Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, PhD FCIA FSA, is the Director of Financial Security Research at the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, and the resident scholar at Eckler Ltd. Her research focuses on the financial and health aspects of Canada's ageing population. Bringing together leading industry experts and building on academic best practices coupled with innovative ideas, her work aims to improve retirement financial security for Canadians through practical insights, industry innovations and government solutions.

She has published numerous academic papers on a wide variety of topics relating to retirement financial security for Canadians. Her research contributions have received numerous awards and have been adopted by industry and government, in Canada and around the world. She is a prolific keynote speaker at industry and public policy engagements and a regular contributor to the Globe and Mail. A recipient of the 2001 Gold Medal in Actuarial Science at the University of Western Ontario, Bonnie-Jeanne received her FSA in 2004 and FCIA in 2019, and also holds a PhD in Actuarial Mathematics from Scotland's Heriot-Watt University. In 2011, she was chosen one of Canada's top young economists and attended the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany.

Magdalen Stiff is the Director of Communications at the NIA. Prior to joining the NIA, Magdalen was the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications at the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Under her leadership, she led the team responsible for supporting the largest auto investment in the province’s history, having worked with major investors in the electric vehicle sector. She was also the Senior Manager of Digital Strategy at the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services where she helped make it easier for families to access the services they needed online. Prior to her public service work, Magdalen spent 10 years in the private healthcare sector helping healthcare professionals with their marketing and communications needs. As Marketing Manager at dentalcorp, Canada's largest network of dentists and dental practices, she helped dentists unlock their growth potential by developing localized marketing strategies. Magdalen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Ottawa. She is passionate about using her communications and marketing background to give back to her community. She has held various positions on the Catholic School Parent Council having served as the Co-Chair and Secretary where she continues to support the school’s needs.

Gabrielle Gallant is the Director of Policy at the National Institute on Ageing. She comes to the NIA with a strong background in advocacy, with experience in corporate, association and think-tank advocacy work. Passionate about government and public policy, she believes in strong networks to drive positive outcomes.

Gabrielle worked in several different provincial ministerial offices, having finished her time in government as a senior advisor in the Premier's Office. She also served as the director of communications and operations to the President of the Treasury Board.

Gabrielle is a member of the faculty at Sheridan College, and has been a part time instructor in the graduate diploma program for Corporate Communications and Public Relations for six years.

As a volunteer, Gabrielle has devoted her time to causes that advance the participation of women in politics and public affairs. She has served on the board of Equal Voice and the young patrons group at Women's College Hospital. During the pandemic, Gabrielle began a neighbourhood mutual aid organization that fed more than one hundred hungry families.

Gabrielle is a passionate equestrian, and has been a competitive showjumper in the past. In her free time, you can find her wandering the trails in Ontario's greenbelt with her horse Taxi.

He Chen, FRM, is a Senior Researcher at the National Institute on Ageing. Passionate about improving the financial well-being of older adults, He worked at Canada’s top pension funds before joining the NIA. With nearly 10 years of experience in the financial industry — including with hedge funds, banks, pension funds and in asset management — he brings extensive knowledge of capital markets and pensions. With a Master of Mathematics in Actuarial Science and a Bachelor of Mathematics in Actuarial Science & Statistics from University of Waterloo, he received the Statistics and Actuarial Science Chair’s Award and has co-authored academic papers on retirement financial security and education. Previously, he collaborated with Statistics Canada on the LifePaths project, a longitudinal microsimulation model analyzing individual and familial behaviour in Canada. He also teaches Financial Risk Manager courses and supports new graduates and finance professionals to build their inventory of skills.

Arushan Arulnamby is a Policy Analyst at the NIA. He leads the development of NIA’s policy papers and initiatives surrounding vaccine-preventable diseases among older Canadians. He also takes part in advocacy work and the development of public resources surrounding adult vaccines. Arushan has been a co-author across numerous reports at the NIA on topics related to the health, financial and social policy of ageing in Canada. Arushan completed the Master of Public Health program from the University of Toronto, along with the Collaborative Specialization in Global Health and the Collaborative Specialization in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care Across the Life Course programs.

Madison Brydges is a qualitative health studies researcher with a Ph.D. in Health & Society from McMaster University and brings ten years of experience as a paramedic in Ontario. Her research explores the sociology of health and ageing, community health, and health care professions. At the National Institute on Ageing, Madison’s work focuses on supporting Canadians to age in place and advancing our understanding of the social determinants of health. Her research aims to inform policies and initiatives that promote healthier, more equitable ageing experiences in communities across Canada.

Kathryn Peterson is a research and special projects coordinator at the National Institute on Ageing. She holds a Master of Health Administration (Community Care) from the Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University, and has over 15 years of experience in health and social care. Kathryn is also a philanthropist and serves as Executive Director and trustee of The Peterson Foundation, supporting Canadian mental health, addiction, and wellness initiatives. Previously, she studied and worked as a registered massage therapist, providing holistic and person-centred care to various populations, including older adults and adults with chronic conditions. Kathryn was also a 2021-22 Healthy Ageing Scholar at the National Institute on Ageing, in partnership with the LIFE Institute.

Joanne Begg recently joined the NIA as the Administrative and Operations Coordinator. She holds a BA in English Literature with a focus on Canadian Studies from York University and has over 20 years of experience with operations and administrative roles. Prior to joining the NIA, Joanne was supporting the Future Skills Centre / Centre des Compétence futures, housed at Toronto Metropolitan University, which has a pan-Canadian focus on strengthening Canada's skills development ecosystem and creating a future in which everyone has life-long access to high-quality career options and learning opportunities.

Rory Warnock is a Marketing and Communications Officer at the National Institute on Ageing. Over the course of his career, Rory has worked in a variety of sectors including post-secondary education, nonprofit programming and public broadcasting. His primary responsibilities have focused on growing international awareness and developing engagement strategies to reach key stakeholder groups. Rory has a BA in Communication Studies from Concordia University and a MA in Communication and New Media from McMaster University.

Jen Orenstein is an accomplished Events Specialist with extensive experience in both the hospitality industry and event management. She is passionate about delivering impactful, meaningful events that help advance the NIA’s mission.

Jen’s career journey includes a notable tenure at TMU’s Advancement Department, where she played a key role in managing and enhancing alumni and donor events. Her background in the hospitality industry further underscores her exceptional skills in creating seamless and engaging experiences.

Dhilal is a dynamic policy professional, researcher, and designer-in-training with over seven years of experience in the federal public service. Her work spans various sectors, including public health, chronic pain, future skills, and service delivery policy. Dhilal passionately advocates for inclusive and responsive policies that fundamentally consider the social determinants of health.

With a deep understanding of policy levers and opportunities, Dhilal employs innovative research and engagement methods to draw insights and develop actionable guidance. As a candidate in the Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation program at OCAD University, she brings new capacity to the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) for engaging in inclusive policy design through co-design and foresight methodologies. Dhilal believes that individual and social well-being are both outcomes and enablers of realized human rights and is committed to promoting equitable access to opportunities for all Canadians.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Dhilal is an avid traveler and lover of nature, often exploring Toronto's inner-city trails during the week or venturing to surrounding towns for weekend excursions. A hobbyist florist with a talent for planning, she enjoys curating gifts and organizing events that bring people together over food, art and entertainment.