Wounds Canada Team

As chief executive officer of Wounds Canada, Mariam is responsible for both the implementation of the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the organization. She is a chiropodist and diabetes educator by training and completed her Master’s in Educational Leadership. Mariam has also published, developed and lectured in multiple programs both nationally and internationally. She is also the vice president of D foot International. Through her different roles as an executive director, health-care practitioner and educator, researcher and faculty member for many well-recognized organizations, Mariam has extensive practical and professional experience in advancing public health policy and is  respected as a strategic, visionary, system thinker. 

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, RN, BScN, MScN, PhD is an international health care consultant specializing in change management, leadership and implementation science. Most recently, (2007-2017), she was the Director of RNAO's International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Centre where she led the strategic development and ongoing enhancements of the program pillars of guideline development, implementation science, and evaluation. She was successful in securing special project funding, and led and/or oversaw numerous ongoing projects including smoking cessation, mental health, first nations health, and ehealth.

As part of RNAO’s Best Practice Spotlight Organization Designation, and using RNAOs evidence based approach to implementation science, she introduced and supported sustained implementation of RNAO’s evidence-based practice guidelines to academic and service settings in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Italy, South Africa, and West Indies. From 2000-2006, she directed RNAO’s Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, leading the development and delivery of professional education and health care consultation services. She has also held executive positions in home care, and acute care and was founding Executive Director of a multi-pronged Canadian government funded women's health program in Pakistan. A considerable part of her career has included administrative and professorial roles in academia at Western University, University of Toronto, and Ryerson University School of Nursing where, as Director, she led the faculty in the development a basic baccalaureate degree, the first basic degree program at Ryerson. Dr. Bajnok is recognized internationally as a dynamic and engaging speaker in particular in relation to evidence based practice and education, healthy work environments, leadership and change management.

Doug Beemer is a critical care Registered Nurse by background who has worked in the private sector for over 25 years. He has held various sales and product management roles in companies such as Philips Medical, GE/Ohmeda, Covidien and Medtronic. Doug has come out of retirement to join Wounds Canada.

Celine is currently the Education Coordinator for the Wound Care Champion Program. Celine graduated from Humber College with a Business Management diploma in 2011 and started working for Wounds Canada immediately after she completed her program.

Ian serves as Editor, Major Publications. His responsibilities include Wound Care Canada, Limb Preservation in Canada and Best Practice Recommendations. Ian has more than 30 years experience in medical publishing, including 12 years as Executive Editor for the Canadian division of the world’s largest publisher of medical and scientific journals and information.

Shagaana is the education coordinator for the Skin Health Program here at Wounds Canada. Previously Shagaana worked as a medication delivery coordinator at Bayshore Specialty Pharmacy. While pursuing her BA in Psychology at York University, she worked as a student success team member for her school's Introduction to Psychology course. Outside of school and work, Shagaana is known for being a versatile dancer and respected teacher. She has been teaching the ancient Indian Classical Dance form Bharathanatyam, as well as other styles, to students of all ages, for almost 5 years now.

Zahra is responsible for scheduling meetings, assisting with small projects, creating and disseminating social media content, and front-end website maintenance and design. She embraces outside-the-box thinking, innovation, sustainability, and conscientiousness. Zahra double majored in Anthropology and Gender & Women's Studies from York University.

Janet L. Kuhnke RN, BA, BScN, MS, NSWOC is a RN nurse specialist in ostomy, wound and continence (NSWOC) and an Assistant Professor of Baccalaureate Nursing at Cape Breton University. She works in acute care and has worked on Vancouver Island for 20+ years in acute care, long-term care and home and community care programs as a Clinical Nurse Educator and NSWOC. She worked in partnership with families from Cowichan Tribes and Shellbeach and Kullet Bay near Ladysmith and Chemainus, BC.
Janet is passionate about empowering front line clinicians, nurses, practitioners and personal support workers to safely deliver client-centred care following best practices. She has completed a Masters of Science in Systems and a Doctorate in Psychology. In partnership with individuals and communities, she is focused on quality of life and mental health and wellness of patients living with chronic wounds and diabetic foot ulcers. Please reach Janet at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 1 902 563 1209.

Christina Locmelis is the Director of Communications & Membership for Wounds Canada. She is responsible for leading the communications team and executing Wounds Canada’s overall communications strategy. Christina has extensive experience working in the not-for-profit/association sector and has managed the successful development and implementation of multiple national and international award-winning awareness campaigns. She is a dedicated leader and strategist who excels at managing teams, engaging with members and stakeholders, generating awareness of organizational resources and activities, and enhancing the public profile of organizations.

Darren Levine EdD, is an independent consultant supporting organizations to reimagine possibilities in today’s changing landscape. As a grant writer, social innovator and leadership educator, Dr. Levine’s work focuses on cultivating workplaces that inspire and engage, where all members can discover their creative potential and exercise leadership for innovative change.

Over the past twenty-five years, Darren has held a variety of management roles and has exercised leadership in several contexts including the not-for-profit and public sectors. Darren is Associate Faculty in the School of Leadership at Royal Roads University where he teaches graduate courses in organizational leadership and supervises student research. Darren holds a Doctor of Education (2010) and a Master of Education (2002) from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (2010) along with a Bachelor of Arts from York University (1999). He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Values-Based Leadership from Royal Roads University (2018) and Leadership for the 21st Century Executive Education Certificate from Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University (2015).

Sasangi holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Toronto with a Major in Health Policy Studies and a Double-Minor in Psychology and Anthropology. This year, she will be completing her Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College.

As the Business Operations, Accounting and Human Resource Manager of Wounds Canada, Addie is responsible for bookkeeping, accounting, HR, office management, organizational planning, sales, website and program administration. Addie holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a post graduate certificate in Human Resources Management and Management Accounting. 

Maureen is responsible for all of the logistics for Wounds Canada conferences and events. She has over 20 years of experience in the trade show/events business, as well as expertise in working with non-profit associations and on the facility side of events. Maureen helps Wounds Canada deliver education and awareness about wounds to thousands of professionals every year.

 
Loukia Papadopoulos is the former program manager for the Clean Energy Business Council. She has had a long career in journalism and the not-for-profit sector which included roles with the United Nations Momentum for Change, Leo Burnett and Al Arabiya English. She holds a D.E.C. in Pure and Applied Sciences from Marianopolis College, a B.A. in Communications and a M.Sc. in Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies from Concordia University.

Sue advises on the general communications for Wounds Canada and has a special focus on converting the latest evidence into forms patients, clinicians and health decision makers can use to positively change their behaviours and improve their practices. She has been a communication and program development specialist in the areas of education and health and wellness for almost 40 years.

Olena works closely with clients to fulfil marketing initiatives while also promoting Wounds Canada through various communications channels.  She has managed a variety of medical education programs, digital projects, events, health-care professional and patient awareness campaigns and enjoys working in areas of education and advocacy knowing that the work has a direct impact on the quality of life for patients. Olena completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto in Biology and Psychology and has also completed certificates in Business Communications and Digital Strategy and Communications Management.