Speaker Bios

Cynthia Abel is the Deputy Registrar and Director of Registration with the College of Early Childhood Educators (Ontario, Canada). In this role Cynthia leads the team responsible for developing and assessing entry to practice requirements while working closely with post-secondary institutions. She is also leading the development of a strategic data analytics and research initiative for the organization to support workforce development. Prior to taking on this role she spent many years with both the local and provincial governments working extensively in the children’s mental health and early years policy areas as well as leading Ontario’s Behavioural Insights Unit. Cynthia is a registered early childhood educator and holds a Masters degree in Leadership Studies from Royal Roads University and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Glasgow (Scotland). Her research interests include workforce development and collaboration within human service systems.

Dr. Nasrin Alostaz, a dedicated postdoctoral researcher at Athabasca University, is an internationally educated nurse (IEN) and an accomplished nurse educator. In her current role, she combines her extensive clinical knowledge and academic expertise to contribute to the field of nursing education.

Her doctoral work focuses on exploring the complex integration journey of internationally educated nurses (IENs) in Ontario and provides important insights into their unique pathways to registration. Through her research, Dr. Alostaz highlights the challenges and opportunities that IENs face as they navigate the registration process, offering significant potential to help health systems better address the ongoing nursing shortage across Canada.

By shedding light on these critical issues, her work aims to inform policy and practice, ultimately improving the integration experience for IENs in the healthcare system.

Reiko Anderson Williams, M.Ed. has a long history of uplifting her community and has dedicated her professional passions to DEIB advocacy focused on identity development of those who work with vulnerable populations. Homegrown here in Colorado, she began her advocacy work as a student of DPS schools and at CSU with student government and other youth leadership opportunities. After undergrad, Reiko worked in Community Outreach in the Denver Mayor’s Office, and as an educator in Denver and San Diego. In 2022, Reiko was assaulted while pregnant resulting in preterm labor. Although it was a traumatic experience, she learned about another way she could have a positive impact on her community because of her own victim advocate. After a decade in education, Reiko made a career shift into Community-based Victim Advocacy. As the Director of the Victim Assistance Department with the Cultural Development and Wellness Center of Aurora Mental Health and Recovery, she has the opportunity to put the very same passions for DEIB at the forefront of this critical work and share the importance of that lens with different and broader audiences.

Rodney Andriolo leads and oversee APC's IT service delivery, digital enablement and transformation to ensure efficient, robust and secure technology investment.

Rodney is an experienced Business Technologist, Entrepreneur and IT Executive with over 25 years of professional services and commercial management experience. He has operated his own IT consulting firm and worked for some of the largest Australian and International technology and management consulting companies across the private, health and government sectors.

Zubin Austin is a Professor and the Koffler Research Chair at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. His research focuses on the professional and personal development of the health workforce. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers and authored five textbooks.

In 2017, in recognition of his work's global impact, he was installed as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the highest honour for health researchers in Canada. He is also the only University of Toronto professor to have received both the President’s Teaching Award for sustained excellence as an educator and the President’s Research Impact Award for the societal significance of his work. Students named him Professor of the Year on 20 separate occasions.

Kym Ayscough is Executive Director, Regulatory Operations leading Ahpra’s teams delivering the core regulatory functions of registration, notifications and compliance. Ahpra’s National Legal Practice, led by General Counsel Jamie Orchard, is also part of the Regulatory Operations directorate.

Kym has been with Ahpra since the commencement of the national scheme in 2010, taking up the newly created role of Executive Director in 2014. She has 25 years’ experience in professional and occupational regulation in the legal, pharmacy and wider healthcare sectors. Kym was elected to the Board of Directors of the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) in 2016, serving as it’s President in 2019/2020. She was re-elected in 2021 and in this role provides leadership to the community of regulators internationally.

Kym holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and Masters of Law and Management and has completed (and occasionally taught in) the CLEAR Executive Leadership for Regulators program.

Mukul Bakhshi is Chief of Strategy and External Affairs at CGFNS International, Inc. In that capacity, he builds relationships with government and other stakeholders to encourage efficient regulation that promotes public safety and enables healthcare workers to leverage their skills. He also leads the development and implementation of the enterprise strategy to ensure CGFNS can serve the global community at the intersection of healthcare, migration, credential evaluation, and mobility.

Since CGFNS’ acquisition of the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices in 2014, he has also led that multi-stakeholder initiative to advance fair and ethical recruitment practices of foreign-educated nurses. At CGFNS, Mukul has written extensively about nursing workforce issues, has presented at the United Nations and World Health Organization on nurse recruitment, and is currently serving on the WHO’s Technical Expert Group on bilateral agreements in health care professional recruitment.

Previously, he served as a management and strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company and Altman Vilandrie & Company, where he developed the organizational and health strategy for a major non-profit consumer protection organization and a statewide telehealth network.

Mukul Bakhshi received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and is admitted to the bar in the state of New York. He was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and received a Parker School Certificate for International Law. He received his B.A. at Yale University, where he double-majored in history and economics.

He also previously served on the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Connecticut and currently serves on the Board of the New Jersey-based AIDS Resource Foundation for Children.

