Kanta Kapoor is Director of Support Services at Milton Public Library, where she leads technology integration and system innovation. She specializes in enhancing user experience through discovery services and access improvements. Kanta also develops senior-focused programs funded by the New Horizons for Seniors Program, fostering creativity and connection among older adults.

Colleen Amatruda is currently Coordinator, Programming and Outreach Services for London Public Library's sixteen locations. Colleen's interest in serving the community through public libraries began with a volunteering role as a reading mentor that opened her eyes to the unending possibilities that public libraries offer their communities which quickly re-shaped her career trajectory. With a background in visual arts, art history and Montessori education, Colleen has been a Children's Librarian, Adult Services Librarian, Visiting Library Services Librarian and Branch Supervisor in year 15-year tenure at London Public Library. 

Kathy Smith is a practicing mixed media artist and a founding member of the Creative Age Network in Ontario. 

She leads initiatives that integrate the creative arts into positive aging program models resulting in impactful programs and advocacy rooted in creativity and community. Kathy's innovative partnership development strategies and community-based arts programs have been recognized by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario with an Ontario Seniors Achievement Award.

Joanna Kerr is an adult programming librarian with London Public Library. She has worked at Fanshawe College Library, in elementary and high school libraries, and volunteered at a rural library in Tanzania before starting her Master of Library and Information Science program at Western University. She believes that every choice in programming is easier when you ask yourself why you're bringing people together and what experience you hope for them to have (to paraphrase Priya Parker's book The Art of Gathering, which she quotes frequently).

Sekoia Johnson has been the Older Adult Advocate for Vaughan Public Libraries in Ontario, Canada since 2022.  Living in West and East Africa as a child helped her understand and appreciate the power of community drumming.  Attending art school in British Columbia in her twenties gave her an understanding of the creative process and how to foster its development in others. As the Older Adult Advocate for VPL she is privileged to bring Creative Age programming to her community, including the popular, new grant funded Drum & Percussion program, facilitated by trained library staff. 

Florence Campbell is a retired senior executive from positions such as Vice Principal, Advancement, Queen’s University; Vice President, Conference Board of Canada (Ottawa); management portfolios in IBM Canada Ltd (Toronto and Ottawa).

She brought the international Compassionate Communities movement that started in Australia almost 30 years ago and has spread to several countries, to Kingston in 2017. As Chair of the Board of Directors, she leads the volunteer team in championing the initiative that focuses on helping older adults “live as well as we can for as long as we can”.   Success of this initiative involves developing partnerships with other like-minded community organizations.  The Kingston Frontenac Public Library is one of the organization’s most important partners.

In 2012 she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and, in 2013, the Ontario Medical Association Community Service Award.

Martin Memet Könick is the Library Director of the city of Landskrona in the South of Sweden. He is also a Board member of the Swedish Library Association, an elected member of the IFLA Public Libraries Section SC and appointed by Sweden's Department of Culture as 1 of 2 experts representing Sweden in authoring a report on Public Libraries’ multiple roles in society, commissioned by the European Union.

I have been a Library Director in the Barcelona Library Network for nearly 25 years, leading libraries in different neighbourhoods and helping to strengthen public library services. I currently manage a large central library with a focus on science, gender, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Throughout my career, I have worked with diverse professional teams and gained international experience, including the Bertelsmann Foundation’s Public Libraries Network and a residency in Medellín. Most recently, I have been elected to the Standing Committee of IFLA’s Metropolitan Libraries section.

Marjan Marinković is a library advisor and has worked for the past nine years as Assistant Director at the Belgrade City Library (BCL), Serbia’s largest public library, with a network of over 65 local libraries and branches. He previously spent more than 12 years at BCL as a cultural and project coordinator. He currently oversees the Librarianship Sector, evaluates staff performance, contributes to strategic planning, manages international cooperation, and develops innovative services and projects. He has created or co-created several award-winning projects. His passions include books, libraries, innovative library services, and fishing.

Sarah Gauthier is the Manager, Information Services at the Hamilton Public Library, responsible for the operations at the Central Library, and includes leadership of key community-focused initiatives such as the Newcomer Learning Centre, the Social Work program, and the Peer Support program.

Katie Compton is the Digital Learning Librarian within McMaster University Libraries’ department of Teaching & Learning. She earned her MLIS from the iSchool at University of British Columbia. For several years, she worked as a Library Assistant in public and academic library settings. Engaging directly with library visitors inspires her interest in low-barrier, community-centric program design.  

Katie O'Donnell is a Library Assistant in the Archives and Research Collections department at McMaster University Libraries. She earned her LIT diploma from Mohawk College. Katie spent several years working in the Access Services department, which fostered a strong passion for connecting with the community and championing library resources. Working on different types of outreach projects has helped Katie to develop her interest in building inclusive programming. 

Laural Raine is Senior Manager of Policy, Planning and Evaluation with Toronto Public Library, where she provides leadership to establish organizational direction, align activities to achieve strategic priorities and measure outcomes. 

In this role, she leads a team responsible for development of the organization's Strategic Plan, implementation of TPL's Policy Development Framework, and building organizational capacity for evaluation and impact assessment. Prior to joining TPL, Laural worked for the City of Toronto and has more than 15 years of public sector leadership experience in strategy, public policy, and research in a variety of roles. 

Prof. Sangita Gupta, Professor and Head of the Department of Library & Information Science at the University of Jammu, holds an M.A., M.Lib.I.Sc., Diploma in Computer Science, and a Ph.D., with over 33 years of teaching experience, leadership in institutional digital repositories, authorship in reputed journals and books, guidance of 13 Ph.D. scholars, and recognition as the IATLIS Mrs. Ratna  Laxman Rao Best LIS Woman Teacher in 2022, ASLIP Life Time Achievement Award 2024.

