Described as one of the most sought-after, engaging, thought-provoking, and truly transformative international speakers and scholars in her field, Dr. Robyne is a multi-award-winning education and psychology instructor, author, and resiliency expert. What sets Dr. Robyne apart is how she learned resiliency from the ground up, as a person who has experienced significant obstacles yet forged her comeback. Dr. Robyne has over 16 years of university teaching and research experience and brings a refreshing and research-informed perspective to our understanding and practices of resiliency and wellness. Dr. Robyne’s work is accessible and relatable while offering practical strategies that are realistic and sustainable.

Dr. Robyne’s maiden book, Calm Within The Storm: A Pathway to Everyday Resiliency, released in March 2021, is now in its third print as it makes its way into the hearts and practices of people around the globe. Dr. Robyne and her team have developed innovative programming and open educational resources that are readily shared across a multitude of industries.

While working alongside some of the most influential organizations in Canada and across the world since March of 2021, she has delivered over 482+ keynotes and workshops.

Schedule: Tuesday, May 31st (onsite) on Kingston Campus - Venue C (time TBD)

Shane is an educator, PhD Candidate (Trent), and Joseph-Armand Bombardier Scholar of Mi'kmaw and Newfoundland settler ancestry. He is a member of the Qalipu First Nation on the southwestern coast of Newfoundland, where he was born and raised, and has been living in Tkaronto since 2006.

Currently, he is an Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Community Service, School of Social Work, and the Academic Coordinator of the Certificate in Indigenous Knowledges and Experiences with Toronto Metropolitan University (formally Ryerson University). Shane's doctoral research focuses on the development and maintenance of Mi'kmaw identities on the Island of Newfoundland. Further, emphasizing the impacts of colonial interferences on Indigenous identities through processes of settler colonialism and unearthing ways in which resurgence can create personal and cultural sovereignty. Shane’s professional social work practice has been in educational and community-based settings, with a strong background in building relationships with service groups and organizations in the broader community with the aim of providing services to diverse populations. His work has included populations that experience systemic marginalization and oppression, in areas such as; Deaf culture, homelessness, mental health and addictions, child welfare, and Indigenous communities.

Schedule: Monday, May 30 (virtual) - time TBD