Speakers

Fourth year student at the University of Toronto doing a Double Major in Population Health and Mental Health Studies. She is a Junior Project Coordinator at Lets Stop Aids and is one of the co-chairs for our conference! She is passionate about health promotion, preventative care and cultivating healthy communities!

Registered Social Service Worker and Improviser born and raised in Toronto. He has a strong interest in the intersection between comedy and collective action, as well as narratives and stories that drive social justice and change. Matthew is a graduate of the Second City Training Centre's Conservatory Program and performs regularly around the city.

Shamin Mohamed Jr. (he/him) is an activist widely recognized for his significant contributions to youth involvement in the global HIV response. At the age of 15, Shamin founded LetsStopAIDS, a youth-driven and youth-led Canadian charity. His efforts as a youth leader were awarded when he was named one of Canada’s ‘Top 20 under 20’. In 2023, Shamin was elected the NGO Delegate of North America on the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), representing LetsStopAIDS for a 2-year term (2024-2025).

Project Manager at LetsStopAIDS, where she leads national initiatives including the NoTimeToWait Youth Health & Advocacy Summit and The Winning Seed program. A graduate of Western University’s Media, Information and Technoculture program, she is passionate about youth leadership, health equity, and community-building, creating opportunities for young people to connect, learn, and drive meaningful social change.

Youth health advocate and public health leader with over a decade of experience advancing adolescent HIV care, mentoring young leaders, influencing policy, and strengthening youth-led health initiatives globally.

Student with experience in leadership, community involvement, and public engagement through school and volunteer initiatives. She is approachable, organized, and comfortable communicating with others, helping create positive and respectful environments in both team and discussion settings.

After fifteen years architecting software for global teams, Soumya made the pivot that terrifies most engineers — she walked away from the comfort of code to study what actually moves people, organisations, and ideas forward. Today she consults on AI strategy from the inside-out, host a Canadian podcast on the future of education, and coach professionals through their own bold pivots.

Award-winning sexuality educator, speaker and author based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With over two decades of experience, Nadine has helped thousands of adults and youth around the world explore ideas about consent, pleasure, relationships, identity and sexuality.

62-year-old gay male who has been living with HIV for over 25 years. His 18-year relationship culminated in marriage but ended in divorce after suffering years of intimate partner violence. For over 30 years George worked as a director for a major insurance company but felt unable to disclose his HIV status or seek help for his marital issues. Stress and fear cost him dearly but he has since reached out for support and care that changed his life for the better.

Originally from the Netherlands, Ties is passionate about advocating for the mental health of youth. With this passion, Ties strives to mitigate the effects of the mental health crisis among youth.

Workshop facilitator, advocate, researcher, and project manager based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With a background that spans academic research, arts education, and public speaking, she focuses on projects at the intersection of disability and race. She is a former member of Scholastic Canada's Equity Advisory Panel, championing disability inclusion and equitable practices within the children's publishing industry. Yasmine Simone holds a Bachelor's degree in Child Studies and a Master's degree in Critical Disability Studies.

Brings lived experience navigating addiction, survival, and the challenges of a nomadic life. These experiences have shaped his deep commitment to community, where he offers guidance and feedback to services and organizations through a lens of lived reality. A natural peer support provider, Kurt walks alongside others by building relationships, offering ceremony support, volunteering at community events, and sharing his wisdom, light, and friendship. His work isn’t a job—it’s a reflection of his life purpose and his integral role in community.

Founder and editorial director of THE GRAIN, an editorial platform and podcast exploring AI, creativity, media, and human experience. With a background in visual storytelling and editorial leadership at publications including Toronto Life and Maclean’s, she creates conversations that help people think more critically and creatively about emerging technology and culture.

PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Toronto, researcher, educator, and clinician-in-training. Her work focuses on mental health, brain injury, and improving access to care. Originally from India, she moved to Canada at age 12 and is passionate about youth leadership, advocacy, and creating more equitable health systems.

Member of Provincial Parliament for Parkdale—High Park, a former United Church minister, and a passionate human rights advocate who has spent her life organizing alongside communities to create meaningful change. Known for her compassion and conviction, she has championed stronger community and social services, workers’ rights, education, gender and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, and newcomer supports while working to build a more affordable and inclusive Ontario where everyone can thrive.

As the National Manger at LetsStopAIDS Alex (She/Her) oversees all national programmes. Having started in 2023 as a Project Coordinator for NoTimeToWait she has enjoyed seeing the summit grow over the years. Alex has an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science and a Masters in Management and Global Health. She is a youth advocate, health promoter, and project manager with a background in volunteerism, leadership, and youth facilitation. Alex is passionate about health equity, youth mentorship, and creating community connections. In her personal time she is an outdoor adventure enthusiast!

Scarborough-born, Scarborough-made Youth Advocate at UNICEF Canada. With interests in youth job insecurity and sexual and reproductive health, she hopes to purse postgraduate studies to explore these topics and inform policy.