Summit 2023 will be an online event on November 21 & 22.
Tentative Agenda (as at September, 2023)
- Tuesday, November 21 ~ 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm SK time - check time/date at your location
- Wednesday, November 22 ~ 8:30 am to 1:00 pm SK time - check time/date at your location
Our Keynote Presenters, joining from Ireland, will be Carmel Geoghegan and Helen Rochford-Brennan.
Carmel Geoghegan, founder of Dementia Ireland, is an advocate and supporter of campaigns that keep the spotlight on Dementia and End of Life Care. Her priority is the development of practice and policies that respect people living with a dementia diagnosis. Carmel’s advocacy work stems from becoming primary carer for her late Mum Angela in January 2011 until 2014.
Carmel is particularly focusing on rural living and what best connects the person with the diagnosis to their community. She also highlights the plight of the primary carer and extended family networks who must be supported in their roles. Annual conferences are held to highlight what is working well in other countries, give opportunities for knowledge exchange within the medical and social supports, and showcase good research initiatives where the expert by lived experience is central to the project.
Helen Rochford-Brennan is a Global Dementia Ambassador who has made significant contributions to the field of dementia advocacy and research. She has been actively involved in numerous organizations and initiatives dedicated to raising awareness of dementia and promoting the rights of people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
Helen's involvement in the dementia field began as the Chair and later Vice Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group. She also served as the Chair of the European Working Group of People with Dementia, where she represented the group on the Board of Alzheimer Europe. In recognition of her dedication and impact, Helen recently received an award for her ten years of active involvement in these organizations. . . . expand tab below to read full biography
Helen Rochford-Brennan is a Global Dementia Ambassador who has made significant contributions to the field of dementia advocacy and research. She has been actively involved in numerous organizations and initiatives dedicated to raising awareness of dementia and promoting the rights of people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
Helen's involvement in the dementia field began as the Chair and later Vice Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group. She also served as the Chair of the European Working Group of People with Dementia, where she represented the group on the Board of Alzheimer Europe. In recognition of her dedication and impact, Helen recently received an award for her ten years of active involvement in these organizations.
Currently, Helen serves as a Board Member of the Alzheimer Europe Foundation and is a member of the Monitoring Committee for Ireland's first National Dementia Strategy. She is also a panel member of the WHO Global Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange, European Medicines Agency. In addition, Helen is a member of the International Advisory Board for Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) 2023 and contributes as a member of the Health Research Board GP Primary Care Clinical Trials at the University of Ireland Galway.
Helen's commitment to making a difference extends beyond the dementia field. She is a member of the Advisory Group on the Passenger Rights Commission for Aviation and the PPI Ignite Public Advisory Board. Moreover, she supports various research projects with the Global Brain Health Institute and collaborates with organizations such as the Global Coalition on Aging, EU Mental Health, World Dementia Council, Office on Human Rights and Equality, and Decision Support Service.
Throughout her involvement with these organizations, Helen has tirelessly campaigned to raise awareness of dementia and promote a rights-based approach. She actively engages with the media, delivers speeches at international conferences, collaborates with pharmaceutical companies, scientists, clinicians, educators, students, and contributes to numerous research projects. Helen strongly advocates for Public Patient Involvement, encouraging researchers to collaborate directly with individuals living with the illness to shape research questions and priorities.
Before dedicating herself to dementia advocacy, Helen had a successful career as a businessperson, holding senior executive positions in the USA and UK. After returning to Ireland, she opened her own business and actively participated in community development, particularly in the disability sector.
In 2012, Helen received a life-changing diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease after a five-year struggle with the brain disorder. Since then, she has written extensively about her personal experience of living with the illness. Helen hopes that her active participation in research efforts will contribute to finding a cure and ultimately improve the lives of those affected by dementia.
Throughout her life, Helen has been a dedicated advocate for social justice and human rights. Today, she continues to champion the rights of people with dementia, with a particular focus on Alzheimer's disease. She serves as a co-trainer for the biannual program called "Implementing the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act: Making it Work in Practice" at the University of Galway Centre for Disability Law and Policy. Helen contributes to SPRINK in various capacities, providing a patient perspective in the development and implementation of Value-Based Health Care (VBHC) strategies for healthcare systems and life science companies. She also plays a role in designing and delivering VBHC education programs in collaboration with healthcare systems and universities.
Helen's remarkable work has been recognized through several awards, including an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Galway for her advocacy on the rights of people with dementia. She has been honoured as one of Ireland's Most Inspiring People and has received a Business Lifetime Achievement Award and her home County have given her the Spirit of Sligo Award.
In addition to her advocacy work, Helen has made valuable contributions to various publications. She has contributed to books such as "Dementia and Human Rights" and "Perspectives on the Person with Dementia and Family Caregiving in Ireland" . Helen also contributed to "Global Perspectives on Legal Capacity Reform" and "Our Voices Our Stories". Furthermore, she wrote the foreword for "Remote and Rural Dementia” as well as "Early Psychosocial Interventions”.
Helen's inspiring journey and expertise have led her to participate in several documentaries and films in collaboration with organizations such as the Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, University of California San Francisco, WHO Mental Health, and the European Commission Mental Health. She is currently featured in a global documentary called "Keys Bags Names Words" produced by the Global Brain Health Institute. Helen continues to actively contribute to various research projects worldwide, leaving an indelible mark in the fight against dementia.
"The summit is an interdisciplinary get-together of clinicians and researchers devoted to improving care of people with dementia and their families in Saskatchewan. It’s an excellent opportunity for physicians who see patients with dementia to learn more about dementia care and to share their knowledge with colleagues." -- Dr. Andrew Kirk, Neurologist and RaDAR Team member.
"RaDAR has been important to me as rural based research on issues which matter to us all but don’t need big Pharma otherwise would not happen. I hope we all grow old, a healthy old if possible but a comfortable old at least. It may be the secrets of ageing this way are in Fife, Dorset or Mount Isa but, perhaps, in our own waiting rooms or, horrible thought, waiting lists." -- Dr. John Rye, retired Sasktachewan family physician and attendee of Summit meetings.