ALS Canada’s Board of Directors provides strategic direction and oversight to ensure donor dollars are maximized to serve the organization’s areas of charitable purpose.
Board of directors
These leadership volunteers contribute expertise across various disciplines, a genuine passion for the cause, and a strong desire to make a difference. Below is our Volunteer leadership of the ALS Canada 2023/2024 Board of Directors.
Our founder: Arthur J. Hudson
Our team
Board of Directors
Richard Ellis
Chair
Twenty years ago, Richard Ellis lost his best friend, Cathy Payne, to ALS. She was diagnosed at the age of 40 and lost her fight before she was 42.
Cathy’s journey changed Richard, her family and her friends forever. They learned what it took to face a debilitating disease with strength, courage, and humour. From the time of Cathy’s diagnosis Richard became involved with ALS Canada, joining the Board of Directors in 2020.
With more than 30 years of international business experience, Richard’s global perspective makes him uniquely qualified as an executive coach, a trusted advisor to senior executives, and a strategic business thought-partner. He established Ellis Strategy Group in 2019, specializing in executive coaching, reputation management strategies, change management and business transformation, diversity and inclusion strategies, cross-cultural communications, and leadership development programs.
As Vice-President of Global Corporate Relations at McDonald’s Corporation, Richard led McDonald’s Corporate Relations function across more than 25 countries worldwide. Prior to joining McDonald’s, Richard was President & Chief Executive Officer of Weber Shandwick Worldwide (Canada) Inc., one of the world’s leading communications and public relations consultancies.
Richard is a noted Diversity, Equity & Inclusion leader, strategist, and facilitator. He was a founding member of McDonald’s Corporation’s Global Diversity Council, he established and led McDonald’s USA’s inaugural LGBTQ employee resource group, and he created McDonald’s Canada’s diversity function. An active champion and advocate of inclusivity, Richard was recognized as Canadian Diversity Champion by Women of Influence magazine.
Richard is an experienced board director and governance expert. He is past Chairman and current member of the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada. He is a member of the Advisory Committee of Humber College’s Bachelor of Public Relations Program. Richard is a former Advisory Board member of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research, member of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards National Committee, and Co-chair of The Sandbox Project.
Our team
Board of Directors
Alyssa Barry
Board Member
Alyssa is a Principal and Co-Founder at irlabs. She has more than 15 years of investor relations, capital markets, and corporate communications experience. An activist by nature, she has raised over $1 billion of capital, led some of Canada’s most successful activism campaigns, managed merger and acquisition transactions and enhanced board governance frameworks. She was formerly Head of Strategy – Operations and Communications at Artis REIT, Vice-President of Capital Markets and Communications at Sandpiper Group, and Manager of Investor Relations at Amica Mature Lifestyles Inc. She is known for her agility, creativity, and relentless pursuit of success for her clients.
Alyssa’s uncle passed away from ALS and she has committed to doing whatever she can to ensure that everyone touched by ALS is treated with dignity and respect and receives the support they deserve.
Our team
Board of Directors
Ken Chan
Board Member
Ken brings leadership experience from the private, non-profit, and public sectors to the Board of Directors of ALS Canada. He is Chief Administrative Officer at Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Ken’s previous roles include Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ontario Government, Vice President at Brock University, Public Affairs Director at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Vice President at Cystic Fibrosis Canada. He also worked in the United Kingdom, at London City Hall, and the British Department for Business. Earlier in his career, Ken was an officer with Peel Regional Police.
Ken lost his father to ALS. The opportunity to contribute as a volunteer leader is one small way he sees that he can make a difference in the fight against this debilitating disease.
An experienced director, Ken serves on the boards of Alterna Savings, Alterna Bank, Open For Business, and Pathstone Foundation. His prior board experience included roles in the health, education, and culture. He holds an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Ken holds an Executive Master’s in Management Research from ESCP Business School, a Master of Forensic Accounting from the University of Toronto, an MBA from the City University of Seattle, and a BA from Simon Fraser University. He is currently a Global Executive PhD candidate at ESCP Business School.
