Claudio Bussandri
Claudio is the Chairman and founder of World Wide Hearing Foundation International, and an active member of the Montreal health care and business communities. Though afflicted with severe hearing loss at a young age, its early diagnosis and continued treatment allowed him to continue his education and achieve success in the business world. He graduated with honours from McGill University with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1969, and subsequently obtained an MBA from the same university in 1976. He is the former President and CEO of McKesson Canada, the largest diversified healthcare services company in Canada. Prior to working for McKesson, he was President and CEO of Lantic Sugar Limited. Today, Claudio is a board member of several business associations and is the former Chairman of the Board of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), a premier clinical, educational, and research-based institution.
Andrea Engels
Andrea Engels has more than a decade of experience advising not-for-profits as a board member, outside counsel and executive staff. A graduate of McGill's Faculty of Law (B.C.L., LL.B), Andrea practiced law at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP in both their New York and Paris offices, focusing on international arbitration and related U.S. court actions. She represented various global corporations, sovereign states and high-profile individuals across industries, and regularly counselled non-profit organizations regarding governance, IP, fundraising and other matters. Prior to her career in law, Andrea worked in public relations for travel and tourism clients after completing a B.A. in International Studies and Art History from Middlebury College. Andrea recently returned to her hometown of Montreal, where she is currently the Director of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives at the Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA.
Ora Buerkli
Ora Buerkli is an experienced audiology and marketing professional with in-depth knowledge of the hearing healthcare industry. An audiologist by training, she has worked with Sonova (Phonak) for over 35 years, most recently as Phonak’s Vice President of Global Audiology as well as in other roles such as VP of Brand Management and VP Launch Deployment and Pediatrics. She is also a former Chairperson and member of the Market Development Committee at EHIMA (European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association). For over 14 years, she has served on the board of the Hear the World Foundation since its inception where she helped oversee projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. She is also an active member of the WHO World Hearing Forum Changemakers’ working group. Ora is the recipient of the Samuel F. Lybarger Industry Award 2018 by the American Academy of Audiology.
Marlene Bagatto
Marlene Bagatto is a pediatric audiologist and researcher with expertise in developing and implementing evidence-based standard practice protocols. As an assistant professor at Western University in London, Ontario, she teaches aural habilitation to graduate students in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and conducts research related to early hearing loss identification and intervention within the National Centre for Audiology. Marlene is part of the 2022 Governor General Innovation award-winning team that developed the world’s first pediatric hearing aid prescriptive formula. She continues to participate in research to advance innovation by investigating the processes involved with fitting bone-conduction hearing aids to infants. Through her work, Marlene fosters collaboration with clinicians and industry partners in order to translate the knowledge for the greatest impact. Her passion for supporting infants and children with hearing loss is evident in her advocacy work as the Chair of the Canadian Infant Hearing Task Force, which promotes, supports, and advocates for comprehensive infant hearing health care across Canada.
Rita Karakas
Rita Karakas is the Founder of RSK Associates Inc, a consultancy with 30+ years of global experience in government and non-government sectors. She excels in corporate planning, organizational change, and strategic management planning. Rita's transformative leadership has made a significant impact at United Way/Centraide Canada, YWCA of Canada, TVOntario, and Oxfam Great Britain. She has provided strategic management advisory services to notable clients like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Oxfam International, and the Australian Government's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Council. Rita's expertise extends to roles such as Senior Advisor at the MacDonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy and President & CEO at Canada World Youth / Jeunesse Canada Monde. Currently, she consults for EQUAL MEASURES 2030, tracking gender data within the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, Rita serves on the Board of Directors
Justin Murgai
Justin Murgai is the CEO of WaterAid Canada and brings over 16 years of experience in the humanitarian and development sectors. He has successfully led diverse initiatives in welfare, mental health, education, and empowerment within various communities, including youth, refugees, survivors of systemic violence, and victims of human trafficking. Prior to his role at WaterAid, Justin served as the Interim CEO of Engineers Without Borders where he oversaw community development projects, social venture support, and advocacy campaigns, focusing on tackling social inequities and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Justin was also CEO of LOVE (Leave Out Violence), where he made contributions toward addressing violence affecting youth. He holds an M.Phil and an MA in Anthropology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Justin is a passionate advocate for human rights and has actively participated in legislative committees, policy roundtables, and not-for-profit boards, striving to promote inclusivity, integration, and the well-being of marginalized communities.