Donald Balasa has served as Chief Executive Officer and legal counsel of the American Association of Medical Assistants since 1990. His primary responsibilities include protecting the legal scope of responsibility of medical assistants by monitoring proposed legislation and regulations on the state and federal levels, providing written and oral testimony, and offering revised language for bills and proposed rules. Donald has given presentations to the Chicago Bar Association, the Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Health Professions Network. He has taught evening courses in constitutional law, comparative government, international human rights, and association management at the DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business and Trinity International University.

Grady Barnhill has been involved in testing for over 35 years, beginning in personnel testing before moving into licensure assessment and finally testing for national certifying bodies in healthcare until his retirement in December 2021. During his career, he has been responsible for developing and implementing specialty and advanced certifications and for a portfolio recertification process.

He has served on various committees and made numerous presentations on assessment and credentialing at CLEAR, the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), and other national and international conferences. He was elected to serve two terms on the Board of Directors for ICE and continues to serve on the ICE Public Member Committee. In November 2022, he began serving on the Assessment Advisory Group for the Nursing Community Assessment Service in British Columbia. In January 2023, he began serving a term as a public member on the Board of Directors for the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC).

He served as founder and president of the International Society for the Advancement of Continuing Competence (ISACC), which was incorporated in Washington, DC, in April 2023. He remains interested in credentialing and public protection and in advocating for evidence-based improvements in the measurement and enhancement of continuing competence.

Jimi Bush started with the WMC as Performance and Outreach Manager in January 2015. Today, she leads the Quality and Engagement team, which evaluates and modernizes processes and procedures through six sigma (LEAN) tools, paperless workflows, and employee training. She is responsible for developing, tracking, and holding business units accountable for their quantitative and qualitative performance.

Jimi plays a major role in the outward facing communication of the Medical Commission. She has developed communications strategies for Twitter and Facebook that center around providing unique content for the distinctive demographics of each platform. She and the communications team strive to execute social media posts, website updates and email distributions in a timely manner and eye-catching approach. Jimi has been the driving force behind the Medical Commissions annual conference and speakers’ bureau. By reaching out to new stakeholders and channeling new speaking topics Jimi increased the attendance to the annual conference by 50% and number of speaking engagements by 140%. She has also had two papers published in the Journal of Medical Regulation (JMR) highlighting the accomplishments of the WMC.

Jimi studied economics and mathematics at New York University and continued on to Arizona State University where she received her master’s in public administration.

Houssem is a Senior Research Associate and Co-leader of the Mobility, Migration, and Integration Theme at the Canadian Health Workforce Network. He is also a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa.

Houssem's research interests focus on analyzing and evaluating health policies related to the retention, integration, and recruitment of nurses. Recently, he founded the Collaborative Alliance of Research and Education for Nursing Empowerment (CARE4NEt), a new research hub aimed at advancing scientific research in the health sector. This initiative seeks to strengthen the connections between the nursing and health sciences research communities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Canada.

Liz Blanco is a Registration Manager at the College of Early Childhood Educators in Ontario, Canada, where she leads a team responsible for assessing applications, including those from internationally trained individuals. Holding a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Northeastern University, Liz brings a broad global perspective to her role. Her professional experience spans several regions across Oceania and North America, and as a remote staff member, Liz currently resides near Montréal, Québec.

As Head of Strategy and Policy with CORU, Catherine has responsibility for cross-operational strategic projects, including integrating new professions to CORU’s regulatory model. Catherine works closely with Council and Registration Boards in setting pre-registration education and training standards for health and social care professions, developing support and guidance and professional standards for professional practice. Working collaboratively with Council and the Registration Boards, Catherine leads on research and policy development, with a particular focus on upstream regulation, risk-based approach to regulatory interventions.

Lorna Candler is the Director of the Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) at the Colorado Department of Higher Education. The mission of DPOS is to improve private occupational schools and their educational services and to protect the citizens of Colorado against fraudulent or substandard schools.

She has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Vermont and a juris doctorate from the University of Denver College of Law. She has served as present and vice president on the National Association of School Administrators & Supervisors of Private Schools (NASASPS) Board of Directors. She continues to serve on the Board of Directors since she was initially appointed in 2017.

Michael is a Specialist Adviser at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. He also held senior roles with the Australian Dental Council and the Australian Federal Government’s higher education regulator (TEQSA).

An engineer by background, and originally from the UK, Michael has an MBA from Melbourne Business School and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. A CLEAR Board member since 2020, he is a regular attendee and presenter at the Annual Education Conference, chair of CLEAR’s Regulatory Agency Administration Committee, and vice-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Leading the Candidate Engagement Team, Joe manages verifications, candidate relationships, and exam delivery.

Having attained tertiary qualifications in social work, Joe has expanded his knowledge through positions in law enforcement, social work, and business management within various sectors. Joe has had extensive experience working with vulnerable and economically disadvantaged populations. While working with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Far Northern Queensland, he led multidisciplinary teams of Social Workers, Psychologists, and Occupational Therapists based in remote locations throughout Cape York.

In CEO and Executive leadership roles, Joe has overseen complex governance and accreditation procedures across multiple organisations, and has assessed against diverse Quality and Safety standards, including:

• QIC Health
• National Disability Insurance Scheme Practice Standards
• Australian Services Excellence Standards
• Australian Retirement Village Accreditation Scheme
• National Safety and Quality Health Services Standards.

Andrew Charnock is currently transitioning from an executive role to director of his own company, Insight Māramatanga Ltd which offers professional support for individuals, groups, and organisations to unlock their potential. Andrew has over 30 years of experiene in health regulation in the United Kingdom and New Zealand

Andrew has had a long career in healthcare, holding several leadership roles in the UK and New Zealand. He has held several nursing roles in practice, education, and professional management.

