Saturday Speakers Bios:

8:00 - 9:30 am

Annual General Meeting 

Michele Deis, PHEc, AHEA President

Michele likes to give back by getting involved.

Michele earned a BSc in Home Economics with a specialization in family studies, and she used this expertise to work with sexually exploited youth and adults living with HIV. This tapestry of human experiences led people to request Michele to deliver workshops on professional boundaries and universal precautions. This led her back to the U of A to a learning and development specialization in human resource management. Way leads on to way, and she has been a Learning/Culture/Organizational Effectiveness Consultant since 2001.

Her experience includes a brief stint as vice president and 3+ years as president of the Meadowlark Village condo association. Work experience has been gained with University of Alberta Hospitals, Catholic Social Services, West Edmonton Mall, Fantasyland Hotel, ATB Financial, and NorQuest College. All of this has earned Michele a Professional Human Ecologist designation. She has volunteered on several committees and now as your AHEA President.

10:30 - 11:15 am

Experiential Learning: Nurturing Resilient Learners Through Real-World Engagement

Anne Bissonnette, PhD, Professor

Dr. Anne Bissonnette is a dress historian, a museum curator and a designer. Her work is rooted in the fields of material culture studies, more specifically in dress and textile history. Her research explores clothing and textiles from the late eighteenth century to the present day, the cut and construction of garments, how the body and clothes interact, and the convergence between art, fashion and science. She is a Professor in Material Culture and Curatorship and the Curator of the Anne Lambert Clothing and Textiles Collection in the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta. Since 2025, she also serves as Director of Experiential Learning (Graduate) for the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences.

11:15 - 12:00 pm

From Awareness to Architecture: Building Trauma-Responsive Ecosystems 

Amanda Cook, Trauma-informed counselor, Grief Recovery Method Specialist and MindBody therapy practitioner

Amanda Cook is a trauma-informed counselor, Grief Recovery Method Specialist and MindBody therapy practitioner with over 25 years of experience supporting individuals and communities through healing and transformation. Beginning her career in Child and Youth Work and developmental psychology, she spent many years working with at-risk youth across community and education systems before expanding into holistic wellness and trauma recovery.

Her work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual exploitation profoundly shaped her approach, deepening her understanding of how trauma, conditioning, and systemic barriers influence the ways people disconnect from themselves. Today, Amanda works across multiple systems - supporting women in private practice, working in Service Management at Lives in Transition where she helps design and deliver programming that supports women rebuilding their lives after violence, and acting as Wellness Director for the Wild Roses Festival, the largest women’s festival of its kind in Canada.

Known for her grounded, direct approach, Amanda creates spaces where women reconnect with themselves, rebuild self-trust, and move beyond narratives that keep them small. Her work centers on helping women reclaim their wholeness, cultivate resilience, and learn how to care for themselves in ways they may never have received.

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Money, Mental Health & Dignity: The Hidden Ecology of Financial Stress

Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy, MSc., CEPF, CFC™, Money Mentors CEO

Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy is a seasoned leader in the non-profit credit counseling sector, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Money Mentors. With a robust career spanning nearly decades, Stacy previously led Credit Counselling Canada and held various director-level positions at another non-profit credit counselling agency.

Stacy is a Certified Financial Counsellor, a Certified Educator in Personal Finance, as well as a certified professional coach. Her academic background includes a Master of Science in Family Ecology as well as a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology. She has further enriched her skills with certifications in Mental Health Leadership, and Human Resources Leadership, among others.

Dedicated to community service, she contributes to various non-profit organizations through volunteer board and committee work. In her spare time, Stacy works with stained glass, and likes to hang out with friends and family, and her husband, Brad and her dog, Dexter.

2:30 - 3:30 pm

The Cost of Living Crisis: Reframing Financial Literacy as System Literacy

Suzanne Lewis, PHEc, Teacher 

Suzanne Lewis is a teacher and Professional Human Ecologist who earned her Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology from the University of Alberta in 2017. She later completed a Master of Education and Trauma-Sensitive Practice Certificate at the same institution in 2025. With experience in both public and adult education, Suzanne currently serves as a financial literacy facilitator at Lives in Transition, supporting women who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual exploitation. She is also an academic facilitator for Careers in Transition’s Canadian Adult Education Credential preparation program.

3:30 - 4:30 pm

You Haven’t Lost It… It’s Still In You: A Closing Joy Session

Connie Kobylko, Life Celebrant, Public Speaker

Connie Kobylko is a Joy Facilitator, Life Celebrant, and creator of the JOY Vision Method and Your Light Within online experience. Known for her warmth, authenticity, and engaging presence, she helps people rediscover what lights them up — personally and professionally. Through her heartfelt approach, Connie blends storytelling, mindfulness, and practical insight to create experiences that connect, comfort, and inspire. Whether guiding others through new beginnings, navigating loss, or simply pausing to reflect, she brings light, laughter, and compassion to every stage of life’s journey. Her talks and workshops are described as real conversations with heart — uplifting, grounded, and designed to leave audiences with a renewed sense of peace, clarity, and possibility.