Dr. Valentina Antonipillai is a health systems researcher and senior analyst who leads data-driven research to strengthen Canada’s long-term care sector and advance equity for marginalized populations, including immigrant and refugee communities.

She uses advanced statistical and mixed-methods approaches, large scale data linkage and intersectional policy expertise to examine structural inequities and guide evidence-informed workforce planning and policy-making processes. She holds a PhD in Health Policy, and her research focuses on workforce stability, equitable staffing and quality of care, and the impacts of social and structural disparities on care outcomes.

Dr. Andrea Baumann is a Distinguished University Professor, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre and Vice-President of FCIHR.

She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto. She is widely recognized for her expertise in international consortiums, health systems, health human resources and workforce integration as demonstrated by her extensive portfolio of published work. She held previous positions within the health sector and academic positions at the University of British Columbia and the University of Ottawa. Her awards include the Order of Canada, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, American Academy of Nursing and distinguished alumni awards.

Dr. Jennifer Blythe is a researcher with the Health Systems Workforce Collaborative. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from McMaster University and a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Toronto.

She employs mixed methods in her research and has most recently focused on project evaluation. Her research interests include nursing work life, particularly nurse migration and integration into the Canadian workforce.

Jessica Chu is a Research Assistant at McMaster University whose work focuses on long-term care (LTC), community-based models of care, and health-systems workforce planning.

She draws on mixed-methods research and policy analysis to support workforce policy and improve practices in community and LTC settings. She holds an MSc in Global Health from McMaster University and an Honours Bachelor of Public Health with a Minor in Gerontology from the University of Waterloo. Her research interests include aging and LTC, quality of life in care settings, and health equity among minority populations, focusing on internationally educated nurses and health human resources.

Halina Connor supports the Health Systems Workforce Collaborative team at McMaster University through her extensive administrative expertise. Over her many years at McMaster, she has served in several senior roles within Nursing and Global Health.

She contributes her strong communication skills, deep institutional knowledge, and broad administrative experience to the research team.

Kymberlee Cottingham is a research assistant with the Health Systems Workforce Collaborative. She holds an Honours BA and an MA in English.

Her work focuses on enhancing the impact of research through critical appraisal and practical application. As a plain language advocate, she is committed to making complex information more accessible to broader audiences and supporting diverse communities in engaging with and benefiting from scholarly insights. Drawing on her background in equitable writing and editing, she applies best practices to ensure inclusivity, accuracy, and objectivity in Health Systems Workforce Collaborative publications.

Dr. Mary Crea-Arsenio is an Assistant Professor in the Mary Heersink School of Global Health and Social Medicine and a member of the Division of Education & Innovation in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University.

As a health geographer and health system analyst, her research explores the intersection of immigration policy and employment as key determinants of newcomer health in Canada. She holds a PhD in Health Geography from McMaster University. Her current research investigates mobility pathways, forced displacement, and economic inclusion, contributing to advancing equitable policies that support immigrant and refugee health.

Kaiyan Fu is a Registered Nurse, Certified Health Executive, Certified Human Resource Professional and Chief Quality Officer. Most recently, Kaiyan served as Interim Chief Nursing Executive at Oak Valley Health, and as Vice President at SE Health, one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit home and community care providers and social enterprises.

Her research focuses on health system workforce innovation and draws on implementation science to translate evidence into actionable and sustainable leadership practices.

Her career has spanned roles including Provincial Chief Nursing Officer with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and CEO at the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care.

Dina Idriss-Wheeler is a PhD candidate in Population Health and the Associate Director of the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics at the University of Ottawa. Her work focuses on intimate partner violence, health equity, and access to formal and informal supports.

She draws on mixed-methods research, community-engaged scholarship approaches, and interdisciplinary perspectives to inform research, policy, and practice. She holds an MHA from the University of Ottawa and an MSc in Reproductive Biology from Queen’s University. Her research interests include gender and structural based violence, reproductive justice, social determinants of health, health workforce policy, and health systems.

Arnav Mahajan is a health systems research assistant whose work focuses on contact management and data analysis.

He draws on knowledge translation experience and data visualization methodology to inform stakeholder knowledge alignment and dissemination practices. He holds a BSc in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, and is pursuing an MSc in Psychology. His research interests include attention, memory, long-term care, health professional shortages, and misinformation.

Dr. David Oldenburger is a Registered Nurse and researcher with a focus on the area of crisis and disaster.

He employs exploratory research methods, as well as document analysis and scoping review methods to inform training and policy for disaster preparedness and response, at the individual, team, and organizational level.

He has a specific research interest in team and organizations functioning in disaster, as well as the role of civilian and military personnel in these settings.

Katelyn Patterson is a Research Assistant with the Health Systems Workforce Collaborative at McMaster University.

Her work focuses on improving the employment outcomes of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs). In collaboration with the team, she draws on customized employment support approaches and engagement with healthcare partners to strengthen workforce integration. She holds an MSc in Global Health and a BHSc in Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization. Her research interests include health systems strengthening, health equity, maternal and child health, and planetary health.

Dana Ross is a Project Manager working with the Health Systems Workforce Collaborative team at McMaster University, whose work focuses on health human resources, immigration policy, and workforce planning. Her recent work has centred on coordinating and implementing complex, multi-partner projects to strengthen workforce integration in the health care system.

She holds a master’s in industrial relations and an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration. Her professional interests include migration, labour market integration, health human resources, and advancing health system improvement.

Victoria Smith, MSW, RSW is a Research Coordinator with the Health Systems Workforce Collaborative.

She focuses on health human resources and health policy, with a special interest in long-term care and quality of life for residents. She uses mixed-methods research, policy analysis, and administrative data to generate insights that support health system improvement.

She also brings clinical experience as a community mental health therapist and is committed to advancing policies and practices that protect vulnerable populations and improve overall care quality.