Kathy Chen is a highly respected expert in human trafficking and exploitation, focusing on the operations of illicit massage businesses across the US. As the Special Population Anti-Trafficking Specialist at the Ohio Criminal Justice Services, she works closely with law enforcement to dismantle trafficking networks.

Kathy holds a Master of science in Psychology, specializing in Forensic, and completed a fellowship in Human Trafficking Leadership Academy, sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Through this program, she helped create strategies to address institutional inequities and improve services for trafficking survivors.

With over a decade of experience, Kathy brings a trauma-informed approach to her work, deeply informed by her immigrant background and a commitment to cultural humility. She empowers survivors through storytelling and is dedicated to supporting marginalized communities impacted by trafficking.

Dr. Patrick Chiu is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. As a registered nurse, he has 14 years of experience in health systems, providing patient care and engaging in policy and professional practice roles within government, regulatory bodies, and professional associations. Patrick holds the Certified Global Nurse Consultant (CGNC) designation through the International Council of Nurses and CGFNS International. He currently serves as Sigma Nursing's Liaison to the United Nations (Economic and Social Council). Patrick co-leads the CIHR-funded Health Workforce Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization Hub.

Dr Giorgio Cometto is a medical doctor with a master’s degree in health policy and heath economics and a PhD in health sector governance. He has worked on health system development at national and international levels for more than 20 years, in humanitarian, post- conflict and development settings. Since 2017 he heads the unit responsible for the policies, norms and standards in WHO’s health workforce department.

Among the focus areas of his work, he facilitated the development of the WHO Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health, the WHO guideline on health policy and system support to optimize community health worker programmes, and WHO’s guidance on health workforce policy and management during COVID-19. More recently, Dr Cometto coordinated the development of WHO guidance on Bilateral agreements on health worker migration and mobility and health practitioner regulation.

Dr. Edward Cruz is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor. He is among the few Philippine-educated nurses to achieve tenure at a Canadian university and is the only Filipino Canadian inducted into the Canadian Academy of Nursing.

For his work and expertise on issues affecting internationally educated nurses (IENs) in Canada, he received the 2023 Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award and the 2024 Golden Balangay Educator of the Year Award. Dr. Cruz serves as the Research Coordinator and lecturer for the Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association and co-chairs the Partners in Integration and Education of IENs.

Beth Deazeley, LL.B, currently serves as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the College of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario. Since being called to the Bar of Ontario in 2002, she has dedicated much of her career to governance and professional regulation. Her extensive experience includes key leadership roles and providing expert guidance to regulatory bodies at both the provincial and national levels, helping shape standards and best practices within these sectors.

Beth is also a frequent speaker on trends in governance, sharing insights on best practices and discussing significant regulatory issues facing various industries. Over the years, she has participated as a board member for multiple organizations, gaining valuable experience not only in the regulatory sector but also within non-profit settings, where she has contributed to the effective governance and strategic direction of these organizations.

Yvonne Deryngowska manages the Candidate Services team at APC and provides key support to the Director of Engagement. In her role, she collaborates closely with APC's delivery partner, Pearson VUE, to ensure a seamless registration process and smooth delivery of APC examinations. Her work is instrumental in maintaining high service standards and enhancing the candidate experience.

With a diverse background in the Registered Training Organization (RTO) sector and retail management, Yvonne brings a wealth of expertise in customer service and operational efficiency. Her commitment to quality and her focus on detail ensure that candidates receive consistent support throughout their journey, reinforcing APC’s dedication to excellence in examination and credentialing services.

James is currently the Strategic Projects Manager with CORU, Ireland's multi-profession health and social care regulator, holding responsibility for the development and drafting of pre- and post-registration education and training requirements, along with a range of other project areas. Previously he worked as an Education Officer, managing approval and monitoring processes for education programmes used for entry to professional registers.

Prior to joining CORU, James worked in qualification accreditation and regulation in Northern Ireland.

Outside of work in regulation, James holds a MA in American Politics and is currently completing his PhD in American Politics, specialising in the analysis of presidential rhetoric, having previously lectured in American History at Maynooth University, Ireland.

Martin Fletcher is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), which implements the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme regulating more than 900,000 health practitioners across 16 professions, in partnership with 15 National Health Practitioner Boards.

Prior to joining Ahpra, Martin was Chief Executive of the National Patient Safety Agency in England. From 2004 to 2007, Martin worked with WHO to establish a global patient safety program.

Martin holds a Master of Management degree in public sector management, an Honours degree in behavioural sciences, and an undergraduate degree in social studies.

Martin holds an honorary appointment as adjunct Professor with the School of Health and Biomedical Science at RMIT University. He is also a co-director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Workforce Regulation in the Western Pacific Region which is hosted by Ahpra.

André Gariépy is a senior government manager and seasoned public policy professional with over 25 years of experience in legislative reform, governance, and professional regulation. As a lawyer and chartered administrator with a background in economics, André has managed complex policy research and analysis projects across various sectors, including health and legal professions. His extensive international experience spans multiple countries, working with organizations like the EC, UNDP, and OSCE. He is recognized for his expertise in professional mobility, international trade agreements, and civil society development, making him a trusted authority in legal reform and policy advocacy.

