Dr. Richard Booth, PhD, RN
Presentation:
Nursing identity in the age of AI: What comes next?
Richard Booth is a Professor and Research Chair in Digitally-Enabled Healthcare at the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing at Western University and an Adjunct Scientist with the Primary Care & Health Systems Research group at ICES. A clinician researcher with an active program exploring psychiatric-mental health nursing and health informatics, he is interested in the convergence of data, technology, and people in relation to nursing practice and education. He has a particular interest in the use of emergent technologies in healthcare and their intended and unintended consequences on both practice and society. To date, he has led numerous data-focused projects, including evaluations of digital health innovations for teaching and learning, studies on human-technology interaction, and the use of data for population health surveillance.
Kathy Howe, RN, MHS
CEO, Alberta Association of Nurses
Presentation:
Navigating Your Nursing Future: Choosing a Resilient Mindset for Success.
Kathy is a Registered Nurse who graduated with a Diploma in Nursing from Mount Royal College, a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Health Studies, with a focus on Servant Leadership, from Athabasca University.
Kathy is a pediatric nurse with a passion for leadership. Kathy has managed Emergency Departments including at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and the Foothills Medical Centre. Kathy was the Director of Medicine at the Red Deer Regional Hospital and then moved to a rural area in Central Alberta where she was an Area Director responsible for acute care, continuing care and home care for a large geographical area.
In 2022 Kathy because the first Chief Executive Officer for the Alberta Association of Nurses, Alberta’s professional nursing association open to all nurses including students, RNs, Practical Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, NPs and retired nurses. Kathy is enthusiastic about nurses and professional nursing and is proud to be a nursing leader.
Amy Horton, NP
Associate Director, Undergraduate BScN Programs, Western University
Presentation:
Honouring Experience, Advancing Practice: A Novel RPN-to-RN Stream
Amy Horton is a Nurse Practitioner and Associate Director of Undergraduate BScN Programs at Western University. She teaches in the Western-Fanshawe Collaborative and Compressed Time Frame (CTF) programs and oversees curriculum design, implementation, and evaluation to support student success while strengthening nursing education through leadership and innovation.
Her presentation, Honouring Experience, Advancing Practice: A Novel RPN-to-RN Stream to Optimize Role Transition and Retention, introduces Western University’s RPN-to-RN streams within the CTF BScN program. This accelerated, academically rigorous pathway recognizes the contributions of Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and supports their transition to Registered Nurse (RN) roles. Delegates will learn how the program provides a scalable, evidence-informed model that values RPN experience, strengthens professional growth, and enhances workforce retention. The session will also highlight the role of academic-practice partnerships and learner-centered design in creating sustainable pathways for RPN advancement.
Blanche Durocher, RPN, BA, PBDM
Director, Care Services and Education, Operational Excellence & Professional Practice, SE Health
Presentation:
Redefining RPN Leadership: PSM Role Review & the PSE Program
Blanche Durocher is a veteran RPN and system leader with nearly 25 years of experience in community nursing, education, and health system innovation. As Director of Care Services & Education at SE Health, she provides shared leadership for the Operational Excellence & Professional Practice Team, oversees Unregulated Care Services and the Personal Support Educator program, and leads the organization’s accreditation readiness. Blanche’s work focuses on advancing evidence-informed practice, fostering psychological safety, and both championing and enhancing the role of RPNs to strengthen care delivery in home and community settings.
Elise Stevenson, RPN
Personal Support Educator Lead, SE Health
Presentation:
Redefining RPN Leadership: PSM Role Review & the PSE Program
Elise Stevenson, also an experienced RPN, joined SE Health in 2015 as a Personal Support Manager in the Niagara region. Her career has spanned clinical leadership, caregiver resource development, and healthcare education. She played a key role in the Saint Elizabeth Foundation’s Elizz Carechannel project, creating a library of caregiver resources, and now leads the Personal Support Educator (PSE) team—eight educators supporting over 3,000 PSWs across Ontario.
