"Md Abdul Zabbar is a distinguished psychologist from Bangladesh who specializes in psychosocial rehabilitation for individuals with spinal cord injuries. For over 23 years, Zabbar has dedicated himself to ensuring the adjustment, acceptance, and community integration of those affected by spinal cord injuries. He supervises various counseling services, including individual, group, family, caregiver, sex and reproductive health, mind-body relationship, community-based rehabilitation, and vocational counseling. Zabbar's academic credentials include a graduation and post-graduation in Psychology from the University of Dhaka, completed in 2000. His expertise is recognized internationally, evidenced by his multiple scientific paper presentations at Spinal cord injury conferences, including the Asian Spinal Cord Network Conference, where he received the best paper presentation award in 2009. He was part of developing the ASCoN Psychosocial and Peer Counseling Guidelines 2015 and contributed to an e-learning module for psychologists and social workers globally. His outstanding contributions earned him the Professor Paul Kennedy Legacy Scholarship for Psychology in 2022. Zabbar has also served as a psychological status assessor for the victims of the Rana Plaza collapse and the Tazreen Garment factory accident, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Government of Bangladesh. Zabbar’s commitment to continuous professional development is reflected in his extensive training. He completed a four-week fellowship at Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, in 2011 and trained in Mental Health First Aid at the Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, University of Melbourne, the same year. His other training includes Clinical Sexology, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, a Diploma in Counseling, Psychotraumatology, Counseling and Psychotherapy, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. As a trainer, Zabbar has contributed to the Peer Support Program under the BiRehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP); and the CIVIC Trail Project with Sydney University, Australia. His career is a testament to his dedication to improving the lives of individuals with spinal cord injuries and their caregivers."

Jasmin Mahler, a PhD candidate, completed her master's studies in health sciences and technology at ETH Zurich. Currently in her second year of doctoral research, she focuses on addressing sexuality in primary rehabilitation after spinal cord injury/disease, with a specific focus on women's experience.

Dr. Glisic is a medical doctor and clinical epidemiologist, co-leader of the "Cardiometabolic and Respiratory Research" group at Swiss Paraplegic Research, and independent lecturer at the University of Bern. Dr. Glisic's research has centered on the complex interplay of sex and gender since her doctoral studies. Initially delving into the impact of sex hormones on cardiometabolic diseases, her work expanded towards understanding the impairment of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis following neurotrauma. She extensively studies the role of lifestyle and behavior in women's health, cardiovascular diseases and neurotrauma.

NO BIO

Teri Thorson was a support technician for a computer software company and professional dancer before a 1996 motor vehicle crash in Australia left her a C6 tetraplegic. Her role with Spinal Cord Injury BC as the Manager of Peer Coaching and Outreach allows her to be involved in SCI Research as a recruitment specialist as well as researcher. Teri is a former Paralympian having competed at the 2004 Athens Paralympics in the 400m track as well as a former provincial wheelchair rugby athlete and coach. She lives in Vancouver, Canada with her partner and 14 year old son Lucian and volunteers as a board member of BC Wheelchair Sports, President of the BC Wheelchair Rugby Association and World Wheelchair Rugby Global Advancement of Female Participation Task Group.