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Russ Harrington oversees the day-to-day operational leadership of the College's Finance, Human Resources, and Organization Administration departments and plays a key role in fulfilling the College's strategic priorities, including the pending transition to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.

Before joining the College, Russ was COO at the College of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario, a provincial self-regulatory organization overseeing over 57,000 registrants. In this role, he led the redesign and implementation of corporate services, including strategic communications and stakeholder relations, IT transformation, and financial sustainability. Previously, he was the founding CFO & COO of HealthForceOntario, a provincial government agency mandated to provide health workforce solutions. This role involved leading an interprofessional care/education (IPC/E) initiative to support the provincial IPC/E Steering Committee and providing full corporate services for the establishment of five separate and independent new health regulatory colleges.

Russ’s private sector experience includes executive-level responsibilities at several for-profit companies and volunteer roles with industry associations and charitable enterprises.

Dr. Ray Healy is a distinguished healthcare leader currently serving as the Director of Registration at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). With a background as a Registered General Nurse, Ray has amassed a wealth of experience in orthopaedic and neurosurgical care across both public and private healthcare sectors.

Prior to assuming his role at NMBI in 2021, Ray held pivotal positions within healthcare policy and governance. He served as a project officer in the Chief Nursing Officer's Office at the Department of Health, where he led the management of the Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix brief, demonstrating his commitment to enhancing patient care through effective staffing strategies.

Ray's impact in healthcare extends to his role as the secretariat for the Expert Review Body of Nursing and Midwifery, where he facilitated the publication of the Body's influential report in 2022, contributing valuable insights to the profession.

Ray's academic pursuits reflect his dedication to advancing nursing practice and leadership. He holds an MSc in Leadership from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, underscoring his expertise in organizational management and strategic leadership. Recently, Ray achieved a significant milestone by completing his Doctorate in Nursing from London South Bank University, focusing on how nurses define and deliver care in acute care settings—a testament to his commitment to advancing nursing scholarship and evidence-based practice.

Dr. Ray Healy's career is characterized by a profound dedication to improving healthcare quality, policy development, and professional standards within the nursing profession. His leadership at NMBI continues to shape the landscape of nursing registration and regulation, driving positive change and innovation in the field

Ronne is a partner at the Regulatory Consulting Group, where her dedication to regulation, governance, ethics, labor mobility, and innovation come together to inform a new discussion about smart regulation. Ronne has been immersed in professional and occupational licensing and regulation across more than 50 health and technical professions and had the privilege of serving as president of the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR). As the past division director for Colorado’s Division of Professions and Occupations, Ronne demonstrated her willingness to build strategic relationships, deliver key objectives across the state, streamline licensing timelines, and develop alternative pathways to licensure.

Emmanuel specialises in mathematical modelling in health workforces. His expertise includes turning real-world situations into mathematical models, providing health workforce forecasting models for government health initiatives and policies.

Emmanuel studied Operations Research and in the year 2000, he joined Electronic Data Systems (EDS) (now the Hewlett-Packard) as a mathematical modeller working on a variety project. He joined the Accident Compensation Corporation in 2004 and moved to the Ministry of Health in 2006 and transferred to Health New Zealand in 2022 as a part of health reform in New Zealand. During his service at the Ministry, he has developed the Virtual Diabetes Register in 2009 which is now being used as the official diabetes prevalence in New Zealand. He has also developed the Health Workforce Forecasting Model in 2015 for planning of health workforces. Currently, Emmanuel is an Honorary Lecturer in Medicine at School of Medicine University of Auckland, and Manager of Analytics and Forecasting Section, Health New Zealand.

Audrey Keen is a Victim Advocate with the Denver District Attorney's Office, serving in the County Court system. She holds a Master of Social Work and is a trained and certified advocate with a passion for supporting survivors of crime. Audrey specializes in assisting survivors of relationship violence, sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking, offering guidance through the criminal justice system and connecting them with community resources. She is skilled in crisis intervention and brings extensive experience in peer education across school and community settings.

Mel Khandanian is currently the Head of Digital Strategy (Acting) in CORU, having previously served as Acting Head of Registration and Registration Policy Manager. She has significant experience in leading regulatory innovations across key emerging areas such as digitisation, strategic project management and policy development. She has over eight years of experience in healthcare regulation, having worked within legal affairs, policy, and fitness to practise roles across a number of healthcare regulators. She has a Master of Arts in Politics and has previously worked in non-governmental organisations in the areas of research, advocacy, communications and strategic engagements, where her work has been presented at the United Nations.

Jack (Eui Chul) Kim is a Partner at Fragomen and a recognized expert in global immigration law, specializing in complex mobility strategies for multinational corporations. With years of experience advising clients across various industries, Jack has been instrumental in facilitating the international movement of licensed professionals, navigating regulatory frameworks, and creating compliant mobility programs.

At Fragomen, Jack leads initiatives that address emerging challenges in global mobility, particularly focusing on regulatory compliance and the unique needs of licensed professionals who seek opportunities worldwide. He collaborates with corporate clients to develop tailored immigration solutions that meet business goals while adhering to local and international standards.

Jack’s work in global mobility is underscored by his deep understanding of regional and cross-border immigration issues, making him a valuable voice on the latest trends and best practices in this area. He frequently speaks at industry conferences and contributes to thought leadership on immigration compliance, visa processes, and workforce mobility.

