Dr. Card is an Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and the Director of Research for GenWell. As an early-career researcher, Dr. Card has received numerous national recognitions for his scholarship and has participated in projects that have received more than $25 million in funding. This work has resulted in over 200 publications, including approximately 100 academic journal articles. Dr. Card is the principal investigator for the Canadian Social Connection Survey and is leading the development of the first public health guidelines for social connection and health.

Dr. Eileen de Villa served as Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health from 2017 to 2024, leading Toronto Public Health through the COVID-19 pandemic, the city’s vaccination campaign, and other major public health challenges. She previously held senior public health roles in Peel Region and now serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Shayna Skakoon-Sparling is an Assistant Professor of Applied Social Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Guelph. Her research examines romantic relationships, social support, loneliness, health and well-being, and sexual health decision-making, with particular attention to interpersonal factors and the experiences of marginalized populations.

Dr. Gillian Sandstrom is an Associate Professor in the Psychology of Kindness at the University of Sussex, where she has been based since 2022. Her research focuses particularly on social interaction, conversations with strangers and acquaintances, weak social ties, loneliness, and the ways everyday interactions can contribute to well-being and social connection.

Dr. Frank Russo is a Professor of Psychology and Media Design Innovation at Toronto Metropolitan University and Director of its Science of Music Auditory Research and Technology (SMART) Lab. His research explores music, speech, hearing, cognition, and well-being, including the use of music and singing as tools for communication and social and health-related interventions. He also serves as Chief Science Officer for LUCID Therapeutics.

Loretta Ryan is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), which represents Ontario’s local public health agencies and provides leadership on public health policy and management. She has a background in public affairs, government relations, public policy and planning, and has been recognized for her longstanding contribution to public health in Ontario.

Dr. Heather Palmer is President and CEO of Maximum Capacity Inc., where she focuses on cognitive rehabilitation and strategies related to aging, dementia, and cognitive well-being. Her professional background includes doctoral training in neuropsychology and postdoctoral work at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, followed by research and clinical leadership in cognitive rehabilitation and brain health.

Dr. John Oliffe is a Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Men’s Health Promotion at the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia. He is the founder and lead investigator of UBC’s Men’s Health Research Program, where his work examines masculinities and men’s health behaviours, illness management, mental health promotion, and suicide prevention.

Dr. Steve Joordens is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough and Director of the Advanced Learning Technologies Lab. His work combines cognitive psychology and educational technology, with a particular emphasis on developing and evaluating technologies that can improve learning, critical thinking, and student engagement.

Dr. Troy Glover is a Professor in Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo and Director of the Healthy Communities Research Network. His research focuses on how people become socially connected and on the roles that social capital, community planning, placemaking, recreation, and leisure can play in strengthening communities and supporting social well-being.