Supporting Survivors of Sexual Abuse Conference 2026: Fixing Broken Systems

Speakers.

• Allison
  Forsyth

  Generation Safe Founder, Allison Forsyth is the leader in ground-breaking education and awareness in the Canadian Safe Sport landscape. Allison’s ‘real-talk’ educational approach has resonated with over 50 sport organizations and 5,000 people nationwide. Recently named ‘Top 25 Women of Influence in Canada in 2023’, Allison’s guiding principles have been instrumental in helping organizations turn their Safe Sport policies into practice. Allison previously co-founded ITP Sport, Canada’s only full-service Safe Sport programming and consulting agency. The 2-time Olympian and 8-time National Champion (alpine skiing) offers a unique and critical perspective, as a survivor of sexual abuse in the sport system. Recently having taken a role with Canada Soccer as their Safe Sport Officer, Allison will serve to ensure a trauma-informed systemic implementation of Safe Sport practices and procedures from the National to grass roots level. Allison currently lives in Oakville, Ontario with her 3 active children – her inspiration for a future ‘Generation Safe’.
• Irwin
  Elman, O.C.

  Irwin Elman is a renowned leader and advocate for children and youth, recognized for his tireless efforts to amplify their voices and advance their rights. In 2008, Irwin was appointed Ontario’s first Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, leading the province’s independent office to address the gap between government intentions and the lived realities of vulnerable children and youth. Serving in this role until 2019, he drew strength from young people to create innovative approaches that transformed systems.

  Irwin also served as President of the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates for 10 years, extending his impact nationally. His expertise spans education, counseling, youth work, program management, and policy development. Before becoming the Provincial Advocate, he managed the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre (PARC) in Toronto for over 20 years and later directed client services at Central Toronto Youth Services, a children’s mental health center.

  In 2023, Irwin was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honour. He is the President of Defence for Children International–Canada, Save Ukraine Canada, and the Ontario Children’s Advancement Coalition. He also advises organizations such as Youth In Care Canada and the Centre for Refugee Children Toronto.

• Sabra
  Desai, PhD, MSW, RSW

  Dr. Sabra Desai, PhD; Psych (C) ABD, is a registered social worker, psychotherapist, and social justice educator. Grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and equity-focused approaches, her scholarship examines systemic inequities and the experiences of marginalized communities. Dr. Desai is committed to advancing social justice through research, advocacy, and practices that promote dignity, belonging, and agency.

  Among her decades of community involvement, Dr. Desai served as Chair of Board of Directors of The Gatehouse for the last consecutive 5 years.

• Fallon
  Farinacci

  A proud Red River Métis, Fallon is a Speaker, Survivor, & Advocate for MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls). Fallon has cultivated an incredible community and uses her online platform to share her story, give back to the Indigenous community, and raise awareness for causes and organizations close to her heart. Fallon continues to share her family’s story & bring awareness to the ongoing Genocide Indigenous women, girls 2S+ folx face in hopes of bringing change & awareness across Turtle Island.

• Heather
  Lawson

  Heather is an Associate at Addario Law Group LLP. She represents clients in a range of criminal, regulatory, civil, and constitutional matters. Heather articled at Ontario’s Crown Law Office – Criminal, where she worked on criminal matters at the Court of Appeal.

  Heather obtained her law degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University and was the Editor-in-Chief of the Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies. During law school Heather clerked for the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and represented Dalhousie students facing academic and conduct complaints. She spent her law school summers working at a community legal aid clinic and the John Howard Society.

  Heather has a B.A. in philosophy and economics from McGill University. Prior to law school she completed a research fellowship at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and worked at a sexual assault centre. Heather was called to the bar in 2024.

• Victoria
  Donkin

  Victoria, a settler from South Korea situated in Tkaronto, holds a Master of Social Work with a specialization in Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency. Her research asks: How do we build trauma-informed, culturally grounded systems that genuinely support people carrying trauma while addressing the deeper conditions and cycles that reproduce harm across generations? She is deeply committed to addressing the enduring impacts of historical and intergenerational trauma. Her work bridges research, advocacy, and practice through participatory and community-based approaches, examining how policies and systems shape experiences of trauma and violence.

  She brings a breadth of research experience that spans multiple intersecting areas of health and social justice. This includes applying a social determinants of health perspective to better understand the impact of homicide within Black communities; examining how community-driven, trauma-informed strategies can reduce gun violence in Canada and contributing to national suicide prevention efforts through the development and evaluation of 9-8-8, Canada’s crisis line.

  In this work, she focuses not only on the individual impacts of trauma, but on strengthening the systems meant to respond to it;  generating research and advancing policy recommendations that make services more trauma-informed, culturally grounded, and structurally responsive to the conditions that reproduce harm. She remains dedicated to co-creating knowledge with communities and advancing culturally responsive solutions that reimagine survivor-centred care and justice pathways across Turtle Island, while working to transform the policies, practices, and institutional structures that shape how care is accessed, delivered, and experienced.

• Serena
  Wesley

  Serena Wesley is Anishinaabe (Ojibway) Bear Clan from Saugeen First Nations, born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo. Serena grew up in the foster care system and recognizes that she was lucky enough to be raised by a family who encouraged her cultural learning and exploration. Serena enjoys continuing to learn her traditions and cultural ceremonies, and share this journey with her children. She enjoys being a part of her nieces and nephews lives and is an avid animal lover. Serena has a diploma in Law & Security and enjoys helping people when ever she can, and she looks forward to working and helping her FNMI community.
• Jane
  Savage, MSW, RSW,

  Jane Savage, MSW, RSW is the Clinical Director at Clear Water Integrated Health, where she leads a team of multidisciplinary professionals who provide holistic and evidence-based care to children, youth, adults, and their families with complex mental, cognitive and physical health needs. Her core competencies include interpersonal skills, motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, case management, collaboration community problem-solving, clinical and program development. Jane practices from a trauma-informed approach, focusing on fostering client- and family-centered care. She has a special interest and expertise in working with children, youth and adults who have dual diagnoses, concurrent disorders, and acquired brain injury (ABI). Jane is passionate about enhancing the quality of life and well-being of my clients and their families and advancing the practice and standards of social work in the mental health and healthcare sector.