Elections

Sherry Baidwan (British Columbia)

As a public health leader with over 25 years of experience, I'm pleased to put forward my application to join the Board of Directors with CPHA. I have had the privilege of working in two provinces (BC and Ontario), where I have worked in front line public health nursing and successive leadership positions, most recently as Executive Director of Toxic Drug Response and Priority Populations with Fraser Health. This experience has been pivotal in expanding my expertise in strategic planning, program development and evaluation, and has provided an opportunity to navigate complex political and systemic challenges from a policy perspective.

My previous public health experience spans a variety of areas including maternal child, school health, immunizations, communicable disease and sexual health, harm reduction & injury prevention. I have also been involved in several large scale communicable disease responses including SARS, H1N1, COVID, measles, along with syphilis and TB outbreak management. I have had an opportunity to work collaboratively with across health authorities, ministries and community partner agencies to advance various public health priorities.

My educational background includes a BScN from UBC, a MPH from Lakehead University, and as a life long learner, I have completed several certifications including Perinatal Nursing, Harm Reduction, Breastfeeding along with several leadership related courses and training.

As I reflect on my career and experiences, I am looking forward to applying my perspective to national public health issues, which is what peaked my interest in this Board vacancy. Practical understanding of social determinants of health and public health practice realities provides an important backdrop to CPHAs work in developing position papers and public health advocacy, and I hope to contribute in a meaningful way to those efforts. I am also keen to foster relationships with other leaders across the country through the Board network.

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Lisa Baker (Alberta)

Public health has been my life’s work and passion. At 16, I represented Newfoundland on Health Canada’s Youth Advisory Committee on Tobacco Reduction and served as the national liaison for Newfoundland and Labrador’s Teen Tobacco Team. Standing alongside other youth advocates, I learned something profound: lasting change can come from combining evidence, advocacy and the voices of those directly impacted. That belief has been my compass ever since.

I obtained a diverse educational background in the fields of science, education and health. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from Memorial University, a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta, and a Master of Health Studies degree from Athabasca University with a focus in leadership. This combination equipped me with the knowledge and skills to successfully pursue a career in health promotion.

For over 20 years, I have worked at the intersection of health, education and community development with a goal of helping people and communities live healthier, more equitable lives. In my current role as a health promotion facilitator, I collaborate with partners across Alberta to co-design, implement and promote evidence-informed strategies that improve population health in communities, health services, schools and workplaces. I help connect key players in the field of health promotion to inform public policy, create supportive environments, strengthen community action, develop personal skills and reorient health services. My work is grounded in collaboration, prevention and respect for the lived experiences of people and communities.

I have served in leadership roles for a wide range of projects throughout my career, such as co-leading a virtual health network for public health teams and leading a health equity impact assessment for a community prenatal program. Each project strengthened my conviction that equity must be at the heart of what we do and that data, evaluation, and community voices must guide our decisions. These values directly align with the Canadian Public Health Association’s (CPHA) mission to advance health equity, build public health capacity and advocate for healthy public policy.

My leadership experience extends beyond my professional work into a lifetime of volunteer board participation. Past roles include chairperson of a provincial youth council, executive member of a regional recreation board, facilitator of a rural community collaborative, member of a provincial health promotion alliance, and member of the Lamaze International Education Council. These roles honed my governance skills, from strategic planning to consensus building, and deepened my commitment to service that reflects the priorities and diversity of the communities we serve.

CPHA’s vision of healthy people and communities thriving in inclusive, equitable, sustainable environments resonates deeply with me. I would be honoured to serve alongside fellow directors to strengthen Canada’s public health system and advance CPHA’s vital mission. I bring a proven record of cross-sector collaboration, expertise in health promotion, and a commitment to equity-driven, evidence-informed public health. I believe the CPHA Board of Directors is a place where I can apply my skills, experience and passion to meaningful national leadership.