Colleen King-McClintock, MHA, FACHE, is the Director of Client Services and Business Development at ECFMG, a role she has held since October 2021 after serving as Manager in the same department from June 2018. With extensive experience in healthcare, Colleen previously worked at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as Manager of Global Pediatric Education & Business Development, where she led outreach initiatives and managed relations with international stakeholders.

Colleen's career began with positions such as Administrative Fellow at ARAMARK Healthcare and Project Manager at The Children's Institute. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State University and a Master's Degree in Health Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, where she also participated in a study abroad program. Throughout her career, Colleen has demonstrated expertise in client services, business development, project management, and healthcare research.

Dr. Ruth Lee is the Executive Director of the CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses (CARE Centre), an organization that supports internationally educated nurses (IENs) before and after their arrival in Canada to help them relaunch their careers. In her role, Ruth collaborates closely with regulators, employers, professional organizations, and academics to facilitate the integration process for IENs. She is also an Associate Clinical Professor at McMaster University School of Nursing.

Before joining the CARE Centre eight years ago, Ruth served as the Chief of Nursing Practice at Hamilton Health Sciences for thirteen years, where she led the IEN Integration Project. Her clinical and administrative expertise encompasses various roles in acute, community, and long-term care settings.

Ruth's academic and knowledge translation work emphasizes culturally competent practice, diversity and inclusion, leadership and management, and health human resources planning, particularly regarding IENs. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the nursing profession, Ruth received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario in 2018.

Dr. Kathleen Leslie is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Disciplines at Athabasca University. Kate is a registered nurse and lawyer whose program of research focuses on professional regulation, health law and policy, and governance of the health workforce.

Dr. Leslie co-led the Canadian team that undertook a global review of health practitioner regulation for the World Health Organization (WHO) from 2021 to 2023. She is also a team member conducting a WHO-commissioned review on the international recruitment of health workers in 2024.

Additionally, she leads the CIHR-funded Health Workforce Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization Hub.

Thomas Liebig is Senior Migration Specialist in the International Migration Division of the OECD in Paris, where he is in charge of the work on the integration of immigrants and their children. Among other projects, he led in-depth country studies on migration and integration in 20 OECD countries as well as international comparative work on a broad range of topics related to migration and integration. He also established “Settling In: Indicators of Immigrant Integration”, the largest database on the characteristics and outcomes of immigrants and their children, covering all OECD and EU countries. He has also been in charge of an OECD-wide project that aims at identifying good practices for getting the most out of diversity for businesses and societies at large. Since 2018, he is member of the expert group for demographic projections of the German Federal Statistical Office and in February 2019, he was appointed member of the expert commission on integration capacity by the German federal government.

A German national, Thomas holds a doctorate and an MSc in Economics from the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland). He also holds an MSc in International Affairs and, following studies at the ESADE (Barcelona, Spain), a CEMS Master in International Business Management. Prior to joining the International Migration Division in 2004, he worked for the OECD’s Economics Department in 2000 and for the Institute for Labour Economics and Labour Law at the University of St. Gallen from 2001-2004

Lara Marín is a pharmacist within the Professional Service unit at the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU). Lara is responsible for the promotion of pharmacy services, supporting the pharmacy profession, and also supporting the profession with matters relating to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (the Pharmacy Regulator). She also acts as a preceptor for pharmacy students and is an active member of the pharmacist mentorship programme.

Lara undertook her pharmacy degree in the University of Granada (Spain) followed by a diploma in Pharmacovigilance (Francisco Marroquín University – Madrid).

Lara worked in community pharmacies for more than 15 years which provided her with insight into the challenges pharmacists face on a daily basis in their practice; the importance of having robust quality assurance procedures in place to support the safe practice of the pharmacy; and how to create a working environment that thrives on improvement and fosters a patient safety culture.

Lara also worked for five years for the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (the Pharmacy Regulator). This experience upskilled her in the understanding and interpretation of the legislation and exposed her to other lines of work such as policy-making and the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks that support and promote best practices in community pharmacy settings.

In her career to date, Lara has always advocated for patient safety and has strong values regarding the delivery of patient-centered care, she also continuously endeavors to share her learnings, experience and knowledge with the profession.

Staci Mason is a dynamic and innovative leader with nearly 15 years of operations leadership experience in higher education, professional licensing and regulation, and continuous improvement. As a strategic and visionary change agent, she excels in improving operational efficiencies, exceeding performance goals, and building strong stakeholder relationships.

Staci's expertise spans leadership, government, public policy, regulation, change management, and strategic project management. Her collaborative approach and inclusive leadership style inspire high performance through coaching and empowerment. With a proven track record in compliance monitoring, process improvement, and program management, Staci offers valuable insights on transforming organizations and navigating complex regulatory environments. Her authentic and inspiring speaking style makes her a sought-after voice in discussions on modern leadership challenges and regulatory excellence.

Micah has been with the state nursing board since 2009, currently serving as Deputy Executive and Legislative Director. He is active in shaping both Washington State and national policies on telemedicine, continuity of care, artificial intelligence, practitioner health, and health profession compacts. Known for his expertise, Micah frequently presents on these issues locally, nationally, and internationally.

With a Master of Public Administration focusing on health policy and a Certified Public Manager credential from the University of Washington, Micah brings a strong academic background to his work. In his personal time, he enjoys outdoor activities with his family, playing guitar, and staying informed on technology, music, healthcare, and political developments.

