HWI Steering Committee Members
Maddie Gallant
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Leigh Huestis
Executive Director, Office of Industry & Community Engagement
As Executive Director of Acadia’s Office of Industry and Community Engagement, Leigh is responsible for commercialization and industry liaison activities, intellectual property management and preparation and negotiation of a wide variety of research and commercialization agreements. Leigh has been a recipient of the Acadia President’s Award for Innovation and a team finalist for a Nova Scotia Discovery Award. She also sits as an Advisory Member on several Boards, including the Acadia Center for Social and Business Entrepreneurship (ACSBE) and the Jodrey School of Computer Science, and is actively involved in coordinating activities of the Springboard Network as a member of the Network Coordination Committee and the Technology Assessment Committee.
leigh.huestis@acadiau.ca
Katrin Sommerfeld
Manager, Industry & Community Partnerships
Katrin is responsible for the strategic partnerships and community relations and is a first point of contact for Acadia University’s Office of Industry & Community Engagement. Supporting Acadia’s faculty and students, as well as the intellectual property management and execution of Acadia’s research and commercialization agreements, she also secures industry research funding support and provides startup support. Katrin returned to Acadia in Spring 2020, after working for 18 years in the academic sector in various roles. She has extensive experience in project, program, financial, and event management and execution.
katrin.sommerfeld@acadiau.ca
Kate Spooner
Grants Facilitator
As Grants Facilitator in Acadia University's Office of Research and Innovation, Kate manages the university's internal research grant portfolios and supports researchers throughout the grant lifecycle for Tri-Council programs. Kate works collaboratively with researchers across all disciplines, providing guidance on external funding opportunities, proposal development, and grant administration to help maximize funding success at Acadia.
kate.spooner@acadiau.ca
Zabrina Whitman (On leave)
Executive Advisor, Office of L'Nu Affairs and Indigenization
As Executive Advisor, Zabrina provides strategy, vision, and leadership to advance Acadia University’s strategic efforts in Indigenous affairs. She plays a pivotal role in guiding Indigenization and reconciliation efforts at Acadia, including: establishing consistent, open channels of communication between and among faculty, staff, and students related to all aspects of L’nu Affairs and Indigenization; supporting Indigenous students through culturally appropriate strategies and resources; strengthening Acadia’s relationships with Mi’kmaq and other Indigenous communities; playing an essential role in advising the Senior Leadership Team of the university; and working closely with a variety of Indigenous organizations, governments, leaders, and Elders on Indigenous programming and educational initiatives
zabrina.whitman@acadiau.ca
Brianna Leadbetter
CIHR Health System Impact Fellow
Brianna is a PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Studies program at the University of New Brunswick, and is completing her research at the Health & Wellness Institute with her co-supervisor, Dr. Jonathon Fowles. She completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology at Acadia in 2020, and her Master of Science in Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick in 2023. Brianna is a recipient of the 2026-27 CIHR Health System Impact PhD Fellowship, which she is currently completing with her partner organization, Nova Scotia Health. In this fellowship, she engages with the provincial healthcare system and local government on multiple levels by joining her health system supervisor, Dr. Jonathon Fowles, in various policy meetings, and interactions with community partners and government officials. She is also a recipient of the CIHR Canadian Graduate Student Doctoral award, which will begin after the completion of her fellowship. Her doctoral research focuses on evaluating the integration of Clinical Exercise Physiologists into collaborative interdisciplinary practices in Nova Scotia, how this model can benefit patients, and what the multi-level barriers and facilitators are.
brianna.leadbetter@acadiau.ca