Our team
Board of Directors
Lisa Flaifel
Board Member
Lisa Flaifel is a dynamic leader recognized for building high-performance teams in the healthcare industry. For the past 15 years, she has worked at Bayer, where she is currently Vice-President and Global Head of New Business Development and Radiology. Lisa is a strategic change agent with a strong sense of direction and focus in translating corporate vision into team goals. With robust experience in strategic brand marketing, sales, and team leadership, she is known by her colleagues as an inspiring, collaborative, and strategic cross-functional partner who finds solutions to complex business problems.
In the span of a few short years, during Lisa’s early adulthood, both her father and brother-in-law were diagnosed with and eventually succumbed to ALS. As a family member who was intimately involved in caregiving, planning of resources and support, and navigating her family’s emotional journey as well as her own, the experience completely changed Lisa. She was inspired to take action by joining ALS Canada’s Board of Directors in 2020.
Our team
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Gandolfi
Board Member
Elizabeth Gandolfi is a bank executive with nearly two decades of experience in financial services. She is currently the Senior Vice-President, Client Solutions at Canadian Western Bank, and prior to this she spent 17 years at Scotiabank holding diverse and progressively senior roles.
Elizabeth’s father passed away from ALS in April 2020 at the height of the pandemic. She knows firsthand the physical, emotional, and financial burdens of people living with ALS, their family, friends, and caregivers. Since her father’s passing, Elizabeth has found purpose in being a part of a team that serves diverse populations, geographical locations, and employs different approaches to solving complex challenges associated with ALS.
Over her career, Elizabeth has led and participated in several enterprise-wide business improvement and growth initiatives and successfully put in place new organizational structures, delivery models and program improvements in order to drive superior customer and employee experiences. She has extensive experience in finance and analytics, operations and contact centres, including digital innovation, sales and distribution. She is highly skilled in strategy and organizational change management associated with major business transformation projects.
Elizabeth is a longstanding community builder and a passionate leader and mentor developing and coaching talent and supporting our youth. For a number of years, she has volunteered with Junior Achievement of Canada, and was a Board Member with the Haliburton Club, Scouts Canada. She also has strong ties to the United Way Greater Toronto and their respective agency partners.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting & Finance from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and has completed the Executive Strategic Analytics Program at Queen’s University. She is an avid swimmer, loves to cook and spend time outdoors with her husband, their four children and their dog.
Our team
Board of Directors
Dr. Angela Genge
Board Member
Dr. Angela Genge has been the Executive Director of the Clinical Research Unit at the Montreal Neurological Institute since 2004. Since 2020, she has also served as Chief Medical Officer for QurAlis and Scientific Director of CATALIS. Her expertise and groundbreaking work in the introduction of innovative therapies in the rare disease space has led her to be a sought-after member of numerous advisory boards for companies developing therapies for these diseases.
Dr. Genge is the Director of The Neuro’s (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) ALS clinical program and multidisciplinary clinic, and she is a neuromuscular neurologist. Throughout her career, Dr. Genge has received numerous awards, most recently the 2018 Forbes Norris Award, the DIVA of Distinction Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Our team
Board of Directors
Dr. Wendy Johnston
Board Member
Dr. Wendy Johnston first established a multidisciplinary ALS clinic in Portland Oregon in 1993, serving as its director until 2000. Relocating to the University of Alberta Neurology Division the same year, she started the multidisciplinary ALS clinic in Edmonton, Alberta, where she has served as Director ever since.
Dr. Johnston is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta. She has published more than 70 peer-reviewed publications in the fields of neurology, palliative care, end-of-life care, and health communication, focusing on ALS and other neurological diseases. She served as Co-Chair, Chair and Past Chair of the Canadian ALS Clinical Research Network and has served as a member of the Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Panel for ALS Canada. She currently has four active research grants and more than 10 industry-sponsored clinical trials active at the Edmonton ALS Clinic.
Our team
Board of Directors
Kris Noakes
Board Member
ALS has greatly impacted Kris Noakes and her family across generations, and they continue to live with the disease and hope for a future without ALS.
