We’re here to help anyone affected by any type of brain tumour.
The Board of Directors is vested with the responsibility for carrying out the mission of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and overseeing its management and direction. The Board is responsible for planning and policy decisions, for financial stability, selection and evaluation of the CEO and for evaluating and monitoring the work of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. A Director’s primary role is to serve the best interests of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
Faith Davis has over 40 years of experience as a cancer epidemiologist and is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta. She retired from her role as Vice-Dean of the School of Public Health in 2018 and transitioned her research projects, including leadership of the Brain Tumour Registry of Canada, to colleagues by December 2021.
Faith is the Chair of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Board and serves on the Executive, Governance and Research Committees. She is passionate about supporting the goals of the Foundation and believes that the innovative, disciplined, and multipronged approach is critical for translating research into optimal care and support for patients and caregivers. She hopes that the Foundation’s efforts will help build a multidisciplinary network of professionals well prepared to ensure that the evolving understanding of brain tumours is translated to this underfunded and important research area in Canada.
Dela Avle is General Counsel at Bruce Power where he manages the legal and administrative staff in the Law Division.
He is a member of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada’s Board Governance Committee.
The basis for Dela’s involvement with BTFC is to be involved in an organization for which he can see tangible benefits to the community, and one that could benefit from his skills, experience, and time. He feels BTFC does amazing work in the critical area of support for brain tumours and is glad to be able to support its mission.
Russell Smith is the Director of Internal Audit and Internal Control Compliance for City of Dreams Manila, where he relies on over 30 years of experience as a CPA, CGA to lead a professional team of auditors.
Russell first became involved with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada in 2006 when his four-year-old daughter Sarah was diagnosed with a rare malignant Brain Tumour. After many adventures and ups and downs, Sarah died peacefully at home on March 1, 2011. Russell has remained involved with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada since then, volunteering in several roles over the years. In June 2019, Russell joined the Board of Directors and chairs the Finance Committee.
When not working or volunteering, Russell enjoys travelling with his wife of 30 years, Suzanne, and spending time with his daughter Jillian who attends Western University.
Kristy Allen, MPH, is a Knowledge Translation and Implementation Coordinator at the Waypoint Research Institute, within the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene, ON. Her role involves tailoring, sharing, and applying research in creative ways to increase reach and impact, specializing in the areas of mental health and patient-oriented research.
As a BTFC Board Member and member of the Advocacy Committee, Kristy contributes from her professional expertise in public health, knowledge translation and community engagement. Her motivation for working with the BTFC is to support her sister-in-law Michelle and other young people who are living with and bravely fighting against brain cancer.
Rebecca Harrison, MD, is a medical neuro-oncologist at BC Cancer in Vancouver. Her clinical practice involves caring for patients with brain tumours and neurologic complications of cancer.
Rebecca has joined the BTFC board of directors because she believes that their promotion of research and advocacy in neuro-oncology is of great value in improving outcomes for patients and families affected by brain tumours.
Sarah Ironside is a Neuro-Oncologist with Horizon Health Network in Moncton, New Brunswick. She is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurology at Dalhousie University and an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) at Memorial University. She earned her Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Biology and Psychology with high distinction followed by her Doctor of Medicine from Dalhousie University. Sarah completed her Neurology residency training at the University of Toronto and a two-year fellowship in Neuro-Oncology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, with funding as the first recipient of the Gord Downie Fellowship in Brain Oncology. She has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications. She has a particular interest in tumour-related epilepsy, advanced neuro-imaging techniques, and research focused on improving outcomes and overcoming barriers to accessible care for brain tumour patients.
Jeff Ivanko is the Chief Financial Officer of DCL International and has more than 15 years of senior management responsibility in the construction and manufacturing industries. Along with being a BTFC board member, Jeff sits on the BTFC Finance Committee of the Board.
Jeff was first introduced to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada in 2015 when his wife, Leslie, was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. Over the years they have participated in the annual walks, the Hats for Hope campaign, and attended a BTFC young adult retreat in Muskoka.
In his spare time, Jeff can be found on the golf course or walking the streets of his subdivision with Leslie and their dog Tiffani.
Adam Lakusta (he/him) is a Calgary-based lawyer at a Canadian intellectual property law firm. Adam is an active member of the Law Society of Alberta and obtained his post-secondary education in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba.
Having been diagnosed with a Grade II brain tumour in 2014, the work of the BTFC is deeply personal to Adam. Adam is a proud participant of the annual Brain Tumour Walks and other BTFC initiatives. Adam’s education and experience of living across Western Canada provide him with a unique ability to contribute to the BTFC.
Daniel Mendelsohn is a neurosurgeon at Lion’s Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, BC. In addition to his role as a Director on Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Board of Directors, Danny sits on the BTFC Information, Support and Education Committee.
Danny became involved with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada as a result of his work. He performs brain tumour operations routinely and hopes that his involvement with BTFC can help to improve patients’ experiences with these challenging diagnoses.
Arun Thomas is the Chief Information Officer at Dynacare. As an accomplished IT executive, Arun has a successful history of leading complex technology initiatives within the demands of large, national organizations.
Committed to giving back to the community, Arun is an active board member for BTFC where he also contributes as a member of the Finance Committee.
Arun is also a board member for Rapport Youth and Family Services, a not-for-profit social service organization that provides counselling and related support services to youth in Peel Region of Greater Toronto Area.
Dr. Gregory Cairncross is a Professor at the University of Calgary. After an MD from Western, he trained in Neurology and Neuro-Oncology in New York, and then returned to Western in 1982. At Western, he was a neurologist and neuro-oncologist, Chair of the Department of Oncology, and Director of the Cancer Centre. In 2002, he moved to Calgary to become the Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences.
Dr Cairncoss is best known for his contributions to the understanding oligodendrogliomas. He and David Macdonald observed their unique sensitive to chemotherapy and he and David Louis showed that co-deletion of chromosomes 1p and 19q is a marker of chemosensitivity and long survival in this cancer. Co-deletion of 1p/19q is now one of the cornerstones of the molecular classification of the brain tumors. In 1996, he established the Brain Committee of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (formerly NCIC-CTG).
He has written widely on brain tumor biology and therapy and is a member of the Royal Society of Canada.