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Celisse Bibr is a second year Ph.D. student in the Interdisciplinary Rural and Northern Health program at Laurentian University, and a recent M.A. graduate from the Interdisciplinary Health program. Her current research centres around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, exploring efforts for education and awareness in Northern Ontario.
As founder and CEO of a global cyber security firm, David Bruno specialises in anti-fraud and anti-corporate espionage systems for banks and financial institutions worldwide. Through his company, Secure Swiss Data (now SafeSwiss®), he provides financial sector solutions for the digital and interactive e-commerce sectors. For 20 years he has worked to provide security protection to the masses. After completing his MA in International Relations & Communications in Spain, he was hired by a telecom company for their new office, working out of both Barcelona and Montreal as a business development manager. It was here that his career advocating for fraud prevention systems began. He has since taken a number of courses in topics including DDoS, identity theft, anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing.
Zoe Higgins is a second year PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Rural and Northern Health program at Laurentian University and a pediatric speech-language pathologist at the Laurentian University Speech and Language Clinic. I have a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Ottawa. My research interests are speech and language assessment practices with First Nations children, literacy and bilingualism.
Fenfang Li moved to Thunder Bay from China in 2015, and graduated from Lakehead University with a Master’s degree in Economics in 2017. She is a former data analyst for NPI. Her educational background and work experience have inspired her to apply economic theories to real life problems. Her experience living and studying in Thunder Bay provides her with a solid base of knowledge regarding Northern Ontario policy issues, and she is excited to apply her knowledge to help the local community.
Mr. MacKinnon is a frequent commentator on Canadian fiscal issues. He has spoken to audiences across Ontario and his work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the National Post and many local newspapers across Canada. He has also been a guest on The Agenda on TVO, the BNN and other national public affairs programs.
Mr. MacKinnon is a native of Prince Edward Island. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree (honours economics) from Dalhousie University and an MBA from York University. He was also awarded a Centennial Fellowship by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and York University to study at York, Harvard and Oxford Universities as well as the European Institute of Business Studies.
Mr. MacKinnon served as Director, Planning and Economics and Executive Director, Development Strategy in the Nova Scotia Department of Development from 1977 to 1981. He later served in several senior capacities in the Ontario Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Montreal and as CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association from 1996 to 2003. He was also CEO of the Ontario Development Corporation, Ontario’s major economic development agency, from 1986 to 1993.
He is a Past Chair, West Park Healthcare Center, a Toronto rehabilitation hospital and currently serves as a Director and Chair of the Finance Committee at the Canadian Standards Association. He is a former member of the Patient Relations Committee of the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, after serving on the governing council of that organization for six years.
In 2012, Mr. MacKinnon joined the board of the Quinte Health Care Center, a community hospital with sites in Picton, Belleville, Bancroft and Trenton.
David and his wife Betsy moved to Prince Edward County in 2010 after sailing in county waters for fifteen years.
Josée Malette is a current 4th-year medical student at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine who was born and raised in Thunder Bay. She holds a B.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and an Honours B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa. Lover of the outdoors, she enjoys fishing, canoeing, hiking and spending time with family. She is currently the Chair of the provincial student-led
Northern Ontario and Rural Medicine Committee. Apart from northern, rural and remote medicine, her interests in the field revolved around access to French-language services, critical care, acute care and wilderness medicine. She is delighted to be pursuing a career as an Emergency Medicine resident starting July 1, 2020. She looks forward to providing care to patients in her hometown and the rest of Northwestern Ontario in the future.
Jamie McIntyre's given name is Mashkiki Kwe, and she belongs to makwa doodem (bear clan). She has a mixed background of settler Scottish and Anishinaabe from Batchewana First Nation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Community Economic and Social Development at Algoma University, and was most recently the Resource and Partnership Developer at NORDIK Institute based in Sault Ste. Marie. She has also received an Ec.d and Council for Advancement of Native Development Officers TAED certification through Algoma University. Her interests include cross-cultural relationship building and knowledge sharing, as well as sustainable development practices.