Kris is a citizen of the Anishinabek Nation, a member of Nipissing First Nation and a community advocate at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Her diverse experience includes leading a non-governmental organization building Indigenous services in the Greater Toronto Area. Kris has also supported community initiatives through public appointments on the City of Mississauga and City of Brampton’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committees and the Museums of Mississauga Advisory Committee. Kris has served as a member of the Region of Peel’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy Community Advisory Board (CAB), the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Advisory Circle for the Peel District School Board (PDSB), the Toronto Area Education Leads for the Indigenous Education Office of Ministry of Education, and as a Director for the Art Gallery of Mississauga.
Kris currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer for the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic and is an appointed member of the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for the GTA. She is also a member of ALS Canada’s Revolution Ride Committee and a member of 100 Women Who Care.
Our team
Board of Directors
Dr. Chantelle F. Sephton
Board Member
Dr. Chantelle F. Sephton received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and her PhD in Psychiatry from the University of Saskatchewan. She completed her postdoctoral studies at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas under the mentorship of Dr. Gang Yu in the Department of Neuroscience. She started her lab at Université Laval in the CERVO Brain Research Centre in 2014 and is currently an Associate Professor in the department of psychiatry and neuroscience.
Dr. Sephton’s research interests are focused on the mechanism of action of post-transcriptional regulation of RNA by RNA-binding proteins. Several RNA-binding proteins including TDP-43 and FUS are mutated in some patients with familial ALS. Mutations in these proteins result in their cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation, which are thought to contribute to neurodegeneration in these diseases. Stemming from her post-doctoral work and the discovery of the biological functions of disease-linked RNA-binding proteins, her current work now focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which disease-associated mutations of TDP-43 and FUS influence RNA metabolism and how this may lead to neurodegeneration.
Our team
Board of Directors
Mike Etuhoko
Board Member
Mike is a professional engineer (P.Eng.) registered in Alberta, a certified project management professional (PMP), and holds a Competent Boards designation on climate and biodiversity (CCB.D). He earned a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, an M.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering from IFP School, France, an MBA from Warwick Business School, United Kingdom, and a Sloan M.Sc. in Leadership and Strategy from London Business School, United Kingdom. With more than 30 years of experience in the global energy sector, he is currently the CEO and founder of Protekz Inc. and is involved in healthcare and community development initiatives. Recently, he enhanced his board readiness through the executive board readiness program offered by the Board Diversity Network and Ted Rogers School of Management.
Mike is eager to bring his broad experiences to the Board and continue the momentum of the organization:
“I am deeply impressed by the opportunity to cultivate collaboration, drive innovation through research, and expand capacity towards transforming ALS from a terminal to a treatable disease. It is part of my goals of making the world a better place,” says Mike.
Our team
Board of Directors
Sharon Ranalli
Board Member
A graduate of Carleton University with a combined degree in Sociology and Law, Sharon also holds a Certificate in Strategic Communications Management from Ithaca College and Executive Certificates in Marketing and Strategic Leadership from Queen’s University. Sharon has also completed Finance for Senior Executives from Harvard University Business School and the University of Toronto-Rotman School of Management Not-for-Profit ICD Governance Essentials Certificate. Currently, Sharon holds the national role of Vice-President of Marketing and Communications with Chartwell Retirement Residences and had previously spent 15 years involved in all three levels of government as a political advisor and served on several Boards.
Sharon shared that she’s had many fulfilling not-profit volunteer Board roles and experiences, but that ALS Canada provides her with the opportunity to honour her aunt and godmother:
“I was looking for a way to contribute further to a health organization that had personal meaning to me,” says Sharon. “ALS Canada is meaningful not only in light of my family losing a loved one to this horrible disease but also in the incredible advocacy, research, and support they provide to people living with the disease and in the collective hope for a world free of ALS.”
Our team
Board of Directors
Rob Reading
Board Member
Rob has degrees in Management Information Systems, Finance, and Chartered Accounting from McGill University and Concordia University. An experienced finance professional and Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA), Rob currently serves as the Director of Accounting at Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., mentors young professionals, and is involved in community boards and initiatives.
