The Board of Directors provides strategic guidance that helps us work towards our vision and mission.
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Our Board of Directors makes a significant contribution to the Institute. Their dedication ensures that we continue to adhere to strict governance and guidelines for nonprofits operating in Canada.
Their passion for Praxis’ vision — a world without paralysis after spinal cord injury — translates into improvements in the lives of Canadians with SCI.
Sean Gjos provides fractional executive-level consulting services to emerging healthcare technology companies. Previously, he founded a mental health clinic and was a Partner in a private equity firm, where he helped healthcare service companies navigate the challenges of growth. Sean is also the honorary chairperson for SCORE Fund, a non-profit that assists people paralyzed while participating in sports. Sean earned a B.A. from Brown University, an M.B.A. from UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management, and the ICD.D designation by completing the Institute of Corporate Directors Education Program.
Ms. Toor is a senior financial executive with over 20 years of experience in both private and public companies (NASDAQ and TMX-listed), including high-growth and startup-stage organizations. Ms. Toor most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of a public cannabis company. Prior to that, Ms. Toor was the Vice President, Finance of a private, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company where she played a key role in multiple equity and debt financings, including a US$25 million equity investment.
During her career, Ms. Toor has held various senior finance positions including Interim Finance Director of a not-for-profit organization and Corporate Controller of a public pharmaceutical company. Ms. Toor excels in strategy execution, shareholder value creation, and risk management. Ms. Toor began her career with KPMG performing audit, tax and accounting work for major clients. Ms. Toor is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds a Bachelor in Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University in Canada.
Joel Dembe is a Paralympian and strategic communications advisor.
He was Canada’s top-ranked wheelchair tennis player and won over 30 international titles throughout his career.
Joel represented Canada at the Paralympics and won the country’s first international medal in wheelchair tennis at the 2015 Toronto Pan-American Games, shortly before retiring from the sport.
He currently serves as a Senior Communications Manager and is also co-Chair of RBC Reach, an advisory group for clients and employees with disabilities.
Joel is a frequent media contributor, keynote speaker and writer, where he advocates for accessibility and inclusion.
He was recently named to the Emerging Leaders under 40 list by the Canadian business news publication, The Peak, recognizing leaders making an impact in their field.
Jeremy is involved in Northleaf’s business development activities in Canada, working closely with existing and prospective investors and investment consultants to design, develop and monitor their private markets portfolios.
Prior to joining Northleaf in 2023, Jeremy was a Vice President, Client Wealth Management at Gluskin Sheff + Associates where he advised high net worth and institutional clients on portfolio strategy and asset allocation and established new strategic relationships on behalf of the firm. Previously, Jeremy was an Analyst, Corporate Finance & Strategy at CI Financial, focused on treasury management and corporate development opportunities.
Jeremy received a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Dr. Anderson-Erisman is the Director of the Northeast Ohio Regional SCI Model System based at the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute. She is a Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the MetroHealth Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine. Her research has focused on translational investigations and bridging the gap between basic science, clinical science, and the public community living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Her training spans the spectrum of SCI research, from cellular and molecular studies, to whole animal and behavioral studies, to human clinical research. Several of her studies have focused on obtaining the perspective of people living with SCI on various aspects of research, including functional priorities, acceptable benefits and risks, preferences for neuroprosthetics, and exercise participation. She has expertise in SCI outcome measures and has conducted a multi-center clinical study evaluating the reliability and validity of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure in the US healthcare setting. In addition to pursuing her own research regarding chronic injury, she was part of the leadership team running the 6 FDA-regulated Schwann cell transplantation clinical trials while a faculty member at the University of Miami. At MetroHealth-CWRU she is continuing her involvement in clinical trials with the team pursuing implanted stimulation devices for SCI and further developing her independent research efforts addressing issues important to people living with SCI with an emphasis on translational research to deploy treatments to the clinic.
Following a sudden onset of paralysis from the waist down, Bean Gill has advocated and broken down barriers for people and people of colour living with disabilities. She is co-founder of ReYu Paralysis Recovery Center – a non-profit wellness center that inspires, motivates, and promotes recovery with increased function. She’s been received Top 40 Under 40, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur, and Global’s Woman of Vision Awards, is the reigning Miss Wheelchair Canada, and was listed by Mattel as one of Canada’s top 60 inspiring women as part of Barbie’s 60th Anniversary.
Dr. Letitia Y. Graves is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She also holds a dual appointment as a Research Health Scientist and inaugural member of the 2021 VHA DEI Scholar cohort, at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.