Paulette Moore, RN, BScN, CON(C)
Clinical Nurse Educator, Professional Practice Expanse Support Team, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
Presentation:
Frontline Focus, Quality Driven: Nursing Leadership on a Quality Improvement Approach to Emergency Department Boarding
Paulette Moore is a Registered Nurse with over 19 years of experience at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in acute care, with a background spanning surgical, community, and oncology nursing. A York University BScN honours graduate, she has held national certification in Oncology through the Canadian Nurses Association since 2012. Paulette’s career includes both clinical and non-clinical roles, most recently contributing to RVH’s Cross Functional Team (CFT) before moving into her current position as Clinical Nurse Educator on the Professional Practice Expanse Support Team.
Christine Majer, a graduate of Conestoga College’s Practical Nursing program, has over five years of healthcare experience across surgical nursing, community care, retirement, and long-term care. She has worked in multiple administrative capacities, including the CFT and Quality and Risk, and currently serves as Compliance Coordinator at RVH. Christine is passionate about career development and elevating the voices of RPNs within healthcare leadership.
Together, Paulette and Christine share their experience on RVH’s interdisciplinary CFT, highlighting how nurse-led collaboration can drive hospital-wide improvements in patient flow, operational efficiency, and professional engagement.
Christine Majer, RPN
Regional Compliance Coordinator, Quality and Risk, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
Presentation: Frontline Focus, Quality Driven: Nursing Leadership on a Quality Improvement Approach to Emergency Department Boarding
Christine Majer, a graduate of Conestoga College’s Practical Nursing program, has over five years of healthcare experience across surgical nursing, community care, retirement, and long-term care. She has worked in multiple administrative capacities, including the CFT and Quality and Risk, and currently serves as Compliance Coordinator at RVH. Christine is passionate about career development and elevating the voices of RPNs within healthcare leadership.
Lindsay Spry, RPN
Senior Manager of Quality, Compliance and Education, Rygiel Supports for Community Living
Presentation:
Transforming Clinical Excellence in Developmental Services: A Comprehensive Framework for Quality Care
Lindsay Spry is a Registered Practical Nurse with nearly 20 years of experience in long-term care, recently transitioning to the developmental services sector. As Senior Manager of Quality, Compliance and Education at Rygiel Supports for Community Living, she specializes in quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and staff education. Lindsay is a champion of person-directed care, fostering regulatory excellence and team development to ensure high-quality, client-centered service delivery.
Jamie Toner, RPN
Director of Inclusive Supports, Rygiel Supports for Community Living
Presentation:
Transforming Clinical Excellence in Developmental Services: A Comprehensive Framework for Quality Care
Jamie Toner, an RPN with 15 years of experience, is Director of Inclusive Supports at Rygiel. She is committed to advancing inclusive, community-based care.
Together, Lindsay and Jamie present Rygiel’s clinical excellence framework, integrating evidence-based policy, staff training, and inclusive practices to support individuals with complex needs.
Jessica Lavis, RPN
Infection Control Professional, Brant Community Healthcare System
Presentation:
A Team Approach to IPAC
Jessica Lavis is an Infection Control Professional and Registered Practical Nurse at the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS), where she has worked since 2018 and is committed to advancing clinical excellence through innovative, frontline-driven quality improvement.
Pauline Schneider
Interprofessional Educator, Ontario CLRI, Bruyère Health
Presentation:
Clinical Nursing Leadership
Pauline Schneider is an Interprofessional Educator with the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) at Bruyère Health. She brings a wealth of experience to her role as Project Lead for the Clinical Nursing Leadership (CNL) program, informed by her background as a Dementia Consultant and as Executive Director of a nonprofit senior services organization.
Natalie Spence, RPN
Regional Engagement Liaison, Ontario CLRI, Bruyère Health
Presentation:
Clinical Nursing Leadership
Natalie Spence is a Regional Engagement Liaison for Ontario CLRI’s Preceptor Resource and Education Program in Long-Term Care. With years of nursing experience, she is passionate about supporting older adults in both sub-acute and long-term care environments.
