2025 Conference Speakers

Dr. Lara Aknin

Topic: The Magical Gift of Giving

Dr. Lara Aknin is a Canadian professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University, and editor of the World Happiness Report.

Through her ongoing research, Dr Aknin has gained insights into the motivations and rewards of giving, not only of our “treasure” but also our time. Hear how this is relevant to fulfilling the “magic” we can find in Rotary.

Dr Aknin’s Master’s thesis entitled Spending money on others promotes happiness was published in 2008.

After earning her PhD from the University of British Columbia in 2012, Aknin joined the faculty of psychology at Simon Fraser University. That year, she published "Giving Leads to Happiness in Young Children" with J. Kiley Hamlin and Elizabeth Dunn, which supported the idea that humans may have evolved to find giving rewarding.

In 2015 her contributions to the field of social psychology earned her the President’s New Researcher Award from the Canadian Psychological Association and a fellowship at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. She was also honoured by the university for her research and contributions to social Psychology with the title "Distinguished SFU Professor."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as chair of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Task Force of the Lancet COVID-19 Commission.

Dr Aknin is a native of Vancouver, and currently lives in Vancouver with her husband and two young children. Outside of her busy professional schedule she considers herself a foodie enjoying fine cuisine, and also regularly putting on her running shoes and going for run.

Dr. Shirley-Pat Gale

Topic: Building Peace through Literacy

Literacy is the thread that weaves together all social determinants of health and is the foundation for peace. Peace also requires Truth and Reconciliation, founding pillars of the ongoing Write to Read BC project and the spin off Fire Trailer project - both built on the principle of working with Indigenous peoples, communities and Nations. IPDG Dr.Shirley-Pat will share her research and lived experience of working with to facilitate opportunities for the 3 Ps - participation, partnership and power sharing in this interactive session on how to build relationships through service.

Shirley-Pat Gale (Nih tse digh) is a woman of mixed heritage and Tl'esqox na whelh deni heelen (adoptee of the people of Tl'esqox). She brings 20+ years of leadership, community planning and development, fund development, grant writing, project management, facilitation, teaching, and mentorship.

Shirley-Pat is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Steveston and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012 for outstanding volunteerism. She has built strong and meaningful relationships with each Indigenous community or Nation that she has had the privilege and honour of working with across the Pacific Northwest as well as non-Indigenous organizations, communities, and governments.

In 2022, she was awarded a PhD from The University of Edinburgh. Shirley-Pat helps Indigenous and Settler communities, organizations and government move forward making positive change with transformative action rooted in respect and woven into creating strong relationships. She brings a balanced approach in co-creating inviting, productive, creative and collaborative spaces in the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Paul Kershaw

Topic: Is it fair to all concerned? How to fix Canada’s broken intergenerational system

Dr. Paul Kershaw is a tenured University of BC professor, public speaker, regular media contributor and Founder of Generation Squeeze – a voice for younger Canadians in politics and the market supported by cutting-edge research. A former Rotary Youth exchange student with a strong family legacy to Rotary

Kershaw is one of Canada’s leading thinkers about generational equity. He received the award for Academic of the Year in 2016 from the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC. Twice the Canadian Political Science Association has honoured Kershaw with national prizes for his research. He and his Gen Squeeze colleagues also received the award for BC’s Affordable Housing Champion in 2017 from the provincial Housing Central coalition. He is also the Co-Principal investigator of the Balanced Supply of Housing Node of the SSHRC-CMHC Collaborative Housing Research Network.

At the UBC School of Population and Public Health, Kershaw studies the evolution of the standard of living in Canada, along with government policy adaptations. These themes are central to scholarship about the social determinants of health, and WHO recommendation that governments pursue health in all policies.

Rumana Monzur

In June 2011, I lost my sight as a result of a horrendous act of domestic violence.

