Kristy Kirkup is a seasoned national journalist for The Globe and Mail. She is based in Ottawa.

Kristy specializes in federal health policy, including reproductive health issues affecting women and gender-diverse people, drug regulation and medical assistance in dying. Her reporting also brings national attention to systemic health inequities.

With more than 15 years of reporting experience, Kristy has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in Canadian journalism. She began her career with CTV News in Ottawa and went on to report at Sun Media, CBC News and The Canadian Press. She joined The Globe and Mail in the fall of 2019 and brings both political and policy knowhow to her work, along with a strong commitment to public service journalism.

Kristy has reported from Parliament Hill for much of her career and has chronicled major national developments and been part of coverage for five federal election campaigns (2011, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2025). She has travelled across Canada and internationally, covering both Prime Ministers Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau on official visits abroad.

Although she has extensive experience with breaking news and daily political coverage, Kristy is drawn to in-depth journalism.

In 2017, she received the Canadian Journalism Foundation Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism, alongside colleagues at The Canadian Press, for a groundbreaking series on sexual trauma in Indigenous communities.

In 2021, she was part of a team at The Globe and Mail awarded the prestigious Michener Award for a series that exposed the Catholic Church’s efforts to sidestep accountability for its role in the residential school system.

She also received the King’s Coronation Medal in 2025, an honour awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the country. In her case, the medal was given in recognition of her reporting on Indigenous affairs.

Kristy is passionate about using the power of journalism to shine a light in dark places and to lift up the voices of the silenced and forgotten. She also believes strongly in mentoring younger journalists.

Kristy is a mother of two and has a nearly 14 year old mini schnauzer/yorkie named Adele who has been at her side for her most memorable bylines.

Dr. Liisa Galea is the Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. She leads the Women’s Health Research Cluster (>1200 members worldwide). Dr. Galea is a world-renowned expert in sex hormone influences on brain and behaviour, with a focus on stress-related psychiatric disorders and dementia. Liisa's research goal is to improve brain health for all by examining the influence of sex and sex hormones in health and disease. She has won numerous awards, serves on science advisory committees across the world and is a highly cited researcher. Dr. Galea is also tireless advocate for women’s health research and for sex and gender-based analyses towards improved health for all people.

Dr. Liisa Galea is the Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She is a world-renowned expert in sex hormone influences on brain and behaviour, with a focus on stress-related psychiatric disorders and dementia and is tireless advocate for women’s health research.

Sharon Ranalli is a senior marketing and communications executive with more than 30 years of experience spanning retirement living, public affairs, government and corporate communications.

As Vice President, Marketing & Communications at Chartwell Retirement Residences, she leads the organization’s brand, marketing and communications strategies, shaping how Chartwell connects with older adults, their families and the communities it serves.

Since joining Chartwell in 2009, Sharon has been a strong advocate for seniors and the people who support them. Her work is grounded in understanding the evolving expectations of older Canadians and their families, and the important role that connection, community and purpose can play in supporting well-being and quality of life as we age.

Sharon brings extensive leadership experience across the seniors housing and charitable sectors. She currently serves as a Board Director for Chartwell Wish of a Lifetime, the Ontario Retirement Communities Association, the BC Care Providers Association and ALS Canada. She was also a founding Board member of CaRES, established to support frontline employees in Canada’s senior living sector.

Prior to joining Chartwell, Sharon spent more than 15 years as a political advisor at the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government, working across public policy, strategic communications, community outreach and media relations.

As The Globe and Mail’s generations reporter, Ann Hui writes on how Canadians of different generations appear to be experiencing the world differently. She's particularly interested in the challenges Canada faces from its rapidly aging population, on the effects of Millennials outnumbering other demographic groups in the workplace, and the mental health of younger cohorts.

Previously, she covered food, Toronto city politics and national news at The Globe and Mail. As the Globe’s food reporter, she and colleague Ivy Knight were behind a 2018 investigation that revealed a wide pattern of sexual harassment and misconduct at one of the country’s most renowned wineries.

Her reporting on the economic (and animal welfare) realities of cage-free egg production was nominated for a 2016 National Newspaper Award. And, from 2013-2015, she was part of the Globe and Mail's Toronto City Hall Bureau, where she covered the turmoil of Rob Ford's mayoralty.

