Sharon Batt, Doctoral Candidate Dalhousie University

Co-founder Breast Cancer Action Montreal

Sharon Batt had worked as a journalist and community activist with a focus on women’s issues and consumer rights when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988. Turning her attention to breast cancer, she co-founded Breast Cancer Action Montreal, wrote numerous articles, radio documentaries, and the book Patient No More: the Politics of Breast Cancer. In 1999 she was appointed to the Nancy's Chair in Women's Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, and in 2001 to the Elizabeth May Chair in Women's Health and the Environment at Dalhousie University. She is currently completing her doctoral dissertation in the Department of Bioethics at Dalhousie. She is a member of the steering committee of the coalition, Women and Health Protection.

Dr. Irena Buka MB, ChB, F.R.C.P.(C)

Director Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU)

Dr. Buka is a clinician with special interest in environmental influences on the health and development of the foetus and child in the context of clinically relevant disorders and determinants of health. Dr. Buka is currently serving on a consultative group for building capacity in health care professional training in paediatric environmental health with the World Health Organization.  The group is creating educational tools and participating in their delivery at international conferences. She is also working with WHO in the area of Biomarkers and has a mutual interest in promoting an international reference laboratory for paediatric environmental health.

Dr. Karen Kedrowski, Ph. D.

Professor and Chair Department of Political Science Winthrop University

As the Visiting Fulbright Chair in Health, Indigenous Peoples, Media and Education at the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada in 2009-2010, Dr. Kedrowski studied women’s health activism, in particular the breast cancer and breastfeeding movements. Dr. Kedrowski’s permanent affiliation is as Professor and Chair of the Political Science department at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. She teaches courses and conducts research primarily in the fields of American Politics and Public Policy. She is author or coauthor of three books, including Cancer Activism: Gender, Media and Public Policy and Breastfeeding Rights in the United States, and several journal articles and book chapters.

Beverley Thorpe, BA (Hon), BSc

International Director, Clean Production Action

Beverley Thorpe has researched and promoted clean production strategies internationally since 1986 and was a co-founder of the United Nations Environment Programme for Cleaner Production. She was the first Clean Production liaison technical expert for Greenpeace International on chemical and waste issues and during this time initiated the first English language campaigns against PVC plastic and PVC waste and helped achieve a global ban on ocean incineration of hazardous wastes. Her current focus is the promotion of Green Chemistry within government policy and company practices and she continues to train, teach and publish materials that advance clean production strategies internationally.

Fiona Hanley, RN, MSc.

Nursing educator at Dawson College since 2001

Member of the Canadian Nurses Association Environmental Reference Group, Canadian Nurses for Heath and the Environment andQuebec Nurses for Ecoresponsibility.

Advisor on health and environment issues.