Our Team
KATHY BARNARD
In 2006, Kathy was given six months to live and it was at this time that she and her family founded Save Your Skin, to ensure that anyone diagnosed with melanoma would not have to travel this journey alone.
Kathy prioritizes patient care and support. She was a key player in federal tanning bed legislation for Canadian youth and she continues this area of focus on education and awareness, providing emotional and financial support to those dealing with melanoma and carcinoma skin cancers, prevention, access, and support of the ongoing research and treatment of skin cancer – from melanoma to actinic keratosis. As both a melanoma and immunotherapy survivor, Kathy and Save Your Skin Foundation hope to share the experience and knowledge gained, by leading other patient groups in knowledge and advocacy training to ensure equal timely access to new treatments for all cancer patients.
In 2003, Kathy was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, and by 2005 she was informed that her cancer prognosis was terminal. With limited help but unrelenting effort, Kathy's sons were able to locate a doctor who was researching a trial immunotherapy drug. In 2006, Kathy was given six months to live and it was at this time that she and her family founded Save Your Skin, to ensure that anyone diagnosed with melanoma would not have to travel this journey alone. Her battle with melanoma is ongoing – as long as the disease exists, Kathy will strive to fight it.
After completing her Bachelor of Education(ECCE) at Capilano University, Kathy embarked on a career in business as a Corporate Accounting Manager, at Royal Bank of Canada. From there she moved into marketing and communications, as Stakeholder & Government Relations Manager at Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. She was the first woman to ever coach baseball in the Little League World Series. Kathy is also the recipient of the British Columbia Community Achievement Award for her leadership in addressing and raising awareness around skin cancer issues.
Kathy resides on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan people.
Louise Binder is a lawyer and health advocate who has been involved in informing the development of health policy and systemic treatment access practices from a patient perspective for more than 20 years. She started her work in this area in the HIV community in the early 1990s after her own diagnosis and before effective treatments were available for HIV.
She co-founded the Canadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC) in 1996, which successfully ensured access to treatments and quality care for people living with HIV by working with the federal and provincial governments and other relevant stakeholders to enhance drug review and approval systems, pricing policies and access to liver transplants for this community. She wrote a paper on universal drug coverage a decade ago while chair of CTAC.
She had a special interest in women’s issues, chairing the Ontario women’s organization Voice of Positive Women for more than a decade, and has been involved in these issues internationally as well. Two years ago, Louise began similar work in the cancer area and is presently a Health Policy Consultant with Save Your Skin Foundation. She has been recognized by many organizations for her work, including receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from her alma mater, Queen’s Law School; the Order of Ontario from the Province of Ontario; and two Queen Elizabeth II medals.
Louise respectfully acknowledges that she is in Aurora, the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island, who are Anishinaabe peoples, and one of the First Nations reserves in Ontario. She is grateful to them for sharing their lands with us.
LOUISE BINDER
Louise started her work in the HIV community in the early 1990s after her own diagnosis and before effective treatments were available for HIV.
JASMINE MACGOWAN
Jasmine started her career as a Graphic Designer & Public Relations graduate from Algonquin College. Jasmine’s professional experience has been unique. She has an extensive background in digital marketing for leading national organizations, successful projects for leading non-profit organizations, large Canadian health organizations and well-known consumer brands.
Jasmine has in-depth knowledge of both digital and traditional marketing. She delivers cutting-edge creative strategies and innovative campaigns that increase demand, accelerates growth and build brand recognition. Additionally, Jasmine has conceptualized multiple website designs, micro-sites, videos, and online campaigns.
As a teenager, Jasmine was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment & surgeries. This experience has shown her the importance of supporting patients and those affected by cancer. With her professional and personal experience, Jasmine is excited to advocate and help those affected by melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer and ocular melanoma.
Jasmine lives and works on the traditional unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People. She gratefully acknowledges the presence and stewardship of the Algonquin People, who have inhabited and cared for these lands long before today.
Amy Rosvold is the Director of Marketing for Save Your Skin Foundation and Project Lead of All.Can Canada. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from the University of the Fraser Valley and a Certificate in Journalism from Langara College.
Amy is a marketing specialist with years of experience developing integrated marketing campaigns. Amy knows how to create moving digital story pieces and formulate effective PR strategies that both educate and inspire. Amy has worked with such brands as Simon Fraser University, GoodLife Fitness, Escents, London Drugs Beauty, and Electronic Arts. She is grateful to be able to bring her experience to the nonprofit sector in order to tell the stories of Canadians living with skin cancer and advocate for a better future.
Amy resides on the traditional and unceded territory of the Stó:lō Indigenous Nation and the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe.