Rob’s desire to join ALS Canada’s Board of Directors is deeply personal and rooted in his close encounter with the disease:
“ALS has impacted my community, touching the lives of a family member, a beloved family friend, a fellow McGill football team alumnus, and the mother of a friend, all of whom have battled this devastating disease,” says Rob. “Having planned to dedicate more time to volunteering as my children reached school age, I am eager to leverage my professional skills to advance ALS Canada’s mission. It would be an honour to contribute to shaping strategies that enhance support for people affected by ALS and to drive initiatives that offer real, impactful change.”
Our team
Board of Directors
Matthew Rotenberg
Board Member
Beginning his career as a CPA and CA, Matthew has practiced as a public accountant and has held several private sector executive management roles in finance and leadership. Throughout the last 21 years, Matthew has been CEO of Fresenius Kabi Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of a global pharmaceutical and medical device company, and CEO of Calea, a provider of home infusion and medical supply services across Canada.
As an executive leader who has spent much of his career focused on patient care, Matthew is eager to apply his skills to support the ALS community:
“For two decades, I have led a service company [Calea] that provides clinical nutrition, IV medications, and medical supplies to patients in their homes across Canada. I value what effective community care can bring to the lives of patients and was drawn to ALS by the complex needs of its clients. Caring for life has been at the core of my career, and I want to help,” says Matthew. “As a business executive, I hope that the breadth of my experience can help ALS Canada continue to grow and achieve its strategic objectives.”
ALS Canada’s Board of Directors is grounded and informed by the challenges and complexities of living with ALS. Its approach to governance is rooted in working together to improve the lives of people affected by ALS through support, advocacy, and investment in research contributing towards a world free of ALS.
Advisors
Community Services Advisory Council
The Community Services Advisory Council is composed of individuals with a variety of experiences with ALS who provide input and perspectives to support ALS Canada in improving the journey of people and families living with ALS in Ontario.
The Council serves in an advisory capacity to the Board, making recommendations for client service program delivery, community partnerships and provincial advocacy according to the strategic priorities.
Co-chairs
Kim Barry
Vice-President,
Community Services, ALS Canada
Lisa Flaifel
Director,
ALS Canada Board of Directors
Scientific and Medical Advisory Council
The Scientific and Medical Advisory Council provides strategic advice to the Board and management of ALS Canada to ensure all research activities contribute to the vision of ALS Canada, are aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities, are informed by best practices, and are carried out with integrity. The Council also facilitates collaboration within the Canadian ALS research community and supports the Canadian ALS research community’s involvement in international initiatives.
Co-chairs
Chantelle Sephton, PhD
ALS Canada Board Member; Associate Professor, Université Laval
David Taylor
Vice-President,
Research and Strategic Partnerships, ALS Canada
Turgay Akay, PhD
Dalhousie University
Gary Armstrong, PhD
The Neuro, McGill University
Vanina Dal Bello-Haas, PhD, PT
McMaster University
Martin Duennwald, PhD
Western University
Wendy Johnston, MD
University of Alberta
Hanns Lochmüller, MD, PhD
University of Ottawa
Cali Orsulak, BscPharm, BCPS, CDE
Patient Community Representative
Robin Parks, PhD
University of Ottawa
Gerald Pfeffer, MD, PhD
University of Calgary
Janice Robertson, PhD
University of Toronto
Richard Robitaille, PhD
Université de Montréal
Kerri Schellenberg, MD
University of Saskatchewan
Paula Trefiak
Patient Community Representative
EX-OFFICIO:
Colleen Doyle – Director, Canadian Research, ALS Canada
Richard Ellis – Chair, ALS Canada Board
Carolina Jung – Specialist, Research, ALS Canada
Tammy Moore – CEO, ALS Canada
Christen Shoesmith, MD – London Health Sciences Centre, CALS Chair (voting member)
David Taylor – Vice-President, Research and Strategic Partnerships, ALS Canada
Advocacy Committee
The Advocacy Committee provides professional and personal insight to the Board of Directors and to Staff to help advance our advocacy program. This includes advising the organization on which ALS advocacy priorities to bring forward to government and how to achieve results most effectively. The committee also ensures that ALS Canada’s advocacy efforts align with our strategic plan and are undertaken with the utmost integrity. Members of this committee have a variety of experiences including people and families affected by the disease, government relations experts, health sector professionals, and leading academic ALS researchers.