Nitha Reno, RN, MScN, GNC(C), CHPCN(C), CHE
Manager, Interprofessional Practice and Innovation, Region of Durham Long-Term Care
Presentation:
Building Leadership from within – collaborative model for clinical excellence in LTC
Nitha Reno is an experienced nurse leader and advocate for clinical innovation in long-term care. As Manager of Interprofessional Practice and Innovation with the Region of Durham’s Long-Term Care Services, she leads professional practice, skills development, and innovation to elevate resident outcomes. Her recent work focuses on empowering regulated nurses—especially RPNs—through a collaborative Clinical Program Lead model.
Steve Turner, RPN
Mental Health & Addictions Nurse, Urogen
Presentation:
Enriching the lives of patients through service, without burnout
Steve Turner’s distinctive journey from social work to nursing has shaped his innovative approach to mental health and addictions care. With nearly two decades of front-line experience across hospital and private clinic settings, he has developed practical, mindfulness-based tools to support healthcare providers in maintaining clarity, compassion, and purpose in their care delivery.
Sarah Alley, RN, BScN, MPH
Advanced Practice Consultant, College of Nurses of Ontario
Presentation:
Navigating Technology in Practice: Key Updates from CNO on Virtual Care and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Sarah Alley is an Advanced Practice Consultant with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and a Registered Nurse with over 18 years of experience. Her career has spanned local, provincial, and national roles in public health, with a focus on communicable disease prevention and control. Sarah’s diverse professional background reflects a deep commitment to evidence-informed practice, health system improvement, and supporting nurses in delivering safe, high-quality care. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Public Health with a specialization in Health Promotion from the University of Toronto.
Heather Giorgi, RPN, RN
Inpatient Medicine Nurse, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
Presentation:
Wound Care 101
Heather Giorgi discovered her passion for nursing as a second career, graduating as an RPN from Humber College at age 40 and as an RN from Nipissing University at age 50. Over her 13-year career, she has worked in float nursing, oncology, and currently in inpatient medicine at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH). A certified Wound Care Champion with training from the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course, Heather is known as her unit’s go-to resource for VAC and complex dressings. She has developed wound care binders to improve documentation and staff knowledge and holds additional certifications in Fundamentals of Palliative Care and Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA).
Heather’s nursing philosophy centres on treating every patient with the same compassion, humour, and respect she would offer her own family. Her dedication to comfort and dignity is reflected in patient stories—such as using music and singing to reduce pain and anxiety during difficult dressing changes.
Jen Calver, RPN
Research Coordinator, WeRPN
Presentation:
Expanding RPN Research Capacity: Evidence and Career Development at WeRPN
Jen Calver is Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with a CNA certification in gerontological R/LPN nursing. She holds a Master of Health Sciences Degree from Ontario Tech University. After working several years in direct care and nursing roles, Jen is a passionate advocate for the health workforce and care of older adults. She is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University. She also manages and provides oversight to the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (WeRPN) research department to increase research evidence related to RPNs in Ontario, and support RPNs to build research capacity and capability.
Jennifer McCauley, RPN
Case Manager, BEGIN Program and Research Associate, Research & Special Projects
WeRPN
Presentation:
Expanding RPN Research Capacity: Evidence and Career Development at WeRPN
Jennifer McCauley, a Registered Practical Nurse with over 15 years of experience in primary care, is dedicated to preventative health and promoting wellness. She currently serves as a BEGIN Case Manager, and Research Associate with WeRPN, supporting nurses at different stages of their careers. Jen has an active role in monitoring RPN research driven literature and is committed to helping RPNs access and use the information to support their professional and practice directions.