Micah is engaged with various industry groups, including serving multiple terms on the Board of Directors for the Council of Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR), where he chaired several committees and led program planning for key conferences. His other notable roles include serving on the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) committees focused on medical regulation, digital credentialing, and innovation.

Dr. Hannah Maxey is a prominent figure in health workforce research and policy, serving as an Associate Professor at Indiana University and as the Founding Director of the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy located in Indianapolis, IN. She is a nationally recognized expert on state health workforce policy issues, specializing in strategy development and consensus building for state-centric solutions to complex health workforce challenges.

Dr. Maxey has extensive consulting experience, working with both government and private sector clients focused on advancing health care workforce initiatives. In 2019, she founded Veritas Health Solutions, LLC (VHS) as a means to provide a broad range of integrity-based services that help clients generate and implement customized solutions.

Dr. Maxey earned her PhD from the Department of Health Policy and Management at Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health in 2014 and also holds a Master of Public Health. Additionally, she has maintained an Indiana State Dental Hygiene license since 2000 and spent nine years practicing dental hygiene in federally qualified health centers before pursuing her graduate studies.

Fiona McVeigh is a seasoned policy manager with extensive expertise in regulatory policy development, education standards management, and stakeholder engagement. As Head of Regulatory Policy at the Medical Council of Ireland, Fiona leads initiatives that underpin patient safety and professional regulation within the medical profession in Ireland. Her career highlights include managing policy formulation for CORU, Ireland's regulator for health and social care professionals, and a strong foundation in education management at University College Dublin.

Fiona holds a Professional Diploma in Project Management and an MSc in Sport & Exercise Rehabilitation. She has presented at international conferences such as the CLEAR Annual Educational Conference, addressing critical topics in regulatory decision-making and professional development enforcement. Fiona’s active roles in committees and boards, including the CLEAR International Relations Committee, reflect her commitment to advancing professional standards globally.

Dr. María Mora Pinzón is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in geriatrics and preventive medicine. She earned her medical degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela and later pursued a master’s degree in Clinical Research at Rush University, Chicago. Dr. Mora Pinzón completed her residency in Preventive Medicine at UW-Madison in 2017, where she now focuses her research and clinical work on health equity, particularly within underserved communities and among older adults.

Her research interests include addressing health disparities in chronic disease management, dementia care, and fall prevention, with a keen emphasis on the Latinx and African American populations. Through her work, Dr. Mora Pinzón engages these communities in evidence-based practices and seeks to improve their access to healthcare services.

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Mora Pinzón holds leadership roles in the American College of Preventive Medicine and is active within the National Hispanic Medical Association. She co-founded #LatinasInMedicine, a vibrant online community that provides mentorship and professional development for Latinas in healthcare, supporting a network of professionals committed to promoting diversity in the field.

Ashley Morgan is a Senior Deputy District Attorney at the Denver District Attorney’s Office and the Director of the Denver Human Trafficking Unit. Earlier this year, Ashley developed and drafted Colorado Senate Bill 024-35, Strengthening Enforcement of Human Trafficking, which increased the statute of limitations for human trafficking charges from three to twenty years and enhanced the penalties for human trafficking convictions. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver. Ashley has been a prosecutor for over eight years, and primarily focuses on human trafficking, organized crime and homicide cases.

Before joining the Denver DA’s Office, Ms. Morgan was a litigation associate at Davis Graham & Stubbs, LLP, where she focused on commercial litigation and appellate matters. Prior to that, she was a litigation associate at Reilly Pozner, LLP in Denver where she focused on complex civil litigation. Before her time at Reilly Pozner, she was both a litigation and transactional associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, LLP in New York City. At Cravath, Ms. Morgan represented clients in general litigation, commercial transactions, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Litigation, and Insider Trading cases.

Ms. Morgan earned her J.D cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School. Prior to law school, Ms. Morgan was a Teach For America English teacher at Elizabeth Barrett Browning Middle School in New York City. She also traveled throughout South East Asia, India, and South Africa to teach, volunteer, and backpack.

Ms. Morgan received both a B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University, including a semester at Oxford University in England. During these years, she was an intern at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, where she investigated civil and human rights violations in prisons and jails. In addition, Ms. Morgan swam for Stanford University, and was an Olympic Trials finalist. She now channels her athletic drive on the field playing Ultimate Frisbee, where she is a National and World Champion.

Divine is the Registrar of Ghana’s Medical and Dental Council. A trained physician and legal practitioner, he holds a Master’s and PhD in Bioethics and Medical Jurisprudence from the University of Manchester. Divine has extensive expertise in healthcare ethics, health policy, professional regulation, and ethics governance.

He established Ghana’s first medico-legal department at the Ministry of Health, integrating ethics and law into healthcare practice and policy. He has also served on the Legal Committee of the Ministry of Health, consulted for the West African Health Organisation on research ethics governance, and is active in several professional associations, including the Ghana Medical Association and the International Association of Bioethics.

Divine is a senior associate at Law and Development Associates and Atuguba and Associates Law Firm. Widely published in medical law and ethics, he is a practicing Catholic, a Marshallan, and enjoys family life with his wife and two children.