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Jennifer Njenga (Alberta)

I am a Public Health Physician who comes from 8 countries and 3 continents. I was born in Uganda, married to a Kenyan Physician, who I met in South Africa, where I lived and completed my high school education and later attended medical school in South Africa. I worked in Namibia for 1 year and moved to New Zealand with my partner, and we had our 2 children there. In New Zealand I worked clinically in maternal and child wards and later in primary care. I worked closely with our Indigenous people, Maori, clinically and on various National, Regional and Local initiatives, including the National Sudden Death of an Infant Syndrome (SIDS) committee and with the regional and local Maternal Child Health committees with other partners. Additionally, I served on other committees as the General Practitioner Liaison for women and children's health including the Vulnerable Infant's Forum with Police, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development, among others. I completed my Master of Public Health, (MPH) in Auckland, and my dissertation was focused on adolescent binging. My family moved to Melbourne Australia, where I had began my Doctor of Public Health degree with Flinders University in Adelaide. I worked alongside rural Physicians and midwives and my doctoral topic was the management of the pregnant woman with obesity in Rural South Australia.

We moved to Alberta Canada, 8 years ago. I have worked with Alberta Health Services as the Clinical Lead of the provincial e-referral system, the Manager of Integrated Healthcare in the West Primary Care Network. I founded a mobile clinic during COVID where drs and nurses did in-home visits across Alberta. I have worked with Montana First Nation and currently work with Tallcree Nation as their Health Consultant. I was appointed by the former Minister of Health of AB Co-Chair of the International Panel of the Modernizing of Primary Care in AB. I obtained the Global Healthcare Leaders Program Certificate from Harvard Medical School. I am the newly appointed Chair of HIV Edmonton.

I hope to join the Board to share and use my lived and work experience across the global, my education, leadership and engagement and other skills and experience to contribute to the objectives of the Board.

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Alexandre Petiquan (Ontario)

Boozhoo CPHA members and public health colleagues,

I am Dr. Alex Petiquan from Wabauskang First Nation in Grand Council Treaty #3 Territory in Northwest Ontario. I am a Public Health and Preventative Medicine resident physician at the University of Ottawa and recent MPH graduate from Brock University with a specialization in Health Information Management (HIM). I am seeking re-election to the board of directors to provide on-going stability, experience, and vision representing the diverse membership of public health in Canada. In general, my professional experience ranges from health policy to data governance as well as data Indigenous and environmental health. I have been involved with the CPHA for some years, first serving on the Indigenous Advisory Council in my role as Senior Policy Advisor at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), then being elected to serve on the CPHA board of directors for this past term. I currently serve as Chair of the CPHA Finance Committee which has been a vital experience in demonstrating to membership the importance of fiscal responsibility while balancing the important actions guided by the vision and mandate of the CPHA to support important issues impacting public health in Canada.

As member of the board, our collective efforts have preserved the CPHA from dissolving, and instead hosting another successful conference in Winnipeg, MB with a focus on Indigenous health and knowledge translation. Further, prior advocacy from our membership to create a space for an Indigenous public health network is being realized and I hope to continue guiding this work along with our diverse board of directors, CPHA staff, Indigenous membership and allies. A distinct challenge continues to be the CPHA's financial situation which has stabilized, but remains fragile given the ever-changing geopolitical climate. While ensuring the CPHA's financial stability remains a priority, I will continue to promote balanced perspectives, advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and effectively represent public health professionals in Canada.

I hope you can feel confident in being represented by an experienced public health professional and leader with a proven record of performance. With your support, we can continue to improve health outcomes for diverse communities and populations in Canada through our collective voices and meaningful actions as professionals.

Miigwech for your consideration,

Dr. Alexandre K. Petiquan

Carolyn Shoreman (Ontario)

I am pleased to put my name forward as a Nominee as a Director on the CPHA Board of Directors. My 34-year public health career, along with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a Master of Nursing degree, positions me well to take on this role and I possess the governance experience being sought. My passion in public health aligns with the strategic priorities of CPHA and as a member of the Board of Directors I can further the positive impacts of healthy public policy nationally. I have provided active oversight and direction for advocating on public health issues by bringing forward critical content to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) Medical Officer of Health/CEO and Board of Health successfully receiving their endorsement to action healthy public policy advocacy in areas such as: the Ontario Early Adversity and Resilience Framework, Income-Based Policy Interventions to Effectively Reduce Household Food Insecurity, Local Cycling Infrastructure, Regulation of Nicotine Products, Consumption and Treatment Services Site for the Barrie Community, Public Health Considerations of Cannabis Legalization, Public Health Support for Accessible Affordable Quality Licensed Child Care Across Canada, Municipal Alcohol Policies to Reduce Harms Associated with Alcohol Regulatory Changes, and a Public Health Approach to Drug Policy Reform.

