Helen Okoye is a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of British Columbia examining the intersecting socio-structural determinants of HIV risk behaviour among young people in sub-Saharan Africa. She analyzed the United States Agency for International Development’s Demographic and Health Surveys from sub-Saharan African countries to document regional, within- and between-country differences in the contextual determinants of HIV prevalence among young people. Helen is a firm believer in transdisciplinary scholarship and using mixed methods research approaches to solve real-world complex societal problems affecting young people. She is passionate about social determinants of young people’s mental health and well-being, community-based participatory research and effective interventions that address young people’s mental health challenges, especially for children and adolescents impacted by childhood trauma. Hence, her postdoctoral research is around leveraging implementation science to support the use of trauma-informed principles and the uptake of evidence-based frameworks in children’s residential care services to promote young people’s mental health and well-being.

Her role in PDAC involves promoting a sense of community and fostering connections and belonging among postdocs through planning and executing events that enhance the academic, personal and social lives of postdocs.

vp.community.engagement@pdacalgary.com

Terry is the PDAC Labour Relations Consultant and is a valuable resource for the PDAC Negotiating Team.

Terry has negotiated somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 collective agreements and has represented members in hundreds of grievances.

1983 - Negotiator for first collective agreement at Westerra.

1989-90 - Bargaining Team NASA

1994-95 - Chair of collective bargaining for NASA,

1995 - Vice-President &  Director of Labour Relations ACIFA

In 2016, Terry was awarded the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) Donald C. Savage Award for his significant contributions to collective bargaining in post-secondary education.

Dr. Farnaz Sheikhi is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on designing trustworthy artificial intelligence and machine learning models for applications in the healthcare and agriculture sectors.

Alongside her research, Dr. Sheikhi has extensive teaching experience and is committed to advancing AI education, knowledge sharing, and the responsible adoption of AI across academic and professional communities. She develops educational programs, fosters collaboration between academia and industry, and creates opportunities for learners to gain knowledge and practical skills in emerging AI technologies.

Dr. Sheikhi serves as the Program Chair of the AI Research School and the Program Coordinator for the National AI Summit, where she is dedicated to advancing AI literacy, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the next generation of AI researchers and practitioners.