Chair
Richard Ellis
Executive Coach, global business executive & communications expert
Carmen Cels
Director, People & Culture, Roche Canada
Lisa Flaifel
Vice President, General Medicine, Bayer
Darrell Kane
Person living with ALS, National Account Manager – eCommerce
Kris Noakes
ALS Canada Board member; Community Advocate, living with ALS
Mike Cels
Person living with ALS, Retired from Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Angela Genge, MD, FRCP(C)
Director of the ALS Clinic and the Clinical Research Unit, The Neuro
Stephanie Mazzei
Therapeutics consultant, diagnostics, and digital health in cancer care
Dr. Karin Schnarr
Director, MBA Programs; Associate Professor, Policy & Law at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University
EX-OFFICIO:
Tammy Moore – (ex-officio, Staff)
CEO, ALS Canada
Ilayda Ulgenalp – (ex-officio, Staff)
Manager, Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations, ALS Canada
Senior Management Team
The Senior Management Team works together each and every day to ensure the person living with ALS is at the centre of everything we do.
Our team
Senior Management Team
Jennifer Asselin
Vice-President of Marketing, Strategic Communications, and Knowledge Exchange
Jennifer began working with the organization in March 2022 to develop, oversee, and implement strategies and activities designed to increase awareness of ALS and ALS Canada. Jennifer’s role expanded in 2023 to provide vision and strategic direction to advance organizational priorities by leading the Marketing, Strategic Communications, and Knowledge Exchange Team. This Team works to build the ALS Society of Canada brand, positioning the organization as a trusted voice of ALS in Canada. With a degree in English and Communications Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University, Jennifer brings with her more than 17 years of experience working in not-for-profit communications. Her previous roles include leading the strategic communications and public relations efforts of MS Canada and Parkinson Canada. Focusing on all mission areas within ALS Canada – research, community services, and advocacy – the person affected by ALS remains at the centre of her work.
“My ‘why’ is to help and connect people through storytelling. I believe that stories have the power to change us when we allow ourselves to see each other in our shared experiences.”
Our team
Senior Management Team
Kim Barry
Vice-President of Community Services
Kim graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Social Work, before coming to ALS Canada. Kim has spent nearly 15 years working in the not-for-profit sector supporting people living with developmental and physical disabilities. For the last decade she has had the very fortunate opportunity to support the ALS community, now leading the Community Services Team and the ALS Canada Equipment Program. She is grateful to have the opportunity to support people who face some of the most challenging and difficult situations in life – hopefully making the journey of dealing with a disease as challenging as ALS a little bit easier.
“When you have the opportunity to see how the work you do everyday positively impacts those around you, it makes it one of the more rewarding careers you can ever have, and until the world is free of ALS, I will continue to show up each and everyday.”
Our team
Senior Management Team
Anthony Battista
Vice-President of Finance and Administration
In his role, Anthony is responsible for the finance, information technology, human resources, risk management, and administration of the organization. Anthony is a senior executive with more than 22 years of progressive experience with a proven track record of success motivating and leading diverse teams and building positive relationships at all levels to deliver value-added results. After starting his career in public accounting at KPMG LLP, Anthony has held senior leadership positions in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors including as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Baycrest Health Sciences and the Chief Financial Officer at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. Anthony is also an active volunteer in his community including as a member of the Board of Directors and Governance Committee Chair of Youth Without Shelter, a youth homeless shelter in Toronto, Ontario. Anthony graduated from the Schulich School of Business at York University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
“I have been working and volunteering in the not-for-profit sector for over a decade. It is important to me that I’m making an impact. I joined ALS Canada because I saw an organization with incredible people doing important work and filling a gap in the health care system. Being an administrator is my ‘super-power.’ My goal is to ensure that the foundation of ALS Canada is sound so that we can carry-out our mandate to support the ALS community through community supports, research, advocacy, and information.”
