Our Experts

Get to know our experts at CCSA. Whether it is alcohol, cannabis, stigma, opioids, or any another topic related to substance use and addiction, our team of professionals is available to provide their knowledge expertise. Browse our staff profiles to find the right expert to meet your specific needs.

Request for Media or Speaking Engagement

Whether you require a renowned expert to provide knowledge for a media story or would like CCSA to make a presentation to a local community or organization we have an expert who can help

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Get to know our team of experts

Aisha Giwa, PhD

Knowledge Broker

Area of Expertise:

  • Cannabis
  • Impaired Driving
  • Mental Health
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Jill Harnum

Policy Analyst

Area of Expertise:

  • Alcohol
  • Lived and Living Experience
  • Policy
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Miguel Andres Hernandez-Basurto, MPH

Senior Knowledge Broker

Area of Expertise:

  • Harm Reduction
  • Stigma
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Christina Katan, MPH

Knowledge Broker

Area of Expertise:

  • Opioids
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Pam Kent, PhD

Director, Research and Emerging Trends

Area of Expertise:

  • 2SLGBTQ+
  • Cannabis
  • Mental Health
  • Substance Use Costs
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Samantha King, PhD

Research and Policy Analyst

Area of Expertise:

  • Alcohol
  • Mental Health
  • Opioids
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Christine Levesque, PhD

Research and Policy Analyst

Area of Expertise:

  • Alcohol
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Shawna Meister, MA

Associate Director, Innovation and Evidence in Practice

Area of Expertise:

  • Impaired Driving
  • Workplace
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Justine Renard, PhD

Senior Research and Policy Analyst

Area of Expertise:

  • Cannabis
  • Vaping
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Browse the CCSA Network of Websites

CCSA's Issues of Substance Conference

This biannual, national conference brings together people from across the country, including addiction workers, healthcare professionals, researchers, policy makers, and people with lived and living experience
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Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms

This project provides comparable and up-to-date data on the costs and harms of substance use in Canada and allows people to explore and analyze the data through its data visualization tool.
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Workforce Competencies

CCSA developed measurable technical and behaviour competencies in knowledge, skills and values for the substance use workforce, providing consistent care across the wide range of settings.
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Drink Less Live More

Canada has new guidance on alcohol and your health. CCSA wants you to be able to make the most informed decisions you can about drinking alcohol.
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Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines

Learn about the world’s first Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines to help people in Canada make informed decisions about their gambling and lessen their risk of gambling-related harms. Use the Interactive Risk Assessment Tool to assess your personal gambling choices.
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The Highway Home

This interactive website takes an experiential approach to increasing youth’s and young drivers’ awareness of the risks and harms of drug-impaired driving, using real-life scenarios involving cannabis use and driving.
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CECA

CCSA contributes to the strategy development and provides secretariat, financial and support services to the council — a national, non-governmental organization that influences public policy on substance use.
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