In 2019, Ann expanded a Globe feature on the lives of small-town Chinese restaurant owners into the bestselling book Chop Suey Nation: The Legion Cafe and Other Stories from Canada's Chinese Restaurants, published by Douglas & McIntyre. Chop Suey Nation was named one of the best books of 2019 by the Globe, The Walrus, and the CBC, and won the 2020 Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Alpa V. Shah, MS, RDN is Senior Director, Wellness & Digestive Health Medical & Scientific Affairs at Haleon, where she leads the scientific strategy and evidence agenda across a portfolio of trusted consumer health brands. In her role, she oversees the translation of emerging science into evidence-based innovations, health communications, and expert engagement initiatives that help consumers make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

With more than 25 years of experience in nutrition and health sciences, Alpa has built a career at the intersection of science, healthcare, and consumer wellness. Her expertise spans clinical nutrition, diabetes care, maternal and perinatal nutrition, micronutrient science, digestive health, and healthy aging. Prior to joining industry, she spent a decade in clinical practice, community health, and academia, supporting diverse and often underserved populations through evidence-based nutrition interventions.

Today, Alpa works closely with researchers, healthcare professionals, and cross-functional business leaders to advance scientific understanding in areas including nutrition, healthy aging, digestive health, women's health, and wellbeing. She is particularly passionate about translating complex science into practical solutions that improve everyday health outcomes and empower individuals to take a proactive role in their health journey.

Alpa holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Rutgers University and a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now Rutgers University). She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Integrative & Functional Nutrition with a focus on women's health

Karen Sullivan has spent more than 35 years helping shape the evolution of seniors housing and retirement living in Canada.

As President and Chief Operating Officer of Chartwell Retirement Residences, one of Canada's leading owners and operators of retirement residences, she oversees operations and sales across the country and is helping redefine what it means to live well as we age.

Karen believes retirement communities have an important role to play in supporting healthier, more connected lives. Under her leadership, Chartwell continues to evolve its approach to resident experience by creating communities where people can maintain their independence, build meaningful connections, and continue living with purpose throughout every stage of life.

Before joining Chartwell in 2008, Karen spent 21 years with the Ontario Long Term Care Association, including six years as Executive Director. She is a former Vice-President of Government Relations for the Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA) Board of Directors and a founding member of the Canadian Alliance for Long Term Care (CALTC), reflecting her longstanding commitment to advancing seniors housing and healthy aging in Canada.

Dr. Sara Mitchell is a cognitive neurologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where she serves as Deputy Chief of the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program and holds the Sunnybrook Professorship in Dementia Care Transformation. She is Director of the Azrieli Brain Medicine Program and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. Her work bridges neuroscience, innovation, and health system transformation to improve care for patients with complex brain disorders.

Kearie Daniel is a dynamic leader whose career reflects a steadfast commitment to advancing equitable outcomes for Black communities. With extensive experience across the nonprofit, education, healthcare, and child welfare sectors, Kearie has consistently recognized and addressed systemic gaps impacting Black Ontarians. Her work, though often behind the scenes, has profoundly influenced multiple facets of life for Black families and individuals across the province.

Currently, as the organization’s founder and Executive Director, Kearie is the visionary force behind The Black Women’s Institute for Health (BWIH), an organization dedicated to transforming health outcomes for Black women and girls in Canada. Continuing impactful and game-changing work, Kearie created the first-ever Vital Signs Survey on Black women’s health (social determinants of health) in Canada. This groundbreaking initiative, called Voices Unheard, will mark the first time that data is collected intentionally and systematically on Black women and girls 16 and up in Canada, providing a ‘by us for us’ approach to understanding and giving visibility to our health disparities, aiming to create a foundation for systemic change.

Kearie is also the creator of Woke Mommy Chatter, a platform dedicated to amplifying the experiences of Black motherhood through storytelling. This project fosters societal change and visibility for Black mothers, providing a space for their stories to be told and heard. Her thoughtful perspectives on race, motherhood, and education have been featured in publications such as Today’s Parent, CBC Parent, Flare, and Chatelaine.

As the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Parents of Black Children, an organization she co-founded, Kearie has transformed a concept into a robust support system for Black families, achieving a remarkable milestone with an operating budget surpassing $1 million in just four years. Her leadership in this role has redefined advocacy and support within the education sector, benefiting countless Black parents and students.

