Nominating Committee Chair < Back Laureen Sommerey MN, BScN, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Nominating Committee Chair

Academic Registrar < Back Cheryl Harding Academic Registrar

Prairies, NWT & Nunavut < Back Angela Koziak BScN, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Prairies, NWT & Nunavut My name is Angela Koziak and I have lived in Alberta my entire life. I live in Beaumont with my spouse Mark, my kids Noah (16), and Kailey (7). My stepson Castin (20) lives on his own now. I graduated from the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta in 2004. As a student I worked in long term care. After graduation I worked in medicine and ICU. After having my son, I became a Case Manager in Supportive Living. Soon after, I met Bev Smith who inspired in me a fascination with wound care, encouraged me to join the direct nursing team and to take the NSWOC program. Not long after accepting my first NSWOC position Bev informed me of a new Core Program– Membership and encouraged me to join. I did and have had the pleasure of working and learning from Troy Curtis and Shelly Barnes. Shortly after the inception of this program, I advocated and became lead of our monthly Journal Club. I am so proud of the community of practitioners coming together every month. In addition to discussing current research, we learn so much from each other. This year I was offered the opportunity to present my work in community pessary management at the annual conference. I am completely honored to join my colleague Pat Dahlbeck in this endeavor. I have never felt more fire and passion for anything I have ever done in my career, nor have I ever had so much pride in belonging to an organization. I believe with my heart that I can bring my love of Wound Ostomy and Continence to the Prairies/Nunavet/Northwest Territories. It will be my commitment to join all members of NSWOC in this region and create community in our unique demographic.

French Community of Practice < Back Valérie Chaplain IA, BSc Inf, ISPSC, PSCC(C) French Community of Practice

Director of Finance < Back Daena Banton Director of Finance

Chief Executive Officer < Back Catherine Harley (she/her) eMBA, RN, IIWCC Chief Executive Officer Catherine has served as the Chief Executive Officer (formerly Executive Director) for Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence Canada (NSWOCC) for the last 20 years and was also the first Executive Director for the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC) for 5 years. Past experience includes serving as the Director of Global Strategic Marketing, Wound Care Core Business for ConvaTec division of Bristol-Myers Squibb in Skillman, New Jersey, USA and Business Unit Manager for Wound and Skin Care based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada prior to that. As an International Healthcare Consultant, she facilitated strategic business planning for the Board of Directors of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) in Hong Kong, Ostomy Canada Society and the International Skin Tears Panel (ISTAP). A Registered Nurse with a neurosurgical ICU clinical background, she completed the International Interdisciplinary Wound Care Course (IIWCC) at the University of Toronto, studied post graduate business and completed a post graduate program in Not-for-Profit Board Governance at the Telfer School of Business University of Ottawa and Rottman School of Business, University of Toronto.

Professional Development < Back Debra Johnston MN, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), IIWCC Professional Development Debra Johnston is a Clinical Nurse Specialist certified in Wound, Ostomy and Continence working at University Health Network - Toronto General Hospital. The focus of her practice is to improve the quality of life for patients and their families by developing and promoting quality care through Best Practice Guideline development and education for patients living with chronic wounds, ostomies and fistulae. As part of her advanced practice role, Debra is an active member of the interprofessional team providing complex consultations, and supporting staff and program development using evidence based best practice to improve patient care. Debra has participated in the development of several Best Practice Guidelines pertaining to pressure injuries and ostomy care. She is a Clinical Faculty member for the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute Education Program; Faculty and Clinical Advisor for Advanced Ostomy Care and Management at University of Toronto, and an adjunct lecturer for the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.

Harm Reduction Community of Practice < Back Misty Stephens MClSc(WH), BScN, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Harm Reduction Community of Practice

Prairies, NWT and Nunavut < Back Jodi Quinlan RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) Prairies, NWT and Nunavut

Atlantic < Back Michele Langille MCISc-WH, RN, BScN, NSWOC WOCC(C) Atlantic I consider myself a lifelong learner and after graduating from Dalhousie university with aBachelor of Science in Nursing, I began my career as a medical surgical nurse. This is where my interest and passion for wound and ostomy care bloomed. After several years, the University of Prince Edward Island became home as I became a clinical instructor. From there I launched into the wound ostomy continence field and became a student of the Canadian Association of Enterostomal Nurses. This was a great fit from the beginning. I had excellent mentors to whom I will always be grateful. In 2023, I finished a master’s in clinical science with emphasis on advanced health care practice and wound healing. This has enabled me to bring advanced practice into my inpatient and outpatient practice. Working in acute and chronic care realms, pediatric and geriatric, there is a lot of diversity and challenges. Educating my colleagues in nursing homes and community nursing, as well as the public whenever the chance arises, has been part of my professional duties. I have spoken at a conference for long-term care staff which sparked questions from physicians and nurses. I arrange biannual education sessions for nursing staff and participate in education sessions throughout the year whenever I am invited. Professionally, I have participated as a task force member for several documents such as position statements and decision aids and co-author of a consensus statement and published article. I have presented with posters and presentations at an Atlantic conference and National conference. The NSWOC community makes it easier to learn as I believe we all share the same passion for learning and helping.

Academic Chair < Back Kimberly LeBlanc (she/her) PhD, RN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), FCAN, FNSWOC Academic Chair Kimberly LeBlanc is an Advanced Practice and Certified Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence working with KDS Professional Consulting. She has completed a PhD in Nursing from Queens University. Kimberly is an Adjunct Professor with the University of Western Ontario Masters in Wound Care Program and a visiting lecturer at the McGill University School of Nursing and University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. Kimberly is the past president of the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel and Chair of the NSWOCC Wound, Ostomy & Continence Institute. She is an international expert reviewer for the Joanna Briggs Institute in Australia and a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Advances in Skin and Wound Care. Kimberly has lectured nationally and internationally on wound and ostomy care and is considered an expert on wounds in the aging population. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and 3 book chapters. Kimberly’s current area of research interest is skin health in the frail elderly. In 2016 Kimberly was a World Union of Wound Healing Societies Educational Award of Excellence finalist and was awarded the Registered Nurses of Ontario Leadership Award in Nursing Education (Academic), and the prestigious Canadian Nurses Association Order of Merit for Nursing Education.

BC & Yukon < Back Tina Beckerton RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C) BC & Yukon Tina Beckerton initially became an LPN in 1994 in Ontario. After moving to British Columbia, her colleagues encouraged and inspired her to return to university to earn her degree in nursing. Perusing her dream, Tina went on and graduated from University of Northern British Columbia with a bachelor of science in nursing in 2011. In 2017 Tina embarked on her second passion which is wound care and graduated from the CAET Program in 2017. In 2020 Tina became certified as an NSWOC with the Canadian Nurses Association. Tina has worked in numerous areas of nursing over the years in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia while never losing her love for the nursing profession and wound and ostomy care. Tina is currently working as a Clinical Practice Consultant – WOC at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake, BC and serves vast region that extends 350km south, and 400km west of Williams Lake. Tina supports staff and clients, both in hospital and in various community settings, as well as on and off First Nations Reservations. Tina is most excited to be starting the Indigenous ECHO program in January 2025 and always looks forward to attending wound and ostomy educational opportunities, including annual conferences.