KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
PUBLIC HEALTH 2.0 COVID-19 AND THE OPEN SOURCE OUTBREAK
Dr. Jennifer Gardy
Deputy Director of Surveillance, Data & Epidemiology for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Biography: Dr. Jennifer Gardy is the charismatic champion of science that we need today. Called 'The Next David Suzuki' by the Globe and Mail, Gardy unveils a fundamental truth that has resonated with audiences in every field: science is the invisible playbook that guides human progress - from new technologies to workplace issues to the hyper-competitive world of business. An entertaining and authoritative speaker, Gardy not only instills a love of science into audiences; she demystifies, as only she can, the scientific principles that touch our everyday lives, at home and at work.
Session description: Scientists and epidemiologists have been warning us for decades about the dangers of pandemics if we don’t invest in public health. Unfortunately, global leaders chose not to heed their call, and today COVID-19 has shown us the tragic cost of being ill-prepared.
In this talk, Jennifer Gardy, the Deputy Director of Surveillance, Data, and Epidemiology for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, outlines her vision for a 21st century form of public health, or “public health 2.0.” We must ensure that the outbreaks are “open source outbreaks,” where researchers around the world can create and share vital information in real time, Gardy explains. We’re halfway there, with the COVID vaccine breaking down traditional barriers and inefficiencies in the system in order to be released in record time.
With a blend of scientific knowledge and on-stage magnetism, Gardy sheds new light on themes such as disease transmission, vaccine equity, and what public health collaboration could mean for our species. Gardy will discuss the implications of COVID-19 on healthcare systems, the future of healthcare, lessons learned, and the impacts of the pandemic in health and tech industries. In a globally connected world with a rapidly expanding population, identifying and stopping future pandemics before they spread is more critical than ever.
OUR NATIONAL STORIES: INSPIRING CANADIANS AT HOME AND ABROAD
Peter Mansbridge
Chief Correspondent of CBC News & Anchor of The National
Thursday, October 28, 2021
Biography: With a broadcasting career spanning nearly 50 years with the CBC, Peter Mansbridge is the face of Canadian news. As the recently-retired host of The National and Mansbridge One on One, his trusted journalism has earned him numerous awards and accolades—including the Order of Canada. A walking encyclopedia of all things Canadian news—and with up to the minute accuracy—Peter’s talks explore our national identity through key social and political issues, at home and abroad. From anecdotal behind-the-scenes looks at news making in Canada, to the top stories of yesterday and today, Peter’s inimitable perspective and legacy knowledge sheds light on our nation’s key political, social and cultural issues—leaving you with a better understanding of what it means to be Canadian.
Session description: What does Canadian leadership look like? Is there something special, and vital, about leadership in this country? In this engrossing talk, based on his reporting from around the world, Peter Mansbridge offers accounts of extraordinary acts of leadership by ordinary Canadians, at home and abroad. He speaks of stories of courage and selflessness, from Sri Lanka to the Netherlands, Afghanistan to our own Indigenous communities, to show us that Canadian leadership is, at core, about caring. It’s about being there for our neighbours—down the street, across the country, or even around the world—when and where they need us the most.
*Please note, keynote recordings will be available until November 30, 2021.