Michelle lives with Stage 4 breast cancer and advocates for the unmet needs of undersupported communities in the cancer care space, with a focus on health equity and the patient voice. She is involved in many cancer organizations and awareness campaigns, and loves to speak to healthcare agencies and on panels about her own experiences navigating cancer as a Black woman. Michelle comes from an education background and is a mom.

A mother of two small children and a freelance designer and illustrator, Carla was diagnosed with stage-III, triple negative, inflammatory breast cancer at age 34. She is focused on communicating the challenges of early adult cancer and the long term health consequences of both life saving and prophylactic treatments as a carrier of BRCA1, MSH-6 and ATM genetic mutations. Located in Sudbury, she advocates for expedient and socially equitable cancer diagnoses and treatment for patients of North Eastern Ontario.

Carol was treated for late stage gynaecological cancer in 2013. She has a network of friends and family members who are patients or survivors. Professionally, she is an accountant (CPA) and financial analyst (CFA) and was recently Managing Director, Audit Services at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. She is also involved with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group.

Terry is a blood cancer survivor, professional engineer and passionate advocate for a healthcare system that can deliver superior healthcare outcomes consistently. He is currently engaged as a patient partner supporting an innovative blood cancer immunotherapy clinical trial program centered at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Diana received a stage-3 colon cancer diagnosis, followed by surgical and systemic treatment accompanied with complications and further interventions. She is past co-chair of the PFAC for the London Regional Cancer Program, and is involved at Lawson Health Research Institute, the LRCP Cancer Executive Committee and the Patient Experience Advisory Committee at London Health Sciences Centre. Following a career as a registered dietitian, Diana pursued an MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Emily has a Ph.D. in Biomechanics from the University of Guelph. Her use of primary research to make complex health decisions helped save her life when she was faced with a brain cancer diagnosis. She now guides other patients through their diagnoses and is passionate about research translation and health equity.

Diagnosed with AML, Mona is actively receiving treatment. A pharmacist by training, she has worked in pharmaceutical policy and health technology assessment, where she helped bring the patient voice to public drug funding decisions. More recently, she serves as an executive at a national pharmacy chain. She has served as Vice-Chair at a national patient support and advocacy group and continues as strategic advisor to the Cancer Clinical Trails group.

Ambuj has a background in Engineering & IT and also serves as a Research Advocate and Mentor with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. As a former caregiver to his father with a rare form of cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma, he understands the challenges for patients and families who endure this difficult journey. Ambuj is passionate about cancer research, patient advocacy and raising awareness by bridging the knowledge gap between patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.