I have been a Vice President and member of the Executive at SMDHU for 20 years formulating and implementing policy and strategic priorities. I am very familiar with financial systems and risk management issues and possess a high‐level understanding of organizational development and effectiveness and have been involved with reviewing a drafted agency equity, diversity and inclusion strategy. As Vice President of the Community and Family Health Department, I am responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, management and department’s overall performance for the following programs: Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction, Healthy Babies Healthy Children, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Healthy Growth and Development, and School Health and the topic of Mental Health Promotion. I have knowledge of the distinct needs of the diverse populations and communities that we serve across Simcoe Muskoka.

As the Chief Nursing Officer position with the highest level of nursing authority in the agency, I am responsible for excellence in public health nursing practice providing expert advice, direction and leadership on nursing and quality assurance, and in the application of nursing practice standards, nursing service delivery and evaluation and I am responsible for reporting practice issues to the College of Nurses of Ontario.

As a 20-year member of the Ontario Association of Public Health Nurse Leaders I was an Executive member including Secretary and Membership lead with the goal of expanding membership and enhancing engagement.

I have been the Chair of the Simcoe County Child Youth and Families 35 agency Coalition that strategically advocated for priorities to maximize the capacity, effectiveness and cultural uniqueness of the child, youth and family services system across Simcoe County. I received the Coalition 2018 Award of Excellence in recognition of my work leading SMDHU to achieving its’ Baby Friendly Initiative designation.

Japteg Singh (Quebec)

I am a first-generation South Asian Canadian and a PhD student in Epidemiology at McGill University. I hold a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Global Health from McMaster University, which provided the foundation for over five years of work as a program evaluator and epidemiologist with Niagara Region Public Health, the Ontario HIV Treatment Network, and the Public Health Agency of Canada before beginning my doctoral studies. These experiences shaped my current focus on advancing health equity, with specific attention to cancer and palliative care, immigrant and marginalized populations, and the public health workforce. I co-led a national study on burnout among Canadian public health professionals and am currently examining demographic and structural shifts in the public health nursing workforce.

Since January 2024, I have served as the Student Director on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA). In this role, I spearheaded initiatives to expand opportunities for students and early-career professionals, including a mentorship program and the launch of a student ambassador program. These initiatives support emerging professionals while helping ensure that CPHA remains a welcoming and vibrant community for the next generation of leaders.

I am seeking a second term on the Board to provide stability and sustained leadership at a time when CPHA is advancing ambitious priorities around health equity, Indigenous (including those of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples), and public health renewal. Ensuring continuity is critical not only to guide the initiatives I helped launch through their early stages, but also to align them with CPHA’s broader strategic direction. My ongoing presence on the Board will allow me to strengthen their impact, embed them into the Association’s long-term structure, and ensure they remain responsive to member needs. Just as importantly, I will continue to represent student and early-career perspectives, so they remain fully integrated into CPHA’s vision and priorities.

As both a researcher, student and practitioner, I am motivated by the opportunity to contribute to CPHA’s mission of promoting health equity and strengthening Canada’s public health system. I look forward to continuing to serve and to advancing the Association’s strategic direction alongside the Board and membership.

Thank you for the opportunity to continue serving the CPHA community.

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Martina St-Germain Auguste (Quebec)

It is with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility that I put forward my nomination for the CPHA Board of Directors. For over 10 years, I have dedicated my career to advancing public health principles from frontline community health coordination to healthcare system analysis and policy-influencing projects. CPHA’s mission to promote health equity, strengthen public health systems, and amplify evidence-informed practice resonates profoundly with my professional journey and personal convictions.

My experience spans multiple domains critical to contemporary public health leadership. As a healthcare professional, I have led operational improvements that increased diabetics patient’s health literacy to make informed decisions, and developed community health programs that increased access to care for marginalized populations. In addition, my work in health consulting, policy analysis has equipped me with a robust understanding of the structural and social determinants of health, as well as the fiscal and administrative realities of implementing sustainable health initiatives.

