REBA Harmonization and Education Event 2026

Toquaht Nation
Director, Indigenous Research, UBC
Indigenous Advisor, Michael Smith Health Research BC
Chair, Strategic Action Group for research ethics

Asma-na-hi holds a doctoral degree in Educational Theory & Practice from Simon Fraser University. Throughout her career, she has worked to advance Indigenous Research Ethics and Indigenous-focused research through advocacy for systems change. Asma-na-hi brings more than 20 years of experience advancing Indigenous-focused and Indigenous-engaged research in post-secondary institutions and supporting Health Research BC. She continues to support UBC Research Ethics Office initiatives to strengthen Indigenous research ethics processes. She previously served as Director, Indigenous Engagement, at Royal Roads University, providing executive leadership on Indigenization and Indigenous research governance.

Vice President, CGI AI Research and Strategic Advisory

Diane holds a PhD where she conducted doctoral research on medical AI/expert system solution modeling and adoption as well as post doctoral certifications in Medical AI and Healthcare Digital Transformation from Harvard Medical School. Diane is currently leading AI Applied Research and team of Management Consultants in Canada focused on designing and delivering strategic advisory services including the AI Augmented Future of Work for our clients.

Diane is currently the Co Chair of the Canadian Government AI Council, an advisor to the Welsh Strategic AI Council as well as an advisor to the EU AI Commission Plenary advising on the Code of Conduct for the EU AI ACT. Diane is also currently a member of the Canadian Task Force advancing the federal AI strategy. Diane was the recipient of the 2025 Responsible AI Leader of the Year award for North America by WAI – North America.

White Owl Clan, Snuneymuxw Nation, BC

Kelly White is a proud member of the White Owl Clan, born in Cedar, Snuneymuxw Nation, BC. A celebrated visual artist, Kelly gained national recognition in 1994 when she was awarded First Place by juries representing museums and galleries across Canada and the United States for her 3D fabric art and spoken word performance.

Her renowned queen size Star Quilts serve as both artistic expression and acts of healing, forming the foundation of her lifelong creative journey. Since 1988, Kelly’s Star Quilts have been created to honour life’s milestones—weddings, graduations, retirements, and new births—while since 1992, they have also brought comfort and awareness to causes such as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous and Beloved Ones, and since 2003, the Poppy Star Quilts have paid tribute to Indigenous and Métis veterans.

Kelly’s deep commitment to community and cultural continuity is evident in her many leadership and mentorship roles. Kelly continues to share Indigenous teachings, promote healing, and inspire future generations through her artistry, leadership, and love of community.

Assistant Professor, SFU

Researcher, educator, and speaker

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2007 at the age of 58, Jim is a researcher living with dementia and is a strong advocate as an educator and speaker. His focus includes the meaningful and ethical engagement of people with dementia, reducing the stigma for people living with dementia, and the use of technology to benefit people with dementia living in the community, long-term care, and hospitals.

Jim is a mentor to early-career researchers and students, and is an active volunteer contributing his experiential perspective. In recognition for his contributions, he received the Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for volunteer service to the community.

Jim is an impactful knowledge translator with 80 sole and co-authored publications in respected journals, scores of presentations at major conferences, and 14 recorded podcasts and 30 webinars.

Director of Research, BC Ministry of Health

Julia McFarlane is the Director of Research with the BC Ministry of Health. She brings a background in strategic planning, policy development, and engagement, with experience in both health authority and government settings. She has worked in population and public health, planning and engagement, health sector IMIT, primary care, and research. Her roles have focused on creating large-scale change via policy and other strategic documents, guided by engagement with front-line staff.

Research Ethics Board, Interior Health

Karen manages the Health and Clinical Research Ethics Boards at Island Health. She also is part of the QI-Ethics Review Committee and co-leader of the research ethics Clinical Research Ethics Community of Practice.

Assistant Professor, School of Population and Public Health, UBC
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Kaylee is a settler of Scottish, French, and German ancestry, with roots in Canada’s maritime (Nova Scotia) and prairie (Alberta) provinces. She leads the One Health, Human dimensions and Implementation (OH-HI) Science CoLab, which aims to enhance local, national, and global capacity to better detect, manage, and mitigate health threats at the nexus of human, animal, and environmental health. She is particularly interested in community-engaged research as well as co-creating innovative knowledge mobilization activities and events. Kaylee enjoys sharing science with the public. She co-founded, organizes and hosts Nerd Nite Vancouver, a science seminar series and hosts Genome British Columbia’s award-winning podcast “Nice Genes!” which explores the role of genomics in society. When not thinking or talking about science she enjoys creating pottery, paddleboarding, and puns.

Intensivist & Clinical Associate Professor at UBC

Dr. Mypinder Sekhon is an intensivist and clinician-scientist at UBC. He is the Division Head for Critical Care Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He completed his medicine and subspecialty training at the University of British Columbia prior to completing a neurocritical care fellowship at the University of Cambridge. Subsequently, he completed his PhD in cerebrovascular sciences at UBC. He conducts a translational research program aimed at unravelling the mechanisms behind brain ischemia to identify diagnostics and therapeutics.

Dean & Professor, Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, UNBC

Dr. Lachowsky will share reflections on his organic and evolving community-based health equity research program focused on HIV/AIDS with affected marginalized communities. He will highlight an exemplar research project that started as a small oral history project in Vancouver and grew into a new chapter of arts-based knowledge mobilization across Canada.

Manager, Research Ethics & Compliance, Fraser Health

Sara is the Manager of Research Ethics & Compliance at Fraser Health. She is a member of the research ethics Advisory Council and co-leader of research ethics Clinical Research Ethics Community of Practice.