Education and Learning Specialist

Safiya is a passionate public health professional with expertise in design research methodologies. Safiya has experience working in health promotion and research across the public and private sectors in Canada and the Caribbean. Safiya has applied her skills to enable collaboration between diverse stakeholders to address various public health and systems issues, including sexual and reproductive health, chronic disease, and holistic health systems transformation. Taking an intersectional and anti-oppressive approach to research, Safiya works to break down complex health issues and their determinants into actionable insights that reflect community priorities and drive social innovation.

Spaces for Connection

People are healthier when they are connected to resources and supports. To provide comprehensive care, these supports must address not only physical health, but social and structural factors that influence well-being, such as loneliness, or a need for creativity, or community connection.

Communications and Knowledge Mobilization Specialist

Shereen has a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) and is an experienced brand manager and digital communications specialist that is committed to driving meaningful change through effective communication strategies. Previously, Shereen honed her expertise as a Communications Specialist at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, where she led and managed communication projects, strategized new initiatives, and coordinated with stakeholders. Her journey includes roles with different marketing agencies where she developed strong skills in business writing, presentations, and analytical thinking.

Spaces for Connection

People are healthier when they are connected to resources and supports. To provide comprehensive care, these supports must address not only physical health, but social and structural factors that influence well-being, such as loneliness, or a need for creativity, or community connection.

Tommi Laitio is an internationally recognized strategist who consults libraries, museums, cities and foundations in finding solutions to urban friction, partnerships and engagement. Laitio's research on convivencia, the capability to coexist, has inspired libraries and arts institutions around the world. Laitio is the Principal of Convivencia Urbana, which carries out advisory and design projects in North America and Europe on the future of public spaces, public-private partnerships, youth development and impactful engagement. His work builds on two decades of experience in public innovation and city leadership. Laitio was the inaugural Bloomberg Public Innovation Fellow at Johns Hopkins University (2022-2024) where his research focused on the skills and capabilities public institutions need for library and park partnerships. The appointment was based on his innovative leadership as City of Helsinki’s first Executive Director for Culture and Leisure (2017-2021). Laitio also co-leads the MetLib Learning Circle, a global networking for library leaders.

Corrina Chetley-Irwin is the Executive Director, Employee Experience at Edmonton Public Library. She is an energetic and optimistic leader who is passionate about learning, conversations, and relationships. She has over 30 years of experience in human resources, strategy development and business planning in both the private and public sector in the role of leader, consultant and educator. Her professional experience is supported by an MBA and a B. Comm with a major in Labour Relations.  

John Beebe is the founder of the Democratic Engagement Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he leads national initiatives that strengthen civic participation and amplify marginalized voices in democratic processes. A Max Bell Policy Fellow, he works closely with community organizations and public institutions—including libraries—to foster inclusive and accessible engagement. His award-winning programs, such as Vote PopUp and Democracy Talks, have been adopted across Canada and recognized in Elections Canada’s reports to Parliament. John is widely quoted in Canadian and international media on democratic participation and civic innovation. His work draws on decades of experience as a political advisor, educator, and advocate in both the U.S. and Canada.  

Dialogue and Democracy - learn strategies and practical tools for libraries to build healthy communities and a vibrant democracy in a moment of increasingly polarized discourse.

Ilana Altman is a cultural planner and designer who has a background in art and architecture. In her role as Co-Executive Director she works to unlock new public space opportunities, build strong civic partnerships and implement innovative and engaging programming, resulting in new inclusive experiences across the city.

Welcome and Community Connections: Explore how thoughtful public space design and programming can foster social connection and address urban isolation.

Brian Bannon is The New York Public Library’s first-ever Merryl and James Tisch Director. Bannon is the chief librarian responsible for directing NYPL’s 88 neighborhood branches, as well as the Library’s educational strategy. 

Most recently, Bannon was commissioner and chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Library, serving as chief library officer for one of the largest urban public library systems in the world. Bannon came to NYPL in 2019 with 20 years of experience in developing and implementing educational programs and leading large-scale operations that maximize impact for all citizens and contribute to a culture of learning, reading, and community learning. Before his successful tenure in Chicago, Bannon was Chief Information Officer at the San Francisco Public Library, and worked at the Seattle Public Library and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

How to Measure Connection: In the last two years, both NYPL and TPL have published research to demonstrate how libraries foster, promote and impact well-being. Hear from research leads on what the research means.

Pete Bombaci is a social change leader and the founder/CEO of GenWell, Canada’s Human Connection Movement. Since 2016, he has led its mission to educate, empower, and catalyze Canadians around social health and its impact on well-being. Under his leadership, GenWell delivers social health education and six national campaigns, fostering connection in workplaces, schools, and communities. Previously, Pete served as Country Director of Movember Canada, raising $142 million for men’s health. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, he inspires individuals, businesses, and policymakers to invest in social connection for a healthier, more connected Canada.

Welcome and Community Connections: GenWell is Canada's human connection movement committed to making social connection a core part of our individual and collective well-being. As part of the broader conversation on social health we highlight the critical role that connection plays in the mental and physical health of Canadians and the communities we share. Join GenWell founder and CEO Pete Bombaci to explore how libraries can be powerful catalysts for connection and learn practical ways to foster human connection in your space.

Pilar Martinez is the Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Edmonton Public Library, where she has championed numerous innovative services, including community-led and digital initiatives. Pilar has a broad base of experience in executive leadership and is passionate about the difference public libraries make. She is highly engaged in the community, serving on boards in Canada and the United States. 

How we Adapt and Connect: With the guidance and support of Tommi Laitio, EPL has created a convivencia framework. Learn about the how and what of this work and its impact on enhancing spaces for well-being at your library.