Paul O'Connell is the Manager, Medical and Scientific Engagement at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC). Dr. O'Connell completed his Ph.D.in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and his post-doctoral studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His doctoral research investigated the mechanisms by which our own immune system contributes to metastatic cancer growth and the complications associated with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.

Inspired by his grandmother's blood cancer journey, Dr. O'Connell first became involved in research as a way to find new and better ways to manage the disease.

At LLSC, Dr. O'Connell leads the organization's research funding program and provides support to existing and prospective stakeholders. He aims strengthen the current framework, broaden the scope of research partnerships and diversify or grow the research portfolio so that the LLSC is at the forefront of blood cancer research in Canada. He works closely with the research community to help connect constituents to the incredible, and potentially, life-saving research that is being done across the country.

Patrick Sullivan is a passionate childhood cancer advocate, and Chair of the Board of Childhood Cancer Canada and one of the founders of the Team Finn Foundation.

Patrick became an advocate after his twin son Finn was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in 2007 and heard the word "incurable" for the first time in May 2008. His desire to make a change in cancer research is in part an effort to pay an un-payable debt to his son Finn and to Change the Stories of other Finn's.

Patrick participates in several national and international initiatives that include one of the founders of Ac2orn (Advocacy for Canadian Children Oncology Research Network), a director of the CCRA, member of the executive of the Terry Fox Research Profyle initiative, member of the AACR Pediatric Cancer Working Group and Chair of the St. Baldrick's/Stand-Up to Cancer Immunogenomics Advocates Dream Team.

By profession, Patrick is a securities and corporate-commercial litigator practicing at Whitelaw Twining.

Patrick is the proud father of three remarkable children, Baird, Sarah and Finn and would do almost anything for the simple pleasure of holding Finn's hand again.

My name is Sarah Hunt and I am a cancer thriver. I was diagnosed with myxoid liposarcoma five years ago, a year after finishing my masters in speech language pathology. I have been through radiation and series of surgeries. Since my diagnosis I have been doing advocacy and fundraising work for soft tissue sarcomas. I have been the team captain for "stronger than sarcoma", a team that takes part in runs and rides including the ride to conquer cancer over the last five years raising over $80,000 for sarcoma research. I am also an active advocate for several young adult cancer groups who represent those diagnosed between the ages of 19 and 39. I am finally an advocate for individuals with service dogs and am lucky to have one in my life who gives me my independence. My degree in biology and psychology has helped me to better understand all my diagnoses with cancer and since. It has also helped me become a better advocate for myself and others.

Chantale is a motivated patient advocate who believes that awareness, knowledge and research will lead to earlier detection and better outcomes for all patients. At 34 she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Appendix Cancer and underwent chemotherapy and an intense HIPEC surgery. After this life-changing diagnosis, she began to focus on how to best improve the experience for others. She is the Board Chair for AYA Can – Canadian Cancer Advocacy, which is a peer-led national organization helping to promote the patient voice in research and advocacy for the 18-39 population. She has also been involved in numerous research programs such as CCRA’s PIP and the AACR Scientist – Survivor program. Chantale is a mom to a curious 8-year-old, a wife and an accountant.

Catherine Wilhelmy – Over the last 15 years, I have been a consultant for an international nonprofit organization (Planetree) that offers certification in patient centered care. On a personal level, through various experiences (caregiver at home for my mother 30 years ago; my husband – three cancers within 18 months). In November 2018, I went through the looking glass as I became myself a patient. I was diagnosed with an aggressive and advanced triple negative breast cancer. I took nine months to get rid of the beast. In January 2019, I joined the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CRCHUS) Strategic Patient Partner’s committee; and since April 2020, I am coordinating patientpartnership for that organization.

Over the years, I have had the occasion to observe the health system from different perspectives. The combination of both professional and personal experiences makes me today, more aware than ever of the latent potential which lies at the heart of a real partnership between the different actors of the health system: I have the faith that by introducing such a collaboration, there is a way to better care, better costs, and better satisfaction for everyone involved in the process. Contributing to the advancement of the patient-partnership in research makes senses out of a disease I suffered from, that had none. It is like having the chance to transform the citrus life handed me into a nice lemonade.

Lorenzo Lindo is a 3rd year UBC PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. Kevin Hay at the Terry Fox Laboratory at the BC Cancer Research Institute. His thesis research focuses on the development and engineering of next-generation CAR T-cells with a focus on the application of CAR T-cells to multiple myeloma. Aside from his thesis work, he also works on clinical projects with the UBC Division of Hematology and assists with clinical trials with the Hematology Research Program and the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of BC. He is also an accomplished Senior Graduate Teaching Assistant with the UBC Department of Zoology with an emphasis on teaching human anatomy and physiology and he has been previously nominated for several teaching prizes.

His research work is funded by several scholarships, including the UBC Four Year Fellowship, the BC Cancer Rising Stars Award, and the International Myeloma Society Young Investigator Award, and he has previously held a CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship for the work in his MSc before fast-tracking to his current PhD program. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors and is an avid rock climber, skier, and cyclist, as well as a guitarist.