Anita C. Benoit

Assistant Professor, Social & Behavioural Health Sciences Division, UTSC, Dalla Lana School of Public Health 

I'm Mi’kmaw and French Acadian with family living in Esgenoopetitj First Nation and Brantville, New Brunswick. I received my Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa and my M.Sc. from Dalhousie University, both in Microbiology and Immunology. I obtained a M.Sc. from the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in Health Services Research at the University of Toronto while conducting my postdoctoral fellowship at Women’s College Research Institute. My research interests include Indigenous women’s health, health of racialized individuals, HIV pathogenesis, intervention research, health service outcomes and evaluation, chronic stress and mental health, harm reduction and determinants of health.

Kiana Bonnick

Consultant, Sustainability Solutions Group
Kiana Bonnick is a Consultant at Sustainability Solutions Group as well as a Lead Climate Change Curriculum Developer and Black Diplomats Academy Fellow at DYLOTT. As a cross-cultural communicator, she has worked on environmental sustainability, climate change, and community development through various experiences within Canada and internationally. With experience in the not-for-profit, higher education, and NGO sectors, Kiana has developed and delivered impactful programs and campaigns that focus on addressing environmental issues, capacity building, and youth leadership.

Wendy Chikowero

Structural Engineer, Thornton Tomasetti
Wendy Chikowero is a Structural Engineer at Thornton Tomasetti, an independent organization of engineers, scientists, architects and other professionals who work together to optimize the design and performance of structures, materials and systems for different projects. Wendy is also the editor at Laka Perspectives, their vision being to raise awareness and emphasize the role of innovation and technology in architecture and design through a series of podcasts, web articles, and published books of personal interviews from world-renowned experts in the fields of architecture, design, innovation, and technology.

Anna Priscilla 

Virtual Reality and Multimedia Research, GRVM Group
Anna Priscilla is a PhD Candidate of Computer Science at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) under the supervision of Prof. Judith Kelner. She possesses a Computer Science master’s degree and a Design bachelor’s degree, both in UFPE. Also, she has an equivalent BA degree in Computer Games Design (Story Development) at the University of East London in the UK. Anna is researching on Toy User Interfaces and Companion Robots as a member of the Virtual Reality and Multimedia Research Group (GRVM) since December 2014. Also, she collaborates through an institutional partnership with the Human Machine Laboratory (HML) at Ontario Tech University (UOIT) in Oshawa, Canada, under the supervision of Prof. Patrick C K Hung.

Tooba Shakeel

Senior Coordinator, Sustainable Neighbourhoods, Credit Valley Conservation
Tooba is a community planner, educator and urban forester with strong roots in the environmental non-profit sector. She works as a Senior Coordinator of the Sustainable Neighbourhoods program at Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). At CVC, she develops and implements neighbourhood-based climate action plans. She uses the best available science and leverages the collective knowledge and expertise of residents, youth, schools, businesses, NGOs, governments and community leaders. She holds a Master of Science from the University of Toronto where she published original research as a scientist exploring the role of residents and community groups in managing their urban forests in their own communities. She is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and an EcoDistricts Accredited Professional. She volunteers as a STEM/career mentor for young people and serves as a director on the volunteer board of several organizations. She loves photography, walking through local trails, and volunteering her time for various causes.