OUR SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Brian Biagioli, PhD (Virtual session presenter)

Dr. Brian Biagioli currently serves as the graduate program director for strength and conditioning in the Kinesiology and Sport Science Department at the University of Miami.  He also serves as the current Executive Director for the National Council on Strength and Fitness Board for Certification.

Brian is very active in the fitness industry currently serving four national committees related to standard setting, accreditation and population engagement in physical activity in the United States. Dr. Biagioli has authored four college text books and most recently is the primary author and editor for a new book on advanced sports performance. He has presented internationally for different sport conferences including lectures at the Olympic training center in Korea, Argentina, and is a lead expert on performance FIBA Europe. Formerly, Dr. Biagioli served as the program director for the Department of Exercise Physiology at Florida International University as well as a Division I Strength and Conditioning Coach. 

Stephen Cheung, PhD (Virtual Session presenter)

Stephen Cheung, PhD is a Professor and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Kinesiology at Brock University. His research focus is on the impact of environmental stressors (heat, cold, altitude, etc.) on human physiology and performance. He is the author of Advanced Environmental Exercise Physiology (2022, 2010), the primary graduate textbook in this field. Cheung has collaborated with multiple groups including World Champion cyclists and Olympic teams, Canadian Forces, Toronto Fire Service, Search & Rescue Secretariat, and clothing manufacturers to improve performance and safety in extreme environments. As a cycling enthusiast for over four decades, Cheung is passionate about translating the science of cycling, authoring Cutting-Edge Cycling (2012) and Cycling Science (2017) and serving as the Sport Science and Training Editor for PEZ Cycling News  since 2002.

Martin Gibala, PhD (Virtual session presenter)

Martin Gibala is a professor and the Faculty of Science Research Chair in Integrative Exercise Physiology at McMaster University. His research examines the mechanistic basis of exercise responses and the impacts on health and performance. Dr. Gibala is widely known for his studies on high-intensity interval training, the results of which have been featured by outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, NBC, and TIME.

Dr. Gibala’s scientific communication efforts include a bestselling book on the topic of time-efficient exercise, The One-Minute Workout: Science Shows a Way to Get Fit That’s Smarter, Faster, Shorter.

todd hirsch (Canmore keynote presenter)

Todd Hirsch is a highly regarded economist, keynote speaker, and author whose research and work focuses on enhancing adaptability in an ever-changing world. Having had a front row seat to key issues transforming the global economy for the past 25 years, he delivers dynamic, clear-eyed talks on adaptability, creativity, and resilience to help industry and business leaders prepare for a future that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.

An economist by training, Hirsch is currently the Director of Energy Transition Centre, an incubator of tech startups focused on navigating our path toward net-zero carbon. Prior to this, he served as VP and chief economist for ATB Financial for 15 years, taught economics at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, and worked in the research department of the Bank of Canada.

In recognition of his work, Hirsch has received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the University of Alberta’s Alumni Honour Award, and an honorary degree from Mount Royal University. He has also spoken to hundreds of business audiences across the United States and Canada, and international audiences from Venezuela to Dublin.

The author of four books, Hirsch’s latest, Spiders in COVID Space: Adapting During and After the Pandemic, shares the inspiring and compelling stories of businesses and not-for-profits that reinvented themselves during the pandemic.

Rory Hornstein, RD (Canmore session presenter)

Rory Hornstein, RD, B.Ed is a Registered Dietitian specializing in nutrition for sports, exercise, weight management (adults and pediatric/adolescents), eating disorders and body image, food intolerances/allergies, Immune system enhancement, fibromyalgia and digestive disorders. She is a specialist in nutrition and chronic illness management, bringing years of experience and a wealth of knowledge to the discussion. Rory is a member of The College of Dietitians of Alberta, The College of Dietitians of Ontario, The College of Dietitians of British Columbia and has four years of experience as Co-Chair of DC’s practice group of sports nutritionists (Sports Nutrition Network).

Rory is highly sought after for her specialized knowledge and experience and is proud to consult to many well-known clubs, universities and Associations. Rory is also the designated nutritional consultant at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic, Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Calgary, through her private practice.

