Speakers
Leaders inspiring better care
Meet the keynote speakers
Jessica Dunkley
MD MHSc CCFP
Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Dr. Dunkley is the first Deaf Metis physician in Canada. She began her career in healthcare as a physiotherapist and obtained her Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Ottawa. Recently she was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her contributions to health literacy and promotion for the Deaf community. Dr. Dunkley is a clinical instructor with the UBC Department of Family Practice, a dedicated mentor and advisor to medical learners and physicians with disabilities. Outside of medicine, she is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys taking her daughter on adventures.
Brian Dolan
OBE, FFNMRCSI, FRSA, RN
Director, The Braver Group, Professor Coventry University and Honorary Adjunct Professor of Innovation in Healthcare, Bond University
As the originator of #EndPJparalysis and The Last 1000 Days, his work has sparked culture shifts and patient flow improvements in hospitals across the globe, including mobility challenges and Global Deconditioning Summits.
With over 40 years in healthcare, he focuses on system redesign, culture change and patient flow, translating big ideas into practical, everyday leadership strategies that health professionals can actually use. Brian is a sought after speaker who has authored numerous nursing leadership and emergency care books. He was awarded an OBE in 2019 by HM the Queen 'For Services to Nursing and to Emergency Care'.
Patient panel facilitators
Brivia Consulting will lead our plenary patient panel, helping bring forward patient voices through meaningful, experience-driven dialogue.
Brenda Badiuk
Chief Operating Officer, Brivia Consulting
Brenda Badiuk is a seasoned healthcare leader with extensive experience in executive roles across the sector. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Brivia, bringing more than 35 years of leadership experience, including past roles as President & COO of Seven Oaks Hospital and senior positions at St. Boniface Hospital and Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg.
With a strong focus on self-leadership and servant leadership, Brenda champions a coaching-based approach that empowers teams to feel supported, safe, and valued through change. She believes meaningful relationships and clear communication are essential to building trust and unlocking team potential.
Brenda holds a Master of Arts in Leadership (Health) from Royal Roads University and an ICD.D designation from the ICD-Rotman Director Education Program.
Stephen De Groot
President and Co-Founder, Brivia Consulting
Stephen de Groot is President and Cofounder of Brivia. He is the author of Responsive Leadership (SAGE, 2016) and Getting to Better: A New Model for Elevating Human Potential and Performance (Fall, 2024). He is a former adjunct professor of human behaviour theory, international speaker and performance development facilitator – he has worked with more than 300 organizations from 12 different countries world-wide.
Over the last 5 years Stephen has honed in on the development and support of Health Care Professionals in nursing, medicine, public and community health settings. He and his team work closely with senior level leaders across healthcare, within hospitals and various departments of medicine. All initiatives, from front-line to the highest levels of leadership are focussed on training, coaching, communities of practice and are geared towards strengthening HCP capacity to enhance connection, communication and collaborative practice to improve preferred outcomes for colleagues, staff and patients.
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