Katy is the mother of a girl with autism. She has devoted her time since 1995 toward helping her daughter overcome many of the challenges of this condition. She has investigated educational and biomedical treatments for autism and has researched this field extensively. Katy supervised and actively participated in her daughter’s home-based ABA program, receiving many hours of training from educational and behavioral specialists, as well as experts in the fields of speech and occupational therapy. She is a founding member of Phoenix Academy of Learning (a private school for children with autism), the Chair of the Board and President of the Society, a member of the BCCH Neuropsychiatry Planning Task Force and a member of the Women’s Leadership Council of the Sauder School of Business at UBC. Katy is President of isolve IT Inc., a computer support company. She received her BA degree from Stanford University in Computer Science and holds an MBA from UBC.
Glenn is the father of a high school boy who has Asperger Syndrome. He is a Chartered Accountant working for Corix Infrastructure Inc., a BC based water infrastructure company. He and his wife deal with the day to day issues that result from their son’s autism. Prior to working in industry Glenn worked in public practice auditing a number of not for profit organizations.
Mr. Standerwick was born and raised in Vancouver where he attended high school. He graduated from UBC with a BA and an LLB. Bob has been a lawyer in Vancouver for almost 30 years and is currently a partner with the national firm of Lang Michener LLP. He has been active in a number of community organizations. Currently, he is a member of the Board of West Point Grey Academy (since 1999) and its Chair (since 2000). He is also a member of the Board of Phoenix Academy of Learning Society (since 2007).
Clara, along with her husband Paolo, is the Founder of the Canucks Autism Network. She is the mother of four, including a teenage son with autism. She dedicates much of her free time to promoting the Canucks Autism Network and spending time with her family.
jim@canucksautism.ca
Jim Gallagher is Vice President of BMO Bank of Montreal’s Corporate Finance Division for British Columbia. He was born and raised in B.C. and has worked in commercial & corporate banking for over 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and has completed an Advanced Leadership Program from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Jim lives in Tsawwassen with his wife and three teenage sons.
In 2002 Julia started her private practice, Practical Solutions, Occupational Therapy. Since then she has developed a strong interest in supporting children with autism and their families bringing her knowledge of sensory integration, gross and fine motor development to the child’s team regardless of the type of intervention the family has chosen. Julia trained as an occupational therapist in Liverpool, England and graduated in 1981. In 1987 she moved to Vancouver with her husband. She has worked in pediatrics in UK Australia, USA and Canada. Julia lives in North Vancouver with her husband and two teenage sons.
Marie has an 11-year old son with autism and is a strong advocate for children with differing abilities. She’s practiced as a physical therapist since 1988, has a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from UBC and is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, UBC. Her research includes rehabilitation and exercise interventions for individuals with arthritis and joint replacement surgery to enable active lifestyles and safe sports participation. She is the co-developer of Joint Works™ and Water Works™ recreational exercise programs for people with arthritis and provides workshops throughout Canada and the US on arthritis and exercise in the weight room setting. She has a long history of volunteering with children with disabilities and amateur sports in BC.