If elected, I will focus on three key priorities:

• Advancing Health Equity: Championing inclusive policies and programs that address disparities among Indigenous, racialized, rural, and other underserved communities.
• Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure: Supporting initiatives that build resilient public health workforce capacity, data systems, and emergency preparedness in the face of emerging health threats.
• Fostering Engagement and Collaboration: Enhancing member participation and forging cross-sectoral partnerships to ensure CPHA remains a proactive and influential voice in national and international health discourse.

I believe strongly in servant leadership and collaborative governance. I am committed to listening deeply, acting with integrity, and devoting the required time and energy to contribute meaningfully to the Board’s work. CPHA has long been a beacon of leadership and advocacy in public health, and I am eager to help shape its future direction.

Thank you for considering my nomination. I would be honored to serve the membership and contribute to CPHA’s vital mission.

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Thomas Tchetmi (Ontario)

I am Thomas Tchetmi, holding two Master’s degrees in Public Health (University of Lorraine, France) and a BA in Psychology (University of Yaoundé I), as well as a Certificate in Health Economics (World Bank). With more than 20 years of experience in international public health, equitable financing, and governance, I have served in various multilateral and non-governmental organizations, including 11 years with the United Nations.

In my current role as Regional Adviser at the UNAIDS Regional Office for West, Central, and North Africa, I coordinate initiatives spanning over 25 countries to strengthen health systems sustainability, promote equity, and mobilize millions of USD for the fight against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. My career has equipped me with expertise in governance, advocacy, public policy, resource mobilization, and strategic partnerships, with a strong commitment to social justice and health equity.

As a CPHA member since 2021, I fully share its mission to promote public health, equity, and evidence-based decision-making. Canada, as a land of welcome and diversity, must continue to ensure that migrant populations are meaningfully integrated into public health policies. I have a particular interest in migrant mental health—including children’s mental health—and in ensuring their needs are fully reflected in national and local strategies.

By joining the Board of Directors, I aim to:

• Strengthen CPHA’s independent and credible voice at both national and international levels;
• Promote inclusive and equitable public health policies that respond to the realities of all communities in Canada;
• Showcase Canadian expertise within global public health networks;
• Contribute to CPHA’s strategic thinking in governance, innovation, and resource mobilization.

My leadership style is collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented. I value teamwork, active listening, and respect for diverse perspectives. I also bring an international perspective which, combined with my knowledge of the Canadian context, can help CPHA play a stronger role in the global public health dialogue.

I am running with conviction, commitment, and the ambition to place my experience, skills, and network at the service of CPHA and its members.

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Bilkis Vissandjee (Quebec)

I currently serve as Chair of the Québec Ministry of Health and Social Services’ National Committee on Accessibility for Ethnocultural Communities. In this role, I contribute to shaping provincial strategies that promote equitable access to care and services. This leadership reflects my ability to translate research and field experience into policy and system-level change.

As a faculty member and engaged researcher, I am deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of health professionals and researchers. I have supervised numerous graduate students and facilitated international internships to cultivate future leaders equipped to address global health challenges with cultural humility and an equity lens. I also actively contribute to advancing EDI within the Université de Montréal and serve on national and international advisory committees, where I advocate for proportionate universalism, diversity science, and One Health approaches to strengthen health equity.

I am standing for election as a Director because I believe that my experience, values, and vision can help the organization deepen its role as a catalyst for transformative change. Specifically, I hope to contribute to:

• Embedding EDI principles into governance, research, and partnerships.
• Advancing collaborations that bridge academic, community, and policy spheres.
• Supporting capacity-building initiatives that empower both emerging and established leaders.
• Fostering dialogue on global health challenges - such as climate change, migration experiences, gender-based violence, and systemic inequities - that demand interdisciplinary and multisectoral responses.

I bring curiosity, empathy, and respect to every space I enter. I am driven by the conviction that inclusive leadership and collective action can transform systems. As a Director, I will offer not only my professional expertise but also my ability to listen deeply, build trust, and bring people together around shared goals.

I look forward to contributing to the mission of the organization and to working collaboratively with colleagues and partners to advance health equity for all.

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Robert Walsh (Ontario)

I am pleased to submit my nomination for a position on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA).

