Dr. Jane Brearley is Founder and CEO of Intent Health, a healthcare communications agency founded on diversity, inclusion and representation. Named as one of PR Week’s Agencies to Watch in 2021, Intent Health has grown from two employees to a team of 20 in just under a year, specialising in rare diseases, mental health and serving a portfolio of pharmaceutical companies and social enterprises.

Jane’s career spans over 24 years in healthcare communications, working with agencies such as Portland, Publicis Resolute, Waggener Edstrom and Red Door Communications on behaviour changing healthcare campaigns.  Jane was the winner of Communique Healthcare Communications Leader 2019 and featured in the PR week Power Book 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Jane believes that without empathy and humanity, we can’t create relationships founded on trust and respect.  Her vision for Intent Health is to create a community where difference is celebrated, where everyone has a true voice, and one that is heard.

Jane’s observations? “Be humble. Don’t assume. Listen. Diversity of thinking isn’t enough. It’s a start, but without true diversity of life experiences, our work will not represent the rich tapestry of humanity, and it will miss so many opportunities to engage.”

With nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism and communications, Katrina Marshall is a seasoned Barbadian journalist who cut her teeth in radio and television before moving onto communications and feature writing.

As a corporate communications and public relations professional her hallmarks are discretion, attention to detail and fastidious dedication to preparation and research.

Her current focus is telling the authentic stories of women whose experiences of race, gender and sexuality intersect. As an IABC conference speaker and co-author of public relations publication Future PRoofed she continues to move seamlessly within the UK’s communications and public relations industry as a founding member of the Public Relations and Communications Association Race Ethnicity and Equity Board.

A regular podcast guest and blog writer on diversity and inclusion, Katrina is most comfortable both in front of and behind the microphone.

But pre-covid19 this proud island girl could most likely and often be found whipping up sumptuous curries and stews for friends and family, where the rum and laughter flow freely.

Gabi is an award-winning communicator, project manager and creative thinker. She loves partnering with clients to deliver strategic, creative communications campaigns.

An active volunteer of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Gabi is currently the IABC DEI Committee Chair. For IABC Chicago, she served as president, secretary and volunteer director, and received the 2017 Karen Utterback Volunteer Award.

As a Senior Consultant with ROC Group, Gabi applies the science of communication to the art of workforce change and engagement. She has hands-on project leadership expertise and is skilled in complex delivery of multi-media strategies. She is valued by her clients and colleagues alike as both an efficient problem-solver and a creative guide.

Gab’s clients include Schneider Electric, RRD, LSC Communications, Donnelley Financial Solutions, Dover Corporation and Littelfuse. She specializes in topics including wellness, health, retirement, DEI and total rewards.

In her spare time, Gabi participates in a German Speakers Meetup Group; and supports the arts and her alma mater, Northern Illinois University.

Loretta Lam, Chief Strategist & President, Focus Communications Inc.

Loretta is a visionary thought leader and diversity & inclusion communication strategist who is Chief Strategist and President of Focus Communications Inc.

Established in 1994, the award-winning Canadian
agency offers strategic counsel and services on diversity strategies, marketing communications, and cultural training to client corporations in North America.

With over two decades of professional experience in integrated marketing and public relations, Loretta has formerly held management and consultant positions at leading multinational firms Hill & Knowlton Canada and Ogilvy Asia.

Loretta is a pioneer in 360 Multicultural Marketing. She instigated the “recognizing the multicultural market potential”
initiative in 1995 and successfully introduced diversity marketing to the mainstream industry, associations and media,
which later led to the industry’s first special editorial report on Canadian multicultural marketing, and the  ongoing annual multicultural marketing report, awards and conferences.

Cornelius Alexander, Corporate Communications Business Partner at regulator, OISC

After five years in newspapers, Cornelius Alexander moved into media relations as an Information Officer at New Scotland Yard.  After stints with the Mayor of London’s Press Office, a health authority in British Columbia and London Probation Trust, he is currently Corporate Communications Business Partner at regulator, OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner).

A CIPR Fellow, Founding Chartered Practitioner and 2018 recipient of the CIPR’s Sir Stephen Tallents Medal, he has served on the board of the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society, on the Cttee of the Greater London Group and Local Public Sector Group, the CIPR National Council and was the first chair of the CIPR’s Diversity Working Group.

Cornelius is currently vice-chair of the CIPR’s Diversity and Inclusion Network.

Jefferson Darrell is an accomplished marketing communications and change management professional with more than 15 years of brand strategy expertise, generating earned and owned media using traditional and digital channels.

In the DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) space, Jefferson was instrumental in the creation of the Diversity Inclusion Anti-Racism Action Team at the Ontario Science Centre and represented them on the DEI Committee with the Canadian Association of Science Centres. He was instrumental in organizing the Centre’s involvement in the world’s first Pride in STEM Day. Jefferson’s change management project with the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention resulted in increased revenue opportunities for the nonprofit by diversifying the organization’s development committee.

Mark is a public speaker and campaigner for all things disability and diversity. He is also Head of Comms for Shift.ms, a worldwide charity and social network for those, like himself, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This year he has been named one of the 100 most influential disabled people in the U.K. 

He blogs at onemanandhiscatheters.com, has launched  a podcast called Disability@TheTable and plays Wheelchair Rugby, badly.

Naomi MG Smith MCIPR is the youngest member of the CIPR Council (2021/22) and is an Accredited PR Practitioner. She was recently listed on PR Week’s 30 under 30, and as one of the most influential PR agency professionals in the world by Propel.