Along with blindness came many hardships and challenges. Yet, in facing these challenges, I did not lose my perspective. I still see myself as the same person I always was. The same Rumana, who always believed in celebrating life; celebrating the life that made me the woman I am today.

Until June 2011, I was building my career in academia. After becoming blind, I decided to change my career. I graduated from the University of British Columbia, Canada in May 2017 with a law degree.

Today, I am an articled student at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP.

"Read" Rumana's latest book: Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur's Journey Through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse

My motto: Be Infinite

Vanessa Lanteigne

Topic: Empowered by Rotary: A Peace Fellow’s Story of Peace, Purpose and Possibility

Vanessa was first introduced to Rotary through the Rotary Youth Exchange Program in 2008 where she lived in Mexico for her Grade 11 school year. After completing her studies from the University of Victoria in political science, Vanessa worked in a variety of roles in non-profits.

In Tanzania, she interned at a local children’s rights organization whose main areas were to improve gender equality by preventing child marriage, unwanted teenage pregnancies and female genital cutting/mutilation.

Vanessa then took a contract in Ghana with the Canadian project Eqwip Hubs where she worked under a local training facilitator to train over 1,000 Ghanaian youth in employment and entrepreneurship programs.

She was also the lead at her employment hub to roll out the first Eqwip Hubs Innovation Fund, which was then replicated in five other countries to give youth entrepreneurs seed capital for their businesses.

When she returned to Canada she continued roles in education, environmental and human rights fields. Before Vanessa received the Rotary Peace Fellowship at Uppsala University in Sweden, she was the National Coordinator at the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace.

Jeff Newman

Jeff has performed for corporate audiences, theatres, festivals, events, colleges, universities, and cruise ships across the globe since 2011. Three years later, in 2014, Jeff made his Fringe Festival debut with his hit show MIND GAMES: Brain-Bending Magic at the 33rd annual Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival.

Jeff currently resides in Airdrie, Alberta where he continues to create and perform his own unique brand of magic.

Additional information about Jeff and his unique show may be found at Jeff Newman Mentalist. Magician. Trikster.

The Conference was fortunate to retain Jeff Newman as he will be performing in Burnaby on the same day.

Jeff’s role for our Conference is to start the programme with his Magic to bring entertainment and excitement to our theme “the Magic of Rotary”

Chris Offer

Topic: Just Two Drops - the campaign to eradicate polio

Chris Offer has worked for many years as a polio warrior working to eradicate this terrible disease. He worked under challenging conditions as a Rotary representative on a team with WHO, US-CDC and Gates Foundation in South Sudan, Sudan and Nigeria on polio surveillance initiatives. He also volunteered with his wife Penny on a Polio NID (National Immunization Days) in India.

He will give an update on how close we are to eradicate polio.

To reach Chris click Contact Details

PDG Nabil Oudeh

Topic: Be the calm in the middle of the storm: Conflict skills for Rotarians

PDG Nabil Oudeh is passionate about Rotary and our mission to serve and heal the world.

Nabil has held a variety of leadership positions at all levels of Rotary International from Club President, District Governor, Zone Institute General Chair, International Training leader and Training Support leader for three years, and as Rotary International president’s representative for three years.

Nabil is a frequent speaker and presenter at Rotary events around the globe and has been a champion of peace building and Conflict Resolution for over 30 years.

In 2020 Nabil was recognized by receiving the “Donald MacRae Peace Award” for outstanding achievement and contribution to building peace and international cooperation and in 2022 Nabil was awarded Rotary International highest honor “Service above Self Award”.

Professionally, Nabil is an accomplished author, President and Founder of the Centre for Conflict Resolution International and CEO of UPVERSA Inc, a leadership development firm.

Gayle Wiebe Oudeh

Gayle Wiebe Oudeh has over 25 years experience in organizational leadership and is a seasoned coach, trainer, and mediator. Gayle has designed and facilitated numerous courses on harassment in the workplace, conflict management and problem solving. Gayle specializes in working with individuals in high-intensity situations including workplace harassment.