Previously, Kearie made significant strides at the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, where she served as Communications and Community Engagement Lead for the One Vision One Voice project. In this role, she tackled the overrepresentation of Black children within the child welfare system, helping to pave the way for more equitable treatment and support. Her commitment to vulnerable communities extends beyond child welfare; she has also contributed to organizations supporting homeless youth and other charitable initiatives.

Kearie’s academic foundation includes a Master’s in Broadcast Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Mass Communications and Women’s Studies. She began her career at the NBC News Bureau in London, UK, and has worked as a freelance assistant producer at 60 Minutes in London. Through each role, Kearie has demonstrated a commitment to creating spaces that uplift and empower Black voices, leaving an indelible mark on the communities she serves and inspiring a path toward greater equity and well-being for all.

Angela Pacienza is the Executive Editor at The Globe and Mail, where she helps lead the newsroom’s strategic direction and champions innovative storytelling across platforms.

Known for her commitment to journalistic excellence and audience-focused journalism, Angela sits on the boards of the Canadian Journalism Foundation (co-chair) and the Online News Association (vice-president).

Lynn Posluns is the President, CEO, and Board Chair of Women's Brain Health Initiative  (WBHI), a Canadian and U.S. charitable organization dedicated to the brain health of women,  caregivers, and families. Since founding WBHI in 2012, Lynn has worked to close the sex gap in  brain aging research, funding scientific studies and developing evidence-informed education  programs that help the public understand how to protect their cognitive vitality. Her work centers women's brain health needs across the lifespan, from hormonal transitions such  as perimenopause and menopause to the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer's disease on  women. Lynn has built WBHI's focus on brain capital, connecting brain health to workforce  participation, productivity, and economic resilience.

Before founding WBHI, Lynn held senior executive roles in the retail and fashion industries and  has raised millions of dollars for healthcare-related philanthropic causes. Lynn's contributions have been recognized with the University of Toronto's Rotman School of  Management Top Ten High Achieving Women Award, Rotary International's Paul Harris  Fellowship, an Honorary Doctorate from York University, and Canada's Top 25 Women of Influence award. In December 2021, she was appointed to the Order of Canada for her  contribution to research on cognitive health and agin

Sandra E. Martin is The Globe and Mail’s Standards Editor, a role that upholds The Globe’s editorial code of conduct, seeking to ensure The Globe’s journalism is of the highest quality and that the organization is accountable to readers.

Informed by her rich and varied 20+ years as a journalist, journalism-school instructor and audience specialist, Sandra joined The Globe in October 2021, as Head of Newsroom Development.

Previously, she served as Editor-in-Chief of MoneySense where, under her leadership, the online personal finance magazine earned two finalist nods in the 2021 in the Canadian Online Publishing Awards, to be announced in February 2022. Also under her leadership, in January 2020 MoneySense picked up a Silver Canadian Online Publishing Award in the Best Service Article or Series–Consumer category.

As a contract lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Sandra has taught undergrad and graduate classes on feature writing, advanced magazine editing, brand-building and copy editing.

During her tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Living, the magazine won numerous accolades, and maintained its place as the most-read paid women’s lifestyle publication in print and online.

Previously, Sandra helmed the highly successful launch of Walmart Live Better/Vivre mieux Walmart, and served in senior editorial capacities at Today’s Parent. Her byline has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Cottage Life and the National Post, among others.

She is a two-time National Magazine Awards finalist, a repeat NMA judge, and a two- time NMA host. She sits on the board of directors of Canada’s History Society (publishers of Canada’s History and Kayak magazines), and heads the volunteer committee for SABEW Canada (which promotes excellence in business writing and editing). She has also served as a mentor in the NMAF's BIPOC Mentorship Program."

Laura Middleton is an Associate Professor and the Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia and Active Living in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging. Her research aims to identify strategies to promote health, wellbeing, and function of those living with, or at risk for, dementia. She focuses on the role of healthy lifestyle and particularly exercise, recognizing its broad impact on cognitive, physical, social, and mental wellbeing.

Her research takes a participatory approach, integrating the expertise and perspectives of people living with dementia, care partners, health care professionals, community service providers, and other community members as partners to create accessible and effective programs and supports. She is the co-lead of the Canadian Dementia Learning and Resource Network.