Our team
Senior Management Team
Sonila Elezi
Senior Manager of Human Resources and Volunteer Services
Sonila joined the ALS Society of Canada in 2021. She has worked in the Human Resources (HR) field for more than 11 years within the not-for-profit sector. She started her HR journey working with Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth, a not-for-profit that provides shelter to youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Toronto. Sonila also led recruitment and talent acquisition efforts at Kids Help Phone. Sonila has broad experience in strategic HR management. Her experience includes development of various strategies to enhance employee engagement and promote well-being as well as leveraging technology-based solutions to improve efficiencies. Sonila’s passion is fostering a people-centered culture that promotes well-being, inclusivity, and strong connections. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Agricultural University of Tirana and a Postgraduate Certificate in Human Resources Management from Humber College.
“My ‘why’ is seeing the resilience and strength of people battling ALS. This ultimately inspires me to contribute toward a world free of ALS.”
Our team
Senior Management Team
Chris Pon
Vice-President of Fund Development
Prior to joining the ALS Society of Canada, Chris built a career and reputation of successfully leading impact and results-driven teams to support and elevate the mission of some of Canada’s top-tier for social profits. This includes organizations such as Heart and Stroke Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Make-A-Wish® Canada, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. As an established relationship-builder, he uses his mind – and heart – to achieve mutually impactful and rewarding results. Throughout his fundraising career, Chris has gained expertise in the areas of cause-related marketing, sponsorships, in-kind partnerships, philanthropic gifts, and employee engagement. From ideation to activation and measurement, he has partnered with prestigious corporations to build their brands in the marketplace while raising critical funds to support transformative programs. Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Toronto Metropolitan University.
“My connection with the ALS community is a deeply personal one, as my father succumbed to the disease in December 2021. I have become an ALS warrior, both personally and professionally, to unite and support the community as we head toward a world free of ALS!”
Our team
Senior Management Team
Tammy Moore
Chief Executive Officer
As the CEO of the ALS Society of Canada, Tammy leads the organization as a future-focused health charity with global influence and national reach, delivering immediate impact on the lives of Canadians facing a devastating terminal illness. Tammy is an experienced Board Director, executive leader, entrepreneur, and management consultant, known for her expertise in operations, communications, investor relations, crisis management, branding, marketing, public affairs, and government relations. She is celebrated for her unique talent in building high-performance teams and fostering culturally sensitive environments, placing a strong emphasis on inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA). She has amplified her experience with specialized training from the Institute of Corporate Directors – Rotman Directors Education Program Development (ICD), Carver Board Governance, Canadian Investor Relations Institute (CIRI), Ivey Investor Relations Professional, and Harvard Business School Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management.
“My ‘why’ started in 2008 when my cousin was diagnosed with ALS. Doug had always been on hero status with me, like a cool, older brother, the life of the party, the person everyone wanted to know, unafraid, and unapologetic. Through the course of his journey with ALS, I learned so much more about Doug, and about life. He taught me about courage, resiliency, and appreciation. He taught me what it means to truly live with meaning, conviction, and purpose. Doug was what initiated my ‘why’, but now I have many people who have been affected by ALS who inspire me to make a difference for the lives of people today, and to aspire for a different future. I feel so fortunate to do this work, to have the opportunity to contribute to changing lives for today and tomorrow.”
Our team
Senior Management Team
David Taylor
Vice-President of Research and Strategic Partnerships
Dr. Taylor completed a PhD in ALS research at McGill in 2006, followed by two postdoctoral fellowships at EPFL, Lausanne, and University of Toronto. He joined ALS Canada in 2012 and for over a decade his work has included; managing ALS Canada’s national and global research portfolios, guiding the organization’s research strategy, facilitating collaboration between Canadian and international ALS researchers, advocating with government for the needs of Canadians living with ALS and engaging with industry to highlight Canada as a top destination for clinical development. His role has also provided an opportunity to be involved in, or leading numerous panels, committees and meetings of global ALS/MND significance, with impact that will ultimately accelerate a better day, sooner, for Canadians living with ALS. Passionate about ALS research, Dave has delivered hundreds presentations across Canada and internationally, participated in countless media interviews and is incredibly driven to engage in mutually beneficial opportunities for knowledge exchange.
“I have worked on ALS since 2001 and it is my everyday passion to figure out the path to a world free of ALS. I am proud to have worked at ALS Canada since 2012 because this organization has supported my drive to be part of the global conversation, working collaboratively towards this goal, with the ultimate hope of making a better day for Canadians living with the disease as soon as possible.”