Nafisa Shafiq, Student Communications and Engagement Manager, University of Leeds

Teela Clayton is a CIPR Accredited PR practitioner specialising in healthcare comms at Intent Health. Following an 11-year teaching career, Teela obtained a first-class Master’s degree in Public Relations and Strategic Communication at Leeds Beckett University to complement a PGCert in International Journalism. Her award-nominated thesis on the dissemination of political brand via Twitter was presented at BledCom2021 and she has co-authored on three published academic papers in various areas of PR and communication. In Autumn 2021, she will be starting a PhD research looking into the impact of UK media and Government communication on Black Asian and Minority Ethnic communities during global pandemics at the Leeds Beckett University, UK. Teela is on the committee of CIPR Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, a member of the PRCA Misinformation in the Climate Crisis strategic group and a founding member of A Leader Like Me.

Danielle Norris, SCMP (she/her), RTOERO, Manager, Marketing and Communications

Danielle Norris is an award-winning communication professional with 15 years of experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. As a certified Strategic Communication Management Professional, she specializes in strategic planning, government relations, and community outreach. Danielle manages the marketing team at RTOERO, the largest national provider of non-profit group health benefits for education retirees in Canada.

In her spare time, Danielle utilizes her skills to support Black communications professionals and students through her volunteer role as a board member and director of education for the Ubora Network. Danielle also enjoys spending time with her family and inspiring a generation of readers through her Love of Literature book club program for Black youth.

In 2005, Danielle graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. She also attended Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, where she received her post-graduate diploma in corporate communications in 2006.

Amrit Nijjar (she/her) is an Inclusion and Belonging Manager who works with companies to work towards building a truly inclusive culture where everyone feels safe and able to truly be themselves.
Amrit believes if people have a true sense of belonging, they will truly excel in their roles, and therefore in their performance at work. She gained global praise in her company with a ‘Proud to be me’ campaign, which gave leadership teams and employees at all levels a platform to get to know each other and appreciate differences more than they may previously have done.

Previously an award-winning engagement and communications professional with over 15 years of experience, Amrit uses this expertise to help embed Inclusion and Diversity action plans within her company.

Neil Griffiths, ABC, Chart.PR, IABC Fellow is Global Head of Diversity, Equality & Inclusion at ERM, the world’s largest sustainability consultancy, where he is responsible for the global DE&I strategy and engagement plan. Neil’s background is varied, having spent the better part of 20 years in a series of external, brand, strategy and internal communication roles, before moving into DE&I. Neil has held leadership roles in a number of public, private and non-profit organisations.

In the volunteer space, Neil has held multiple leadership positions within the IABC and the Company of Communicators (CoC), which is one of the City of London’s modern Livery Companies. Volunteer highlights include being a member of the inaugural Global Communications Certification Council, Career Roadmap Committee member, Chair of the 2018 IABC World Conference (Montreal), Past Chair of IABC’s EMENA region and, as at November 2020, Junior Warden of the CoC.

Neil is a recipient of the IABC Regional Leader of the Year, Rae Hamlin and IABC Chair’s Awards. In 2019, Neil was named IABC Fellow, the highest honour bestowed on an IABC member.

Together with co-author Deborah Hinton, Neil has published two studies on the current and future state of the communication profession and advocates for channeling your best communication self regardless of where and how you work.

[LinkedIn / @negriff]

Mubashira Nusrat Farooqi (she/her/hers),
Founder and Host, Colour Me PR Podcast

Mubashira Nusrat Farooqi is an equity and inclusion advocate, an Account Executive at FleishmanHillard Highroad and the Vice President of Volunteer and Mentorship Services with IABC/Toronto. Mubashira is also the host of Colour Me PR Podcast where she amplifies the voices of exceptional women of colour in communications. She graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Diversity and Inclusion, followed by a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Centennial College.

Son Pham, (he/him) Senior Account Executive

Son is a Senior Account Executive at Intent Health, where he supports on a number of key strategic accounts. His work ranges from biotech, mental health and wellbeing to public sector, improving lives and creating positive social impacts.

Son also his PR blog Son-Talks with the recognised series The Nomad which focuses on the intercultural insights in PR and Comms.

He also held the volunteer position of PR Executive at the LGBT+ charity Friends of Dorothy and Council Member at PRCA Equity and Inclusion Advisory Network.

Ilyana Rajwani (she/her)

Jordan Baptiste has deep roots in Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation shapes his ethos as a national business leader. With feet entrenched in both worlds, Jordan has spent the last decade connecting Indigenous communities and Indigenous businesses with industry. His nuanced understanding and community-first approach has helped him achieve meaningful change and help build organizations that thrive.

The son of one of Canada’s first Indigenous IT professionals, Jordan believes every Indigenous child (regardless of whether they live in an urban or remote setting) has the potential to be a trailblazer. He has been active in the field of educational reform as a steering committee member for numerous institutions developing Indigenous curriculum.  He is currently the Vice Chair of STR8 UP – a grassroots organization working in Saskatoon’s core neighborhoods that supports and offers hope and healing to individuals as they transition from gang and street life towards a healthier lifestyle.

For Jordan, it’s always about taking a strength-based approach: focusing on the skills, knowledge, and expertise inherent within Indigenous communities.  Representing a new generation of Indigenous Business Leaders, Jordan’s aim is to build collaborations in which Indigenous communities can chart their own path towards economic success.