2025 Conference Keynote Speakers

Dr. Micheal Ungar

Michael Ungar, Ph.D. is the founder and Director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience. In 2022, Dr. Ungar was ranked the number one Social Work scholar in the world in recognition of his ground-breaking work as a family therapist and resilience researcher. That work has influenced the way human development and organizational processes are understood and studied globally, with much of Dr. Ungar’s clinical work and scholarship focused on the resilience of marginalized children and families, and adult populations experiencing mental health challenges at home and in the workplace. In addition to providing consultation to international NGOs like the Red Cross and Save the Children, government agencies in more than a dozen low, middle, and high income countries, and educational institutions at all levels of study, Dr. Ungar’s research has also influenced the HR and corporate social responsibility initiatives of Fortune 500 companies like Unilever, DHL and Cigna.

Dr. Ungar’s work emphasizes how to use the theory of resilience to increase both individual and institutional agility during crises, with numerous organizations having adopted his concept of resilience as a negotiated process that enhances wellbeing and social responsibility. He is the author of over 250 peer reviewed articles and book chapters and 17 books. His blog, Nurturing Resilience, can be read on Psychology Today’s website.

Dr. Melanie Doucet

Dr. Doucet has been working to improve the lives of youth in care for over 15 years, starting in her home province of New Brunswick, and now based in Montreal, Quebec. She is a former youth in care, holds a PhD in Social Work, and is a member of the Centre for Research on Children and Families (CRCF). Her doctoral research, titled Relationships Matter for Youth ‘Aging Out’ of Care, provided a platform for youth from care to develop child welfare research, policy and practice recommendations based on their lived experience expertise. As part of the project, she mounted a successful photo exhibit, which drew the attention of government policy makers and community based organizations. In collaboration with her co-researchers, she compiled an extensive report, which was released in 2018 through the BC Representative for Children and Youth and received national attention. Her efforts have also received high-level acclaim including SSHRC and Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctorial scholarships and awards. Dr. Doucet’s research aims to provide a platform for the voice of youth from care in proposing specific recommendations relevant to child welfare policies, programs and intervention strategies targeted to young people in care transitioning to adulthood.

Dr. Doucet has been involved in various youth engagement initiatives and child welfare focused organizations in her home province, Quebec, British Columbia, and nationally. As one of the first leaders of the New Brunswick Youth in Care Network (NBYCN), she presented at the first N.B. Youth in Care hearings in the provincial legislature in 2012, and is working with the Department of Social Development on child protection services policy reform efforts. Dr. Doucet is also the co-founder of the Montreal Youth in Care Alumni Student Association (MYCASA), a peer support group for former youth in care pursuing post-secondary education in the Montreal area. She has served as a Board Member for the International Foster Care Organization (IFCO) and C.A.R.E Jeunesse. Prior to relocating to Montreal, Dr. Doucet was a Project Officer for the Government of N.B.’s award winning Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) project for children and youth with emotional, behavioural and mental health issues and was pivotal to its province-wide implementation.

Dr. Doucet is a renowned public speaker on the importance of equitably supporting youth in and from care from a rights-based and humane perspective, and has organized multiple panels with other youth in care alumni in various academic and community settings across the country. She is a passionate mentor to and advocate for youth involved in the child welfare system, and continues to work on child protection policy reform initiatives across the country as part of the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates. In her current role of researcher at the CRCF, Dr. Doucet is currently leading the digital arts-based project titled Youth in Care Matter: Examining the experiences of ‘aging out’ of the child welfare system during the COVID-19 pandemic in collaboration with Director Dr. Delphine Collin-Vézina

Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Ashley Rhodes-Courter is a best-selling author, child welfare advocate, and soughtafter keynote speaker whose journey from foster care survivor to national thought leader is nothing short of inspiring. Having spent almost ten years in the foster care system, Ashley overcame adversity to become a powerful voice for change, advocating for children, families, and social justice issues around the globe. Her book, Three Little Words, chronicles her experiences and has touched the hearts of readers worldwide. It’s a raw, honest portrayal of resilience and the transformative power of hope. As a keynote speaker, Ashley delivers messages that combine her own lived experience with practical strategies for building resilience, leadership, and social responsibility. Her compelling stories and expertise inspire audiences to make meaningful changes in their lives, workplaces, and communities. Beyond her personal advocacy, Ashley is the founder of a mental health agency, Foundation for Sustainable Families, dedicated to providing trauma-informed care to families and individuals in need. She works tirelessly to improve the foster care system and serves as a mentor to foster youth, proving that no obstacle is too great when paired with determination and the right support. In her talks, Ashley equips audiences with actionable strategies to overcome adversity, promote advocacy, and foster lasting impact—whether on a personal level or within larger systems. She challenges her listeners to not only think bigger but to act boldly in pursuit of a more just and compassionate world. With a career devoted to advocacy, public speaking, and philanthropy, Ashley Rhodes-Courter is a leader committed to creating a world where every child and individual has the chance to thrive.

Leigh Shelden

More information about Leigh Shelden will be coming soon.

Allies 4 Youth Connections

Our Conference

The Allies 4 Youth Connections Conference will bring together service providers, researchers, experts, and the youth to focus on the growing population of young people (12+) with increasingly complex needs. This conference will specifically focus on youth homelessness, indigenous youth & social justice, ethnocultural youth & trauma, and the voice of youth. We keep in mind that all youth, deserve the opportunity to live their lives in a meaningful way, to feel safe, and experience a sense of inclusion and belonging.

This work with our youth incorporates the most recent research, literature and trends in areas such as trauma, attachment and brain development in children and youth; harm reduction; resilience; strength-based practice; collaborative, multi-disciplinary practice; trauma-informed intervention.