Abraham Nussbaum is a physician and writer in Denver, where he sees patients on the adult inpatient psychiatry unit at Denver Health, an academic safety net, and serves as Chief Education Officer and DIO. At the University of Colorado School of Medicine, he is a Professor of Psychiatry, an Assistant Dean of Graduate Medical Education, and teaches the basic science course Mind and Behavior. He has authored dozens of academic papers and eight books, including Progress Notes: One Year In The Future of Medicine. He is the primary investigator for Colorado Works for International Physicians (CO-WIP), which is helping Colorado’s immigrant physicians enter ACGME-accredited residencies and fellowships.

Jennifer Olson is the CO-WIP IMG Program Coordinator and Career Coach at Spring Institute, where she supports immigrant and refugee physicians reclaim their medical careers. Jennifer provides 1-1 personalized coaching on licensure navigation, goal-setting, and action planning and serves as the primary liaison for the CO-WIP’s nine-month clinical training program with Denver Health.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas and a Master of Arts in Cultural Engagement with an emphasis on Refugee and Migration Studies. Prior to working at Spring Institute, Jennifer worked in development at a charter school system for underserved students in Houston, Texas and at a community development non-profit supporting refugee integration.

Dr. Beata Pawlowska is a strategic research and development executive with 25 years of leadership experience working on system change initiatives in fast-paced, complex, diverse academic, government, and non-profit organizations. Her practical experience is coupled with a Doctoral degree in Organization Psychology and a Master of Arts in Business and Education.

Dr. Pawlowska oversees the strategic and day-to-day leadership of the College's Professional Standards, Research, Education, and Policy Department and the College’s Research Centre to assist the College in performing its statutory mandate. Before joining the College, she held the position of Director of Projects, Programs, and Partnerships at St. Michael’s Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Debra Persinger is the Executive Director of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). FSMTB is a not-for-profit corporation whose membership is comprised of the massage therapy regulatory boards and agencies in the United States and Territories. The mission of FSMTB is to provide programs and services that assist its Member Boards in public protection through regulation of the profession of massage therapy.

On behalf of its Members, the FSMTB develops and administers the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) that is the assessment tool used by the majority (96%) of states to determine safety and competence of those seeking to be licensed massage therapists. MBLEx eligibility requirements include verification of massage therapy education and training. This is commonly where FSMTB intersects with fraudulent application documentation and tactics.

Dr. Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal is an assistant professor at York University. Ramesh is an internationally educated nurse (IEN) with more than 30 years of experience gained at various institutions in India, Oman, and Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science degree in nursing, and a Doctoral degree in nursing. Notably, he is the first doctoral graduate in nursing at York University, Canada.

In addition to his teaching role, Dr. Perumal is the Coordinator of the Internationally Educated Nurses BScN Program and the Undergraduate Program Director for the direct-entry BScN program at York University.

Prof JL Arthur Rantloane is an Emeritus Professor of Anaesthesiology at the University of Pretoria and former HoD of Anaesthesiology at the University of Pretoria and the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA). He was previously Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria.

His past professional appointments include: President of the College of Anaesthetists (Colleges of Medicine of South Africa); President of the South African Society of Anaesthesiologists (SASA); President of the Africa Regional Section (ARS) of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists; Honorary Registrar and Examinations Committee Chairperson of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.

He was appointed to the Medical & Dental Professions Board in 2020, where he previously served as Board Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of the Medical Education Training & Registration Committee and currently serves as Board Chairperson. He is an editorial board member and section editor of the Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia (SAJAA).

Awards received include the Nelson Mandela Medallion (Gold), SASA OVS Kok award; Wits Anaesthesia Hugo von Hasseltt medal for services to anaesthesia.

Daniel is the CEO of MDR Strategy Group Ltd., which provides professional services in strategic communications, organizational design, and recruitment to non-profit and public sector organizations. A recognized facilitator, keynote speaker, and instructor, he is a seasoned and award-winning communications professional recognized for innovation and thought leadership and has maintained an unwavering commitment to social impact for thirty years.

Daniel held senior communications roles at the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (Director of Communications) and the Real Estate Council of Ontario (Special Advisor, External Communications). He has also led transformational change processes at provincial and national levels, including establishing communications units at the Condominium Authority of Ontario and the Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario. Internationally and beyond regulation, he led the communications and marketing efforts for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to launch a worldwide sustainable infrastructure evaluation methodology to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Shanti commenced her journey with APC in March 2023, sitting the knowledge stream exam in August that year. In 2024 she sat the Intern Written exam.

Shanti is currently completing her internship at Chemist warehouse Belconnen. Her roles involves working under supervision of the registered pharmacist on dispensing, counselling and providing the primary health care services to the patients. Previously Shanti worked as a hospital pharmacist in Nepal.

Kate Spencer is the Executive Director of Accreditation and Assessment. In her role, she leads the accreditation of pharmacy programs and Continuing Professional Development of accrediting organisations, the assessment of Australian and internationally trained pharmacists, and research and policy.

Kate is a registered pharmacist with previous roles in community pharmacy, including undertaking medication reviews, supporting aged care facilities, delivering medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence, and pharmacy regulation and compliance.

Kate has completed Lead Auditor Training with SAI Global and the Executive Leadership Program for Regulators through the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR). Kate joined APC in 2016 and is passionate about quality education and life-long learning to maintain a strong pharmacy workforce.

Brett is APC's Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary. He brings over 30 years of experience in senior and executive management and corporate and consulting roles across the public, NFP, and private sectors. This includes extensive experience in healthcare administration, program delivery, and policy within all these sectors.

