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Abe Oudshoorn is Assistant Professor in the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing at Western University, the Department of Psychiatry Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and Associate Scientist with Lawson Health Research Institute. Having worked as a nurse with people experiencing homelessness, Abe’s research focuses on health, homelessness, housing policy, and poverty. Outside of the University, Abe has the privilege of chairing the London Homeless Coalition, is a board member with the United Way of London & Middlesex, and sits on the Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Poverty.

Carri Hand is Assistant Professor in the School of Occupational Therapy in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University. Carri’s research explores physical, social, policy and cultural contextual factors that impact social connectedness, social inclusion and participation in occupations among older adults — all to inform the development of innovative strategies to promote inclusion of older adults in community life. Carri collaborates with community organizations and community members, focusing on vulnerable older adults who may be experiencing poverty, disability, or social isolation. Her current work explores the complex ways in which neighbourhoods can support social connectedness and inclusion; how primary care and neighbourhoods can be integrated to support inclusion and participation; and measurement of meaningful outcomes in primary care as a basis for addressing health inequities.

Marlene Janzen Le Ber is Assistant Professor, Leadership at Brescia University College and Adjunct Research Professor at the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership at Western University. Her PhD in Business Administration – Strategy followed a MScN, a career in mental health and public health nursing, and over 20 years in hospital and health research administration.

Marlene’s research focuses on the complex processes of leadership in social innovation at both the micro/individual level and at the more macro/organizational/systems level. The two ongoing projects at the individual level are: “Women’s Leader Identity Development” and “Organizational Culture and Leadership: Exploring the Practice of Leadership in a Women’s Circle.” Two additional projects, “From Intractable to Tractable: Transdisciplinary Processes of Innovation” and “Develop and Test Indicators of Ontario Local Public Health Agency Work to Address the Social Determinants of Health to Reduce Health Inequities” are at the organizational/systems level, with a focus on how social systems change. More specifically, Marlene focuses on the processes of social innovation that address issues of social (in)justice and equality for vulnerable, disenfranchised and marginalized populations.