AMY ROSVOLD
TAYLOR TOMKO
Taylor Tomko (BA, MA) is currently a PhD candidate at Western University with a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Scholarship, and her academic record holds multiple conference presentations and essay publications. Taylor has a long history with the Save Your Skin Foundation, which began with volunteering for the organization while she was in high school, until she accepted a permanent position with the Foundation in 2014. Since then, she has brought her writing expertise to the Foundation as a Project Coordinator and Content Writer. Taylor’s other work experience includes University of British Columbia Access and Diversity, and she continues to volunteer for literary initiatives in Vancouver.
The experience Taylor’s family had with melanoma inspired the creation of the Save Your Skin Foundation, which strives to lessen the burden of melanoma on patients in any way possible. Therefore, she is pleased to be able to transfer her academic skills to the not-for-profit sector, and to be able to educate the public about skin cancer and how to prevent it, and directly help melanoma patients and survivors.
Taylor works, plays, and learns on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lunaapeewak, and Attawandaron peoples. These lands are connected with the London, ON Township through Treaty 7 (Sombra Township Purchase) and the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement.
Katie is an experienced marketing professional with an agency and events background. She has a passion for creating content, creating digital communities and connecting people together! Her skills include graphic design, copywriting, email marketing, website maintenance and more. Save Your Skin Foundation is her first experience in a non-profit but her experience with observing and participating in our initiatives and working alongside our team and patients has made her a strong advocate and firm believer in Save Your Skin’s mission.
KATIE DENNIS
LAURA RINALDI
Laura is an accomplished professional with nearly a decade of experience in public affairs. With a particular interest in health and environmental policy, she has successfully run a number of events and initiatives over the last decade of her career.
Endowed with a comprehensive skill set, Laura combines her sharp analytical skills with exceptional communication abilities, allowing her to navigate public and interpersonal landscapes with ease. Her dedication to public service continues to shape her impactful presence in the public affairs arena, making her a respected and influential force driving positive change.
Prior to joining Save Your Skin Foundation, she honed her skills working with several Members of Federal and Provincial Parliament in both Sudbury and Ottawa. Laura has further enriched her background through work with esteemed institutions such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation, the Carleton Chapter of Women in International Security (WIIS), as well as the Ontario Legislative Assembly and the Canadian House of Commons.
Laura holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University, with a specialization in Development Policy and Rights and Human Development. She is currently working on a Masters of Public Policy in Sustainability at Carleton University.
Motivated by her experiences as a caregiver for her late mother, a physician who overcame poverty, war, gender discrimination, and meningioma before losing her battle against recurrent endometrial cancer, Leah Marie Stephenson has cultivated her consulting expertise to improve how we address complex systems change. She is the Strategic Lead of All.Can Canada, a patient-led, multi-stakeholder network focused on improving earlier cancer diagnoses in Canada.
For almost twenty years, Leah has been working to improve healthcare systems to better address the needs of people using them, including structurally underserved communities. Nationally, she has previously supported advocacy and improvements in treatment access and continues to advocate for interoperable health information. She worked for five years in Ontario’s healthcare system advocating for equity-focused and community-governed primary healthcare teams as well as integrated, responsive, and accessible community health hubs. On top of All.Can Canada’s efforts towards earlier cancer diagnoses, she has been the backbone support and pen behind numerous transformational common agendas, including the Declaration of Personal Health Data Rights in Canada endorsed by 30 patient groups and a Diversity and Inclusion Charter endorsed by over a 100 institutions across Peel Region, both of which continue to be brought to life through advocacy, education, and knowledge mobilization.
LEAH STEPHENSON
Our Board of Directors
Violetta Ambrozuk
Kathleen Barnard
Shannon Gaudette
Shelley Dodds
Al Nakoneczny
Nick Makris
Ally Philip
Lyall Woznesensky
Lyanne Westie
MEDICAL ADVISORY
British Columbia
Dr. Vanessa Bernstein
BC Cancer Agency
Vancouver Island
Alberta
Dr. Michael Smylie
11560 University Avenue
Edmonton
Dr. Thomas G. Salopek
Division of Dermatology, University of Alberta – Edmonton
Saskatchewan
Dr. Tahir Abbas
Saskatoon Cancer Centre
Saskatoon
Manitoba
Dr. Ralph Wong
St. Boniface General Hospital, Winnipeg
Ontario
Dr. Scott D. Ernst
London Health Sciences Centre
London
Dr. Marcus Butler
Princess Margaret Hospital
Toronto
Dr. Xinni Song
Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre
Ottawa
Québec
Dr. Joel Claveau
Hotel-Dieu de Quebec
Québec
Dr. Wilson Miller
Jewish General Hospital Montréal
Switzerland
Dr. Reinhard Dummer
University of Zurich Hospital, Zurich
United States
Dr. Omid Hamid
The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute
Los Angeles
Dr. Jason Luke
The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago