Natasha Mehta is a physiotherapist and a doctoral researcher investigating novel interventions to enhance exercise performance in individuals with spinal cord injury. Their research focuses on ischaemic preconditioning as a therapeutic strategy to improve upper body exercise in this population. With a clinical background in physiotherapy combined with rigorous research methodology, Natasha bridges the gap between laboratory findings and real-world rehabilitation applications. Their work contributes to the growing evidence base for non-pharmacological approaches to optimising physical performance and recovery in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Bill Barrable is CEO of the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute a pan Canadian network whose mission is to translate knowledge into implementation and improve the health and autonomy of persons with spinal cord injury. The Institute is accredited by Imagine Canada. He championed the development of accreditation standards for acute and rehabilitation care in Canadian Hospitals. The Institute also supports one of the largest registry data bases for persons with SCI for translational research. Prior to the Institute, Bill was Chief Executive of BC Transplant during which time it was honoured with the Canada Award for Excellence from the National Quality Institute (now known as Excellence Canada). He led the creation of the first online digital signature organ donor registry and also championed the passage of legislation which enshrined the rights of organ donors into the Human Tissue & Gift Act of BC. He is a multiple winner of literary awards for peer reviewed publications, from the U of T Society of Graduates at the University of Toronto. He has been a member of numerous governing boards, including as the founding chair of Health Research BC founded in honor of Canadian Nobel Laureate Michael Smith. He holds a BA from Queen’s University, and a Master of Health Science from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. In 2010, he received the alumni leadership award from the University of Toronto’s Society of Graduates in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. He was previously named one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40.