Dr. Graves earned her PhD, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, with a minor in Healthcare Genetics. She was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars and the inaugural RWJF/NINR joint postdoctoral fellow, completing her postdoctoral fellowship in the Symptom Science Center and Symptoms Biology Unit at the National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health. Her research interests include Veteran health and symptom science with a specific focus on symptoms in individuals after spinal cord injury, epigenetics, and aging. She is also interested in advancing nursing science through inter-and-intra-professional collaborations as a means of strengthening research translation from bench to bedside. Prior to forging a career in research, Dr. Graves was a Registered Nurse in the Spinal Cord Injury Care line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.
Peter Guo leads the Enterprise Risk Services practice in British Columbia. Based in a Vancouver office, Peter provides risk management, consulting and assurance services to private and public organizations.
With 25 years of experience, Peter is comfortable in the boardroom and on the shop floor. He has delivered assignments involving governance, risk management, people, systems and processes, as well as regulatory compliance, enterprise risk, internal audit, IT audit, business process controls, privacy, IT threat and risk assessments and third-party control reports (CSAE 3416, SSAE16).
Prior to joining MNP, Peter was a partner at a Big Four firm, where he led the Systems and Process Assurance and Controls practice in B.C. He has developed and executed methodologies in CEO/CFO certification and project risk management and governance. With risk and controls expertise in large transformational projects, Peter provides clarity, recommendations and practical solutions to executive and board stakeholders in complex IT implementations, business process improvement initiatives, post-merger synergies, operational cost reductions and systems conversions.
A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Peter is a designated specialist in IT and IT audit (CITP, CISA). He holds the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP), and certified Board Director (ICD.D) designations.
As a member of Saa Dene executive team, her role is to set the strategic vision and manage the daily operations of the companies.
Prior to that, she was an Executive Director at Fort McKay First Nation and responsible for corporate and community governance, administration, health and human services, communications, stakeholder, public and corporate relations and as management consultant.
Throughout her career, Ms. Kitto has been a mentor with a particular focus on supporting Ms. Kitto has over 20 years of combined executive management, economic development, regulatory matters, crisis and risk management and governance experience. Her career has spanned work in the public, private, government and non-profit sectors. Specializing in guiding organizations to operate more efficiently and profitably by focusing on the spectrum of challenges that business leaders and governments face – from long range strategic planning and is the critical day-to-day business matters.
Throughout her career, Ms. Kitto has been a mentor with a particular focus on supporting working women and the betterment of Indigenous Peoples and fulfilling their rights over their lands. She is actively involved in her community and currently serves as an advisor, a board of director on several for-profit and not for profit, First Nations Group of Companies; and several non-partisan organizations such as the Information Communications Technology Council (ICTC) – a national center of expertise in the digital economy; Calgary Housing Company – provides safe and affordable housing solutions for families; KidSport – All Kids Should Play, and no child should be left on the sidelines; Chair, Onion Lake Group of Companies.
A member of the Forbes Business Council, Energy Council of Canada and the Business Council of Alberta and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and First Nations Power Authority.
Dr. Vellani stands as an innovative and dynamic business leader, uniquely blending an entrepreneurial mindset with a robust scientific background. With a proven track record, she has successfully transformed cutting-edge health research technologies into innovative therapies and played a pivotal role in the creation of new companies. As the founder of four Venture Capital Funds, Dr. Vellani has not only demonstrated her expertise as a seasoned investor but has also mentored numerous early-stage companies, guiding them through successful product and portfolio planning while securing essential seed and venture funding.
Her contributions extend beyond financial realms. Dr. Vellani is adept at strategic planning, fostering alliances, and cultivating strategic partnerships. She brings a profound passion to build, mentor, and inspire high-performing collaborations and teams. Her commitment lies in creatively advancing innovative therapies and technologies, steering the creation and acceleration of new companies, all while elevating stakeholder value.
Dr. Vellani possesses a keen ability to expedite business and project goals. This is driven by her in-depth understanding of scientific and operational needs, adept identification of barriers to success, and meticulous monitoring of execution, all while maintaining a strategic overview. Currently serving on the Board of VoxCell Bioinnovation, a leading Canadian 3D Bio-Printing company, she continues to contribute to the forefront of cutting-edge technologies.
Dr. Vellani earned her PhD from the Faculty of Medicine and B.Sc. from the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia. Beyond her professional pursuits, she channels her passion into various Charities/Non-Profit organizations. Dr. Vellani is actively engaged in Fund Raising Events, showcasing her commitment to making a positive impact beyond the boardroom.
Ian Walker is an emergency physician in Calgary, Alberta. He has previously served as Director of Admissions for the Cumming School of Medicine and as Chief of Emergency Medicine at Foothills Medical Centre. Currently, he is the Medical Director for EMS in Calgary and a member of the council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, where he serves as Chair of the Medical Facilities Accreditation Committee.