Curtis was born and raised in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He has recently graduated from Queen’s University with a BAH, majoring in applied economics and minoring in political studies. During his time at NPI as a Research Analyst, Curtis was able to apply qualitative and quantitative techniques of analysis to make a positive impact on the unique policy environment of Northern Ontario. Some research interests of his include policy implications of business cycle dynamics, and the importance of natural resource development as it relates to economic growth. Currently, Curtis works as a financial advisor with Scotiabank.
Christina McMillan Boyles RN, MScN is a Registered Nurse and an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at Laurentian University. Concurrent with her MScN degree, she completed a Type II diploma in Health Services and Policy Research. Currently, she is a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Health in the School of Rural and Northern Health at Laurentian University. She is an active member of the Ontario Respiratory Care Society (ORCS). She serves as the ORCS Regional Representative for Northeastern Ontario, and is a member of the ORCS Provincial Committee and the Research and Fellowship Committee. She is also a member of the Canadian Respiratory Health Professionals Association (CRHPA), the Canadian Association of Health Service and Policy Research (CAHSPR), and the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). She served as a development member for the RNAO Best Practice Guideline (BPG) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Some of her research interests include chronic disease, COPD, health services, health policy, nursing education, and qualitative research methodologies.
Dr. Moazzami has taught Economics and Econometrics at Lakehead University since 1988. He is well known for his research activities particularly related to Northern Ontario. He has written many reports on Northern Ontario’s economic development challenges and opportunities. He was commissioned by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines to undertake a comprehensive study of Northern Ontario’s economy as a part of the research conducted for the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario. Included in the study were the identification of growing, declining and emerging industrial clusters in the region. Professor Moazzami has also written extensively on Northern Ontario’s Aboriginal people and Northern Aboriginal economy. Dr. Moazzami’s expertise and influence reaches beyond Lakehead University and Northern Ontario. He has been a regular guest speaker at the University of Waterloo’s Economic Development Program.
Dr. Sarah-Lynn Newbery, completed medical school at McMaster and postgraduate family medicine training in Thunder Bay in the Northern Ontario Medical Program. A fellow of both the CFPC and the SRPC, she has been a rural physician in comprehensive community practice in Marathon since 1996 and she is currently the Chief of Staff of the North of Superior Health Care Group. She has been on the board of the Ontario College of Family Physicians since 2008 and is a past President of the OCFP. She has been the
VP Clinical for the Northwest LHIN and is chair of the Northern Physician Resources Task Force. She is on several provincial health related committees and is chair of the OCFP’s Rural Mentoring Network and Leadership in Primary Care Mentoring Network. She has been an active community teacher and faculty member at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine since its inception and is currently the Assistant Dean of Physician Workforce Strategy.
Alex Ross was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario. After graduating from Laurentian University with a B.A. (Hons) in Economics in 2010, he completed a Masters Degree in Economic Policy from McMaster University. Alex is a former NPI senior data analyst after working as a trust officer in the wealth management industry, and he has past non-profit experience as well as international teaching experience in Thailand. Alex’s areas of interest include environmental economics and sustainability, labour economics, education, and community growth. In his spare time, Alex enjoys hiking, exploring Northern Ontario, cooking, and travel. Alex is the business development officer for arts, culture and film at the City of Greater Sudbury.
Nabina Sharma is a second year PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Rural and Northern Health program at Laurentian University. She has a Master of Public Health from Nepal and experience working with the rural and Indigenous communities of Nepal. Her research interests are global health, aging population, dementia and health policy.
Christina Zefi is a former Research Analyst at Northern Policy Institute. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminology from the University of Toronto as well as a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Humber College. Her research interests include immigration reform and policy related to Indigenous Affairs, the environment, and mental health. Prior to her role at NPI, Christina worked at TD Canada Trust as a Financial Advisor.
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