25+ Years of Experience

Experience in public and private sector

Dr. Nischal Pandey

Rotarian Dr. Nischal Pandey-Major Donor Level-2

Charter President: Rotary E-Club of Connect, District 3012(100% PHF Club)
District International Service Chair (RID-3012)

Dr. Nischal Pandey, who completed his medical studies on Rotary Scholarship, has been associated with various Health related Rotary Service Projects.

He has been associated with premier Cardiac Institutes in India and Abroad as CTVS Specialist.

He took the initiative to establish children heart surgery program in Rotary District 3010, which has become a great success & 3200 kids have been operated so far.

He took the initiative to establish this program in Philippines which has become a great success in Philippines and saving lives of children with congenital heart defects.

Children with congenital heart defects from Myanmar, Pakistan,Malawi,Uganda,Uzbekistan and other countries have been operated and they are goodwill ambassadors of Rotary.

His passion about safe future of children led him to establish a part time school for slum children which educates about 150 plus children from local slums.

Apart from association with premier Institutes, he has established own Medical Centre by the name of ACME Multi Speciality Clinic, which houses finest Medical Equipments and serves poor and needy in society.

Contribution in the field of Polio Plus Program:

Working with Rotary International since 1997 for the Polio Plus Program and covered some of very difficult and high risk areas in Faridabad & Ghaziabad including Hilly and Mining areas like Mirzapur, Harsha-Vihar, Bhopura etc.

Honoured as speaker in the Polio Orientation meet organized by R.I. Dist.- 3010 in Delhi among Galaxy of speakers from Delhi Govt., W.H.O., UNICEF and other organizations.

Participated in Polio Corrective Surgery organized by Rotary Club of Chiranjiv Vihar and awarded for exemplary work in that camp.

Awards & Recognitions:

Recipient of Rotary International President Recognition presented for Health Services Rendered in slum areas of Faridabad as Rotaract President.
Awarded for two consecutive years for extra ordinary services on Polio NIDs by Health Departments of Faridabad & Ghaziabad.
Awarded for services carried out during years 1998-1999, 1999-2000 & 2000-2001 by Rotary Club of Faridabad NIT.
Appreciation letter from National Polio Plus Co-chairman Rtn. Hemant Ahuja for exemplary work on NIDs.
Distinguished Rotaractor award in Rotary Youth Leadership Award camp organized by Rotary International District – 3010.
Promising Rotaractor of the Rotaract Dist. Organisation Award for the year 1999-2000.
Recipient Avenues of Service Citation from RI President 2013-14
Recipient HERO PIN for Outstanding Community Services from DG Rtn Miles Petroff(RID 5300)
Technical Adviser(Cadre Member)-The Rotary Foundation(2014-24)
Recipient Regional Service Award for Polio Free World (2016)
Recipient Vocational Service Award (2016) RID 9140
Recipient Rotary International Highest Individual Honor-Service Above Self Award(2017-18)
Human Service Excellency Award-RC Gorakhpur, RID 3120
“Humanitarian of the Year” Award by RC Cupertino & local government body of Cupertino,USA

Dean Rohrs

Past Rotary International Vice President 2017-18

Past Rotary International Director 2016-18

Topic: Rotary. Where now?

Is the Rotary of today the right one for tomorrow? Are the experiments happening in the Rotary World and the changes that are inevitable going to meet the needs of Rotarians?

Dean, her husband Rhino and their 3 children emigrated to Canada from South Africa during the 1980s. Dean grew up in Zambia and after marrying Rhino lived in Malawi, Namibia and South Africa. At present she is a member of the Rotary Club of Langley Central in District 5050.

Dean has served on many District and Zone committees before being appointed to Rotary International senior positions. As a former Rotary International Vice President and Rotary International Director Dean has great insight into Rotary and the possibilities for the future. However, her best experience is leading teams of Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors to Africa and seeing how this volunteer experience changes their lives.