Marilyn Oliver, RPN, BA (Hons), MEd (Candidate)
Professional Practice Associate, WeRPN
Presentation:
Brave Spaces: Dialogue, Diversity, and Change
Marilyn Oliver is an accomplished Registered Practical Nurse with a career spanning home and community care, complex care, acute care, and nursing education. Since graduating in 2010, she has brought her expertise to both front-line practice and educational leadership, including teaching in the Personal Support Worker program at GTA College. In 2022, Marilyn joined WeRPN as a Case Manager in the BEGIN program, and in 2023 transitioned to the Professional Practice department, where she supports the development of practice education and provides resources for RPNs across Ontario.
Marilyn holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Educational Studies from Ontario Tech University, specializing in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), and is currently pursuing a Master of Education degree. Her work is grounded in advancing inclusivity and empowering nurses to thrive in diverse, collaborative environments.
Jeff Schill
Vice President of Training, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)
Presentation:
Empowered to De-escalate: Tools for Safer Care Environments
Jeff Schill currently serves as the Vice President of Training at CPI. Before coming to CPI, he worked for over twelve years in education as a High School Social Studies teacher and the Director of an after-school learning center that served students with educational and behavioral needs. He has a Master’s Degree from National Louis University and an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College. Jeff has been with CPI for eighteen years and currently teaches CPI’s Verbal Intervention, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention with Intermediate Physical Skills, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention with Advanced Physical Skills, Autism Specialty Topic, and Classroom Culture courses.
Julia Ball, RT
Respiratory Therapist – ProResp
Presentation:
Supporting Every Breath: Navigating Oxygen Therapy, PAP Devices, and CO2 Retention
Julia Ball is a Respiratory Therapist, who has worked with ProResp for 21 years. She started her career in the Toronto office, serving a large geography and in the last 15 years, working closer to home in the Newmarket branch. She is currently the Manager of both Southlake ProResp and ProResp Newmarket leading a team of 10 incredible people who do amazing work in the community. A mom of two teenagers, she loves to camp and kayak in her spare time.
Erin Newman-Waller, RN, BScN, CHPCN(C)
Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultant – Hospice Peterborough
Presentation:
Living Well, Dying Well: A Palliative Approach
Erin Newman-Waller, RN, BScN, CHPCN(C), is a nurse educator and passionate advocate for early palliative approaches to care. Since 2021, she has been the Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultant at Hospice Peterborough, supporting frontline healthcare workers in delivering compassionate, quality care. Erin earned her BScN from Trent University in 2007 and became a Certified Hospice Palliative Care Nurse through the CNA in 2012. Her clinical experience includes Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Emily’s House Pediatric Hospice. She also serves as Chair of the Palliative Care Consultants Network (PCCN). Outside of her professional role, Erin is a mother of three and an active member of her church community.
Wendy Morgan, RP, MA-Ed, MA-CP
Faculty, Fleming College
Presentation:
Building Resilience in Nursing Education: Lessons from Fleming College
Wendy Morgan is faculty at Fleming College, a researcher in mental health resilience, and a psychotherapist specializing in relational neuropsychology. Whether in the classroom or the therapy room, she loves to share all things brain-related, especially the way that human experience shapes the brain and influences emotional regulation.
Jill Henderson, RN, MN
Faculty and Program Coordinator, Practical Nursing, Fleming College
Presentation:
Building Resilience in Nursing Education: Lessons from Fleming College
Jill Henderson is Faculty and Program Coordinator at Fleming College. She leads research on resilience in nursing education; additional research interests include therapeutic nursing relationships and MAiD. Jill’s work fosters compassionate, evidence-informed practice. She also serves on the board of the 360 Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic in Peterborough, Ontario.
Stephanie Horner, RPN
Registered Practical Nurse, NYGH RCC & Hennick Bridgepoint Hospitals
Presentation:
Collaborative Innovations in Rehabilitation and ALC Nursing
Stephanie Horner is a Registered Practical Nurse with experience across long-term care, retirement communities, and hospital-based transitional and rehabilitation care. Currently practicing at North York General RCC and Hennick Bridgepoint, Stephanie integrates compassion, adaptability, and innovation into her care—qualities she honed through her experiences as a long-distance runner, including completing two full marathons.