SPEAKERS

Josh Shipp

Abandoned, neglected, and abused as a child, Josh Shipp’s personal story of triumph over tragedy inspires youth to overcome life's struggles and live life to the fullest. Josh didn’t take the easy route, but instead chose a path of hard work and determination. Josh could have moved on and forgotten painful memories but he uses them to benefit others. “I’ve found that sometimes the very thing that has hurt you the most, is the very thing you can use to help others,” says Shipp. He attributes his personal growth to the encouragement of a great foster home, dynamic teachers, and school programs. He developed an unstoppable positive attitude and knows how to charge forward, no matter what!

Stanley Kutcher, MD, FRCPC
Associate Dean, International Medical Development and Research, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University   
 
Dr. Stanley Kutcher is Associate Dean of International Medical Development and Research in the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University. He is also Section Head of International Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and the Director of the WHO Collaborating Center in Mental Health Training and Policy Development. He is a member of the Boards of the Canadian Society for International Health; the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research; the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation, and the Science Advisory Board of Neuroscience Canada. He was a founding Board member of the Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR) and has served on numerous other boards and advisory committees pertaining to psychopharmacologic research and health services. He has been a national/international leader in mental health research, advocacy, training, policy and health services innovation. He is a reviewer for a number of scientific journals and research granting agencies nationally and internationally. 

Cornelia Wieman, MD, FRCPC
Assistant Professor and Co-Director, Indigenous Health Research Development Program, University of Toronto  
 
Dr. Wieman is Canada’s first female Aboriginal psychiatrist. She practiced psychiatry at Six Nations for 8 years and is now an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Indigenous Health Research Development Program at the University of Toronto.

Kenneth V. Hardy, PhD  
 
Kenneth V. Hardy, PhD is a professor in the department of Marriage and Family Therapy at Syracuse University and a senior faculty member at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. Dr. Hardy is internationally known for his work in the area of family therapy and diversity. He is the author of numerous publications devoted to working effectively with diverse and oppressed families. Dr. Hardy, a former recipient of the prestigious Teacher/Scholar of the Year award at Syracuse University, also maintains a private practice specializing in family therapy with oppressed populations.

Annual Report of the Paediatric Death Review Committee
Office of the Chief Coroner
 
The Coroner’s office of the province of Ontario oversees the multi-disciplinary committee that reviews all child deaths that occur where there is involvement from the child protection system. Members of the committee will describe the issues and trends that have been identified in the annual report.

Closing Speaker
Marc Kielburger

Marc Kielburger is an accomplished social advocate and leadership specialist, a bestselling author and a popular speaker. He is the co-founder and chief executive director of Leaders Today, the world's top youth leadership training organization, which delivers one-of-a-kind local and international training experiences to more than 350,000 youth every year. He is also chief executive director of Free The Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children through education.

Mr. Kielburger has been recognized for his vision and leadership with Canada's Top 40 Under 40 award, has received an Ashoka Fellowship for his innovation and commitment to social change and has been honoured as a 2007 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

He has shown the world that young people can become the leaders of today.