Brett firmly believes in enabling business capability and transformation through a planned strategic approach, which ensures that innovation and productivity uplift are faster, cheaper, and more effective. Brett has completed an Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School, is a former Big4 Senior Partner, Business Owner, CFO, and Corporate Advisor, and brings this broad perspective and experience.

Brett has been the Woden Community Service (WCS) Chair since 2022. He was previously the Treasurer and has been a Non-Executive Board Member since 2016.

Chris Sutton joined the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) in 2022, bringing his expertise in medical and applied sciences (BMedSc, BAppSc(Hons)) to the Verification Services team. In this role, Chris is responsible for ensuring that the qualifications of overseas-trained pharmacists meet the necessary standards to initiate the pharmacist assessment process. His work plays a key part in maintaining the integrity and quality of the assessment pathway for international pharmacy professionals seeking to practice in Australia.

Melanie Venables is our Director of Policy and Communications at the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). She leads the teams responsible for internal and external engagement, and policy development.

When Mel joined the PSA in 2020 as Head of Accreditation, she led a strategic review of the Accredited Registers programme. Prior to this, she was Head of Corporate Business Planning at the General Medical Council. During this time, she completed her first degree, in Philosophy. Mel also holds a Masters in Business Administration.

Mel is passionate about teamwork. Contact her if you’d like to find out about our work to improve regulation, and if you’re interested in collaborating.

Melanie Venables is the PSA's Director of Policy and Communications.

As Senior Vice President of External Relations and Chief of Staff, Tracy Wallowicz manages and coordinates Intealth's relationships and activities with internal and external groups. She collaborates closely with the CEO and other executive leaders to ensure that organizational goals are met efficiently. Tracy oversees communications with the Board of Trustees and Intealth's stakeholder groups, manages government relations and regulatory functions, and directs outreach and governance activities. She also leads special projects and, with the CEO, spearheads organizational advocacy efforts.

Ms. Wallowicz has broad experience and expertise in U.S. Department of State regulations, immigration for foreign national physicians, graduate medical education, physician well-being, and cultural exchange. In her over 20 years with the organization, she has contributed to various publications and frequently presents at national meetings. She often collaborates with partner organizations on various issues and works closely with U.S. Department of State officials to administer Intealth's J-1 visa program. Ms. Wallowicz holds a communications and public relations degree from Westminster College and a master's degree in legal studies from Drexel University.

Sarah has been a part of the candidate relationship team since it was created in 2022. Being the first point of contact for the organisation, supporting candidates from before they begin their journey until the journey is complete.

She has an extensive background in customer service and technical support. Having previous knowledge of health and governance has helped build a strong foundation for support capability in this role.

Rita Younes has been with APC for over 12 years and is a valued member of the Engagement Team, where she supports the Verifications and Candidate Relationship Services teams. In her role, she focuses on ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of candidate documentation, providing essential guidance to candidates as they advance in their pharmacy careers.

With a thoughtful and detail-oriented approach, Rita is dedicated to making sure each candidate receives the support they need throughout their journey. Her commitment to quality and her extensive experience have made her an integral part of APC's mission to uphold high standards in the pharmacy profession.

Mary Young is a Manager in the Registration Department with the College of Early Childhood Educators. She is currently leading a team that works with post-secondary institutions, particularly in the area of program approval with the College. Mary is also involved with policy and project work around assessing registration requirements, with a keen interest in how regulators address changing workforce and educational environments. Prior to this role, Mary taught in several Ontario universities as adjunct faculty and holds a PhD from York University.

Dr. Daniel M. Yumbya served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council from October 2010 until his retirement. During his tenure, he provided strategic leadership and oversaw the Council’s daily operations. He pursued a PhD in Management Sciences, focusing on Health Workforce Regulation, and held various academic and professional qualifications, including an MBA (International) from Edith Cowan University, Australia, and certifications in leadership, evaluation, and pharmaceutical crime.

A dedicated health regulator, Dr. Yumbya played a significant role in advancing patient safety and healthcare quality. He served as a consultant on the Kenya Patient Safety Impact Evaluation (KePSIE) Project with the IFC/World Bank and contributed to policy development at national, regional, and continental levels. He held leadership roles with the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) and the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA), driving collaboration and capacity building across Africa.

In recognition of his impact on healthcare regulation, Dr. Yumbya received the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (M.B.S.) in 2018 and the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (E.B.S.) in 2021. His legacy includes strengthened regulatory frameworks and enhanced collaboration within the global healthcare community.

Mike Zimmer is a Senior Policy Consultant with World Education Services (WES). Prior to this, he served as the Cabinet Director for Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan. As Cabinet Director, Zimmer assisted with the coordination of programs and initiatives among and within Michigan’s executive branch departments and agencies – including the Michigan Office for New Americans and insuring that this important office received the assistance and support it needed from other sectors of the Cabinet. Prior to being named Cabinet Director, he held various positions within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs including Director, Chief Deputy Director of LARA and Executive Director of the Michigan Administrative Hearing System. Zimmer also previously served as Deputy Director of the State Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules and as Director of the Bureau of Hearings in the former Department of Consumer and Industry Services. He also served as the Director of the Office of Regulatory Reform under former Governor John Engler and worked for the Senate Majority Floor Leader. Zimmer earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and his Juris Doctor from George Washington University.