For more than 30 years, I have been deeply engaged in governance, leadership, and advocacy in health and social policy at the national, provincial, and community levels. My experience spans both sides of the governance table: I have served in all board roles, including chair, and I currently report to a governance board as CEO of OASIS, a provincial association representing close to 200 member organizations providing developmental disability supports in Ontario. This 360-degree perspective gives me a unique ability to contribute to CPHA’s governance and long-term stewardship.

I am trained as a public health professional (PhD, MPH) with a focus on NGO leadership in healthy public policy, and I also hold an MBA. Across my career, I have led complex, mission-driven organizations through cultural and structural change, often requiring new governance models, strategic clarity, and system-level partnerships. My grounding in policy governance has helped me guide boards to stay focused on mission, strategy, and accountability while creating space for vibrant debate and diverse perspectives.

My governance and executive experience are complemented by direct work in population and public health, systems transformation, and advocacy. I have partnered with governments at all levels, academic institutions, and networks of NGOs to advance evidence-informed practice and policy. My leadership approach emphasizes equity, collaboration, and adaptive capacity — qualities essential for addressing today’s public health challenges.

I also bring a lens from an equity-deserving sector — developmental services. This sector is highly local, deeply connected to community wellbeing, and has much to both give to and learn from a public health approach. I believe there are natural synergies between developmental services and public health, particularly around equity, social determinants of health, and inclusion. CPHA can benefit from these insights, while my sector can learn from CPHA’s expertise in advocacy, systems thinking, and public health frameworks.

Finally, I bring a record of commitment to board excellence and governance development. I have worked with boards transitioning from operational to governance models, helped strengthen accountability frameworks, and ensured that strategy, vision, and values remain at the core of organizational decision-making. My style is collaborative, respectful, and future-oriented, always with an emphasis on mission impact and system change.

I am inspired by CPHA’s mission and values, and I see strong alignment between my skills, experiences, and CPHA’s needs. I would be honoured to contribute to CPHA’s continued leadership in policy, advocacy, and public health systems transformation in Canada.

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Allysha Ram (British Columbia)

My name is Allysha Ram and I live and work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded shared territories of the Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen First Nations, and the chosen homelands of the Surrey-Delta Métis Association.

I am a Policy Analyst at Fraser Health Authority in British Columbia (BC), where I lead equity-focused initiatives aiming to improve population-level health outcomes. For instance, I lead the Population and Public Health Program’s race and sociodemographic data collection initiative and co-led the development of Fraser Health’s first organization-wide Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan. Alongside this, I am a Program Manager at Engaged Communities Canada Society, a grassroots non-profit organization where I oversee the design and delivery of health and social programming supporting marginalized communities across BC’s Lower Mainland. An example of my work includes planning and implementing the SALMON Project, a culturally tailored community-based outreach overdose prevention initiative for South Asian communities. Additionally, I serve on the Board of Directors at the Public Health Association of BC, and as Capacity Building Committee Chair and Scientific Program Committee member. Prior to these roles, I worked in program coordination and administration at the McCreary Centre Society, a community-based research organization with a focus on youth health research, evaluation, and engagement.

I am a current student in the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Program with a focus on Leadership, Advocacy, and Equity at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University. Here, I serve on the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and Student Ambassador Program, advocating for initiatives and challenges impacting DrPH students and advising prospective DrPH students. I hold a Master of Public Health with a specialization in Indigenous and Northern Health from Lakehead University, a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Simon Fraser University, and a certificate in Digital Marketing Management from University of Toronto.

I have a keen interest in promoting health equity and social justice to mobilize change advancing the positive health and well-being of communities across Canada and beyond. Collectively, my lived, professional, and academic endeavours have illuminated the systemic barriers and deficiencies in tailored interventions for equity-deserving groups; contributing to the health disparities in these populations. Alongside this, my dual roles working in the health care system and non-profits on health equity initiatives has underscored a tremendous gap between health and social service organizations; including consistent and meaningful engagement among health systems partners.

As such, I am actively looking for opportunities to promote health equity and social justice using evidence-informed strategies to mobilize change, nationally. Furthermore, I am looking to collaborate with public health professionals to engage in discourse and action around how we can promote and improve public health principles, practices, and policies across Canada; while strengthening truth and reconciliation with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. I hope to accomplish this as part of CPHA’s Board of Directors, as a Student Director, contributing the student perspective and supporting capacity-building and engagement among public health students and early career professionals.

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