Dr. Lara Aknin

Topic: The Magical Gift of Giving

 

Dr Lara Aknin is a Canadian professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University, and editor of the World Happiness Report.


Through her ongoing research, Dr Aknin has gained insights into the motivations and rewards of giving, not only of our “treasure” but also our time. Hear how this is relevant to fulfilling the “magic” we can find in Rotary.


Dr Aknin’s Master’s thesis entitled Spending money on others promotes happiness was published in 2008.


After earning her PhD from the University of British Columbia in 2012, Aknin joined the faculty of psychology at Simon Fraser University. That year, she published "Giving Leads to Happiness in Young Children" with J. Kiley Hamlin and Elizabeth Dunn, which supported the idea that humans may have evolved to find giving rewarding.

 
In 2015 her contributions to the field of social psychology earned her the President’s New Researcher Award from the Canadian Psychological Association and a fellowship at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. She was also honoured by the university for her research and contributions to social Psychology with the title "Distinguished SFU Professor."

 
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as chair of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Task Force of the Lancet COVID-19 Commission.


Dr Aknin is a native of Vancouver, and currently lives in Vancouver with her husband and two young children. Outside of her busy professional schedule she considers herself a foodie enjoying fine cuisine, and also regularly putting on her running shoes and going for run,

Dr. Shirley-Pat Gale

Topic: Building Peace through Literacy

 
Literacy is the thread that weaves together all social determinants of health and is the foundation for peace. Peace also requires Truth and Reconciliation, founding pillars of the ongoing Write to Read BC project and the spin off Fire Trailer project - both built on the principle of working with Indigenous peoples, communities and Nations. IPDG Dr.Shirley-Pat will share her research and lived experience of working with to facilitate opportunities for the 3 Ps - participation, partnership and power sharing in this interactive session on how to build relationships through service.
 
Shirley-Pat Gale (Nih tse digh) is a woman of mixed heritage and Tl'esqox na whelh deni heelen (adoptee of the people of Tl'esqox). She brings 20+ years of leadership, community planning and development, fund development, grant writing, project management, facilitation, teaching, and mentorship.
 
Shirley-Pat is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Steveston and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012 for outstanding volunteerism. She has built strong and meaningful relationships with each Indigenous community or Nation that she has had the privilege and honour of working with across the Pacific Northwest as well as non-Indigenous organizations, communities, and governments.
 
In 2022, she was awarded a PhD from The University of Edinburgh. Shirley-Pat helps Indigenous and Settler communities, organizations and government move forward making positive change with transformative action rooted in respect and woven into creating strong relationships. She brings a balanced approach in co-creating inviting, productive, creative and collaborative spaces in the Pacific Northwest. 

Dr. Paul Kershaw

Topic: Is it fair to all concerned? How to fix Canada’s broken intergenerational system

 

Dr. Paul Kershaw is a tenured University of BC professor, public speaker, regular media contributor and Founder of Generation Squeeze – a voice for younger Canadians in politics and the market supported by cutting-edge research.  A former Rotary Youth exchange student with a strong family legacy to Rotary


Kershaw is one of Canada’s leading thinkers about generational equity. He received the award for Academic of the Year in 2016 from the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC. Twice the Canadian Political Science Association has honoured Kershaw with national prizes for his research. He and his Gen Squeeze colleagues also received the award for BC’s Affordable Housing Champion in 2017 from the provincial Housing Central coalition. He is also the Co-Principal investigator of the Balanced Supply of Housing Node of the SSHRC-CMHC Collaborative Housing Research Network.


At the UBC School of Population and Public Health, Kershaw studies the evolution of the standard of living in Canada, along with government policy adaptations. These themes are central to scholarship about the social determinants of health, and WHO recommendation that governments pursue health in all policies.

Rumana Monzur

 

In June 2011, I lost my sight as a result of a horrendous act of domestic violence.


Along with blindness came many hardships and challenges. Yet, in facing these challenges, I did not lose my perspective. I still see myself as the same person I always was. The same Rumana, who always believed in celebrating life; celebrating the life that made me the woman I am today.

Until June 2011, I was building my career in academia. After becoming blind, I decided to change my career. I graduated from the University of British Columbia, Canada in May 2017 with a law degree.

Today, I am an articled student at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP.

"Read" Rumana's latest book: Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur's Journey Through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse

 

My motto: Be Infinite

Chris Offer

Topic: Just Two Drops - the campaign to eradicate polio

 

Chris Offer has worked for many years as a polio warrior working to eradicate this terrible disease. He worked under challenging conditions as a Rotary representative on a team with WHO, US-CDC and Gates Foundation in South Sudan, Sudan and Nigeria on polio surveillance initiatives. He also volunteered with his wife Penny on a Polio NID (National Immunization Days) in India.

He will give an update on how close we are to eradicate polio.

To reach Chris click Contact Details

PDG Nabil Oudeh

Topic:  Be the calm in the middle of the storm: Conflict skills for Rotarians

 

PDG Nabil Oudeh is passionate about Rotary and our mission to serve and heal the world.

Nabil has held a variety of leadership positions at all levels of Rotary International from Club President, District Governor, Zone Institute General Chair, International Training leader and Training Support leader for three years, and as Rotary International president’s representative for three years.

Nabil is a frequent speaker and presenter at Rotary events around the globe and has been a champion of peace building and Conflict Resolution for over 30 years.

In 2020 Nabil was recognized by receiving the “Donald MacRae Peace Award” for outstanding achievement and contribution to building peace and international cooperation and in 2022 Nabil was awarded Rotary International highest honor “Service above Self Award”.

Professionally, Nabil is an accomplished author, President and Founder of the Centre for Conflict Resolution International and CEO of UPVERSA Inc, a leadership development firm.

Dean Rohrs

Past Rotary International Vice President 2017-18
Past Rotary International Director 2016-18
 
Topic: Rotary. Where now?
 
 

Is the Rotary of today the right one for tomorrow?  The experiments happening in the Rotary World and the changes that are inevitable.

 
Dean, her husband Rhino and their 3 children emigrated to Canada from South Africa during the 1980s. Dean grew up in Zambia and after marrying Rhino lived in Malawi, Namibia and South Africa.  At present she is a member of the Rotary Club of Langley Central in District 5050.
 
Dean has served on many District and Zone committees. As a former Rotary International Vice President and Rotary International Director Dean has great insight into Rotary and the possibilities for the future. However, her best experience is leading teams of Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors to Africa and seeing how this volunteer experience changes their lives.