

Nourish was honoured to award Charlotte Pilat Burns as the first recipient of this award. 

Some highlights of Charlotte's career include:

• Working tirelessly to bring Indigenous foodways to the trays of patients in hospitals throughout the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Charlotte understands and demonstrates the importance and sacredness of relationship building as a first step to connecting community with the food that will contribute to healing on many levels

• Worked with the Saskatchewan Health Authority as the Regional Food Services Manager (up to June 2021) then she moved into Transition Specialist (2021-22) 

• Nourish's First Cohort: Innovator Cohort (2016-2019) 

• Nourish's Second Cohort: Anchor Cohort, Team Lead, (2021-2023)

• Part of the founding members of Nourish Traditional Foods Program 

• Has been part of the Nourish Indigenous and Allies since it began (2017 onward) 

• Part of the team that worked on the Sustainable Menu Guide (2017-20)

• Other roles within Nourish, such as Food Rx grant award selection committee (2020) 

• Part of the planning team for the Symposium 

• Most recently she has been part of CHEP Good Food Inc - a volunteer and on Board of Directors (June 2023)

DR. HOWARD ABRAMS, Internal Medicine (UHN) and Director, OpenLab

Dr. Abrams, BSc (Engineering) MD FRCPC, is a consultant in Internal Medicine at Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN) and Sinai Health System (SHS), and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto.  He is also the Director of OpenLab, a design and innovation group based at Toronto General Hospital that looks for creative solutions to improve both the process and experience of health care. Dr. Abrams brings his 40 years of experience as a front-line health care provider, educator, and innovator to the mission of contributing to healthy people and a healthy planet.

DR. ANDREW BOOZARY, Executive Director, Population Health and Social Medicine (UHN)

Dr. Boozary is a primary care physician and ED of Population Health and Social Medicine at the University Health Network, where he is working to develop, evaluate and scale new models of healthcare delivery for patients with complex health and social needs. He holds academic appointments in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (UofT) and at the Mailman School of Public Health (Columbia University). Dr. Boozary completed his medical training at the UofT and health policy training at Princeton University (Master in Public Policy) and continued to Harvard University (Master of Science) where he was the founding editor-in-chief of the Harvard Public Health Review. He maintains active research at Harvard and at the Wellesley Institute. During this pandemic, Dr. Boozary also serves as co-lead of the Ontario Health Toronto Region COVID-19 Homelessness Response and is a member of the Canadian Medical Association's Post-Pandemic Expert Advisory Group.

SHELLY CRACK, Registered Dietitian, Northern Health, BC

Shelly Crack has been a registered dietitian with Northern Health for 15 years.  She focused the first half of her career on providing community dietitian services to a variety of first nation communities in Northern British Columbia.  Living and working on Haida Gwaii, an island off the coast of BC with an abundance of local and traditional food, has taught Shelly the importance of people’s connection to their land and food.  Shelly believes that serving traditional food from the land and sea in hospitals supports all forms of wellbeing including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.  Jenny Cross and Margaret Edgars have been mentors to Shelly over the years and she is grateful for their teachings.

KELLY GORDON, Community Dietitian, Six Nations of the Grand River

Kelly Gordon has worked as a Registered Dietitian for over 13 years, focusing on community health. Kelly is Kanyen’keha (Mohawk), bear clan and a proud mother of two energetic children. A graduate from McGill University, she has strived to use her education, opportunities and knowledge to work towards building a healthier population and supporting Indigenous Peoples’. Currently Kelly works for Six Nations of the Grand River as a Community Dietitian; she previously worked for Toronto Public Health and Davenport Perth Community Health Centre. Her current focus is working to integrate Traditional knowledge into her everyday practice, supporting community members on their journey towards wellness.

AMY MA, Co-Chair, Montreal Children’s Hospital’s Family Advisory Forum

Amy Ma has been a part of the Montreal Children’s Hospital’s Family Advisory Forum since 2013, and currently serves as its co-chair. Her experience as a parent of a child with a health issue motivates her to harness patient and family voices as a force for positive change in the healthcare system. She has an interest in maternal health, diversity and inclusion, and health equity. Ms. Ma has developed and maintained connections to families and patient advisors across Canada, with her involvement in the Patient Advisory Network, Choosing Wisely Canada, L’Appui Montreal (caregiver support), and a community of practice on patient partnership led by the University of Montréal. Prior to this, Ms. Ma held positions in fundraising with McGill University. She lives in Montreal with her husband and three teenagers.

DR. KATE MULLIGAN, Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Dr. Kate Mulligan is an Assistant Professor in Social and Behavioural Health Sciences at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and a public member of the Toronto Board of Health. She is a globally-recognized advocate, policymaker and researcher on health equity and community wellbeing and was the winner of the First International Social Prescribing Award in 2019. Kate has a background in community and public health and is currently advising Canada's Chief Public Health Officer on the role of community in the future of public health in Canada.

CHERYL PRESCOD, Executive Director, Black Creek Community Health Centre

Cheryl Prescod is Executive Director at Black Creek CHC in Toronto, Canada. Cheryl has considerable expertise in community development and advocacy, gained through her work with diverse populations, many of whom live in low socio-economic conditions. She is a peer reviewer for the Canadian Centre for Accreditation and sits on variousprofessional advisory committees, including York University’s Centre for Education and Community. Along with her academic background in Health Science, Cheryl is a graduate of the Advanced Health Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Management, and the Schulich School of Business where she obtained a Masters Certificate in Healthcare Management.

NATHALIE ROBITAILLE, Executive Director, Synergie Santé Environnement

Nathalie trained as a respiratory therapist, with the Saint-Luc Hospital of the Centre Hospitalier d'Université de Montréal (CHUM) for 23 years where she practiced in all departments. In 2006, she volunteered with Synergie Santé Environnement (SSE) to become Environmental Health Advisor in 2011, Assistant Executive Director in 2015 and Executive Director in 2019. SSE's mission is to support health and social services institutions in their environmental health initiatives and in reducing their environmental footprint. Social commitment being at the heart of her way of life, it is with great enthusiasm that Nathalie joins the Nourish team!

WENDY SMITH, Contract Specialist, Mohawk Medbuy

Wendy has worked in the institutional food service industry for over 25 years. As a Contract Specialist with the Mohawk Medbuy team, Wendy brings hands on healthcare nutrition experience. Through several projects over the past five years her work has focused on the food system in Ontario and the role that public sector institutions can play in making public dollars work harder for the public good. Wendy is also a member of the Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council.

STEVE WHARRY, Director, Communications and Member Services, HealthCareCAN

Steve is Director, Communications and Member Services for HealthCareCAN, the national voice for healthcare and health research institutions in Canada. A graduate of Concordia University in Journalism, Steve has nearly three decades of experience providing communications and advocacy support for health-related, non-profit organizations and associations. Steve lives in Ottawa on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation and remains convinced that Canada can achieve more and do better.