HWI Advisory Council Members

Dr. Rob Strang
Chief Medical Officer, Nova Scotia

Dr. Robert Strang is Chief Medical Officer of Health in Nova Scotia appointed in August 2007. He received his medical degree from University of British Columbia and completed Family Practice and Public Health and Preventive Medicine residencies at UBC.  Dr. Strang was an Associate Medical Officer of Health in South Fraser Health, BC, from 1997-1999 and in 1999, he moved to Halifax to become Medical Officer of Health for Capital District Health Authority. He was acting provincial Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health prior to his CMOH appointment. As CMOH, he has provided leadership around the renewal of the public health system in Nova Scotia as well as raising awareness around the importance of creating policies and environments that support better health for Nova Scotian families and communities. Dr. Strang has an adjunct appointment with Dalhousie University, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology and an honorary degree from Acadia University.

Doris Grant
CEO, Life Sciences Nova Scotia; Managing Director, Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub
Doris Grant is the Managing Director of the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub and Chief Executive Officer of Life Sciences Nova Scotia, working at the intersection of healthcare transformation, innovation, commercialization, and economic development. She leads efforts to identify, evaluate, and scale new technologies and models of care, while building partnerships across health systems, industry, research, government, and the investment community. Her work focuses on turning innovation into measurable impact—improving health outcomes, creating pathways for promising solutions to reach patients, and strengthening the growth and competitiveness of Nova Scotia’s life sciences sector.
Ashley Hilchie
Senior Director of Research, Nova Scotia Health Authority

Dr. Ashley Hilchie is the Senior Director of Research at Nova Scotia Health and an Adjunct Professor at Acadia University. She holds a Doctorate in Microbiology and Immunology from Dalhousie University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of British Columbia. Prior to joining Nova Scotia Health, she held leadership roles in biotechnology spanning project management and clinical translational research. Since joining Nova Scotia Health in 2023, she has led key initiatives including NovaStudies Connect, the Human Research Protection Program, and the launch and implementation of the Nova Scotia Medical Research Consent Framework. She is passionate about strengthening research infrastructure, supporting high-quality research, and expanding access to research opportunities across Nova Scotia.

Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo
Provost & Vice President Academic, Acadia University

A former Canada Research Chair (Tier II) and an inaugural member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists (of which she is now Member Emeritus), Ashlee is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on climate change, mental health, and ecological grief, particularly in Labrador and across the North. As a leader, Ashlee prioritizes institution-building, increasing EDI-AR and Indigenization throughout programming and policies, building university-community relationships, and creating innovative programs and structures to better meet the needs of students. As a researcher, Dr. Cunsolo has been working for almost 20 years on community-based and community-led climate change and health research in the North and internationally. In 2023, Ashlee received the Angela Hildyard Recognition Award for Emerging Leaders, presented annually by the Senior Women Academic Administrators Canada (SWAAC), in recognition of her influential leadership and her demonstrated ability to create transformational change and advance the mission of higher education in innovative and outstanding ways.

Courtney Pennell
L’nuey Midwifery Program Lead, Tajikeimɨk | Mi’kmaw Health & Wellness
Courtney Pennell is a Mi’kmaw Registered Nurse, Indigenous health leader, educator, and graduate researcher from Wasoqopa’q First Nation, with more than a decade of experience across healthcare, nursing education, research, and community partnerships. She is currently completing a Master of Science in Nursing, with her thesis focused on cultural safety in healthcare. Courtney's academic interests include Indigenous methodologies, Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing), cultural safety, and Indigenous nursing education. She is passionate about building relationships, creating meaningful opportunities for Indigenous learners and health professionals, and supporting healthcare environments where Indigenous people feel seen, respected, and valued.
Shirley Hodder
Research Coordinator, Moving Forward Together
Provincial African Nova Scotian Health Consultant, Nova Scotia Health

Shirley Hodder is the Provincial African Nova Scotian Health Consultant with Nova Scotia Health, where she works to advance culturally safe, accountable health services and support system-level change grounded in equity, lived experience and community knowledge. She is from the Black Loyalist community of Gibson Woods in the Annapolis Valley, one of 52 historical African Nova Scotian communities in Nova Scotia bringing community connection and perspective into all aspects of her work.

Dr. Alison Wellwood
Physician

Dr Alison Wellwood is a family physician practicing in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and an alumnus of Acadia University, where she earned a BSc in Biology in 2002. She graduated from Dalhousie University Medical School in 2007 and completed her postgraduate training in Family Medicine through Dalhousie University in 2009. Dr Wellwood is an Associate Professor through Dalhousie University and is actively involved in medical education. Other professional interests include collaborative healthcare solutions and healthcare reform. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr Wellwood has held a variety of leadership roles with Doctors Nova Scotia since 2016. She is also an Advisory Council Member with BRIC NS. Dr Wellwood and her husband live in Wolfville with their two children. Outside of medicine, she enjoys coaching her children’s sports teams, staying active outdoors, and contributing to her local community.

Ellen Crowley
Community Representative

Ellen Crowley is a skilled executive with over 35 years of experience. Ellen provides consulting services in healthcare management, service excellence, strategic planning, executive coaching, labour relations and conflict resolution. She is known for her strategic planning and operational management expertise in addition to planning, problem solving and decision-making. Ellen is passionate about organizational excellence. A mother of four and grandmother to four, Ellen is passionate about her family and her community. When she isn’t raising funds for healthcare, volunteering with Rotary on international projects or dealing with issues of childhood poverty and food insecurity, she can be found in her garden, travelling or playing percussion with the local community orchestra.