 Rory is a certified Bariatric dietitian empowering her clients to become “intuitive eaters” and reach their personal goals, one bite at a time. Rory uses a “non-dieting” approach to her practice, encouraging her clients to adopt an overall healthier lifestyle for achieving their goals. Rory is a specialist in the dietary management of IBS, using a Low FODMAP Diet. Her focus is on ways to safely and effectively implement a Low FODMAP diet in clinical practice. Rory has completed FODMAP training through Monash University in Australia. Rory has been in private practice for fifteen years, specializing in nutrition and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and unfailingly committed to sharing her personal experience and infinite expertise with clients.

Alana Ireland, PhD (Virtual presenter)

Dr. Alana Ireland is an Associate Professor and Registered Psychologist whose research focuses on weight-related issues such as obesity, eating disorders, body image, and weight bias with a foundation in prevention and health promotion. Her research has emphasized the importance of interdisciplinarity and translating findings from research into practice. She is a peer-reviewed author, has presented her research nationally and internationally, and is the clinical director for Valeo Well-Being, an interdisciplinary centre focused on empowering individuals in their wellness journeys.   

David Irvine (Canmore KEYNOTE)

With more than forty years of experience as a family therapist, workshop facilitator, lecturer, and adviser to executives, David Irvine has dedicated his life to helping leaders create accountable and authentic organizations. With advanced degrees in human development, science and social work, David takes a unique approach to leadership development that helps leaders amplify their impact by discovering and deepening their authentic presence.

David is a bestselling author of seven books, his most recent being The Other Everest: Navigating The Pathway To Authentic Leadership and Caring Is Everything: Getting To The Heart Of Humanity, Leadership, and Life. He also hosts the podcast The Leader’s Navigator with his daughter, Hayley.

Together with his team, David has created the Authentic Leadership Academy and is excited to have launched his newest offering - the SAGE Forums - a safe, affordable harbour where leaders learn together and support each other in every area of their life. David also serves on the board of the Wayfinders Wellness Society, an organization that provides a safe space for military and first responders suffering from PTSD. He is a sessional instructor in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, in their graduate program.

A former nationally ranked distance runner, he maintains an active lifestyle of yoga, boxing, and hiking.

zachary McClean (PHD Candidate) (Canmore presenter)

Zachary is a forward-thinking sports scientist with a special interest in how machine learning and other data-driven approaches can be applied to elite sport environments to improve athlete performance, mitigate sport injury risk, and improve injury rehabilitation outcomes.

Zachary currently works as Player Development Sport Performance Coach with the Calgary Flames, where he applies an athlete monitoring approach to individualize athlete training at various development levels. He is also a PhD candidate at the University of Calgary's Integrated Neuromuscular Sport Performance Lab. In this setting, Zachary works closely with the University of Calgary Dinos Athletics program and the Sport Medicine Center to apply and develop novel, data-driven approaches used to inform ACL rehabilitation success and athlete readiness to return to sport.

Elaine Ori, PhD (Canmore session presenter)

Elaine is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, with a background in clinical populations, as well as public and population health. Broadly, her research sits at the intersection of health psychology, behaviour change, and mass media. Specifically, Elaine's research looks at how the digital environment affects physical activity with a particular interest in health misinformation, health communication, and digital sociocultural influences of physical activity. She is passionate about understanding how physical activity is portrayed online and by popular media, and how we can overcome related myths and misinformation to improve physical activity uptake and adherence, to make physical activity accessible for all bodies.

Dennis Valdez, PhD (Canmore and Virtual session presenter)

Dennis is an Associate Professor in Athletic Therapy at Mount Royal University (Calgary, AB). He currently teaches Adv. Emergency Management and Orthopedic Assessment. He also teaches Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries in the Personal Fitness Trainer's Program through MRU Continuing Education, Muscle Energy Techniques through Sport Injury Consulting Inc., and Emergency Medicine with the International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sport Medicine Program (University of Calgary) for international physicians. Dr. Valdez currently sits on the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association Board of Directors. For 7 years, he served as the Chair of the Education Committee and an Exam Developer with the Canadian Board of Certification in Athletic Therapy. His research interests include chronic dysfunction and pain management, with a special interest in chronic sport injuries and post-concussion syndrome. His research challenges traditional, current, and popular treatment and management strategies. He currently treats patients with a long history of chronic pain, dysfunction, and unsuccessful treatments. For each patient, he hopes to provide high impact treatments in the fewest treatment sessions.