Meet our Team
Our team has a demonstrated history of successful collaboration with communities, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, governments, international organizations, multilateral development banks, academic institutions, and the private sector worldwide.
Dr. Janis Shandro, Corporate Director/Owner
Janis holds a co-disciplined PhD in mining engineering and population health and is the founding Director of Arrowsmith Gold Inc. Janis is a recognized global leader in the field of community health and safety management and Health Impact Assessment as it relates to mega-projects, emergency scenarios and incidents. She is a trusted advisor and consultant to various international finance institutions and organizations, governments, public mining and oil and gas companies and Indigenous communities. With direct project experience in 30 countries, Janis leads: AGI’s international health and social performance practice, assessments and management of community health and safety risks, corporate and executive training, and project/corporate due diligence reviews.
Dr. Laura Jokinen, Deputy Director
Laura brings a decade of experience in population health, focusing on practical, evidence-based approaches to complex health challenges. She has led nationally-funded research on industrial development impacts on Indigenous community health and worked with vulnerable populations, including those in Vancouver's Downtown East Side and Provincial Correctional facilities.
Throughout her career, Laura has collaborated with more than 30 First Nations across Canada on health and safety initiatives. As a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) practitioner, she combines expertise with strong academic foundation, holding an MSc in Health Science, specializing in Mental Health and Substance Use, and a PhD in Human Health Geography.
As Deputy Director, Laura leads initiatives that drive meaningful change, focusing on actions that support healthy individuals and communities.
Christa Meuter, Community Health Planning Advisor
Christa Meuter, K'amdmaxx, is a member of the Eagle Clan in the House of Sinna Xeet, representing the Gitga'at Nation on BC's North Coast. She has lived in her community of Hartley Bay for six years, engaging in cultural traditions and harvesting in the territory.
A registered nurse and Chronic Disease Nurse Educator with extensive patient care experience, Christa is completing a Masters Certificate in Indigenous Public Health from UBC's Faculty of Medicine.
As Health Director for the Gitga'at First Nation, she worked with Provincial Health Authorities, First Nations Health Authority, and BC Ministry of Health to develop health programs for her community.
Currently a Senior Advisor for Northern Health Authority, Christa focuses on enhancing cultural safety and access to health services for Indigenous people. She brings her expertise to AGI initiatives, committed to improving Indigenous health and wellness through systemic change.
Bernie Elkins, Governance and Major Projects Advisor
As an Advisor for AGI, Bernie integrates Indigenous perspectives with Western science to address complex community issues. Always committed to human capital and sustainable development by breathing life into Aboriginal rights so one can stand on their own feet. He has led Indigenous governance in provincial and federal environmental assessments and forged the transfer of Health Canada responsibilities to BC Indigenous communities.
Bernie has performed with a successful team in the only Supreme Court of Canada declaration to reconcile and transfer 1900 square kilometres of land to Tsilhqot’in Nation in British Columbia. He instituted how legal advisor retainers must balance benefits-risks of clients as well as who decides. Under the Coastal First Nations, he strengthened Indigenous fisheries jurisdiction within multiple Nations through difficult tri-partite marine planning. He also evaluated carbon credit offers, forged Coastal Guardian Watchmen enforcement, and sparked elected and hereditary leadership relations.
As Tsilhqot'in Chief of ?Esdilagh First Nation, Bernie led Canada's first Indigenous-led environmental impact study of an operating mine.
Danielle Lee, Principal, Health Projects and Programs
Danielle holds a Masters of Public Health (MPH) and has worked extensively in the field of population health, with a particular focus on community-driven initiatives for complex health and social issues. Her work combines evidence-based practice and participatory methodologies, assisting communities in identifying health risks, crafting innovative solutions, and assessing their effectiveness. Throughout her career, she has actively engaged with diverse communities facing a wide range of health and social challenges, including individuals with substance use disorders, those experiencing homelessness, and women and girls affected by violence..
Rory Maclean, Human Environment Specialist
Rory holds a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology from Oxford University and a Master's degree from the University of British Columbia, focusing on connectivity and inter-community engagement in ancient societies. As a Communication Consultant, he specialized in synthesizing critical narratives from complex datasets, creating educational content and managing project accounts with stakeholders.
Now a Human Environment Specialist, Rory addresses inequality and social justice in public health through research on industrial development impacts on communities. Drawing on his background in technical research and anthropology, he analyzes historical and current data to inform strategies that protect community lifestyles and livelihoods.
Dr. Rocky Lis, Principal, Wildlife Monitoring Programs
Rocky is a clinical veterinarian with over 15 years of experience in general and emergency practice. He possesses unique expertise that combines an extensive background in veterinary medicine with a Master's degree in Mining Engineering, and fieldwork as a wildlife biologist, both locally and internationally. Driven by a passion for 'One Health' initiatives, Rocky integrates human, animal, and environmental health in his work. His projects have included collaborating with Veterinarians Without Borders in Uganda and developing and piloting wildlife health monitoring programs in partnership with First Nations in Canada
Matt Jalink, Principal, Oncology Projects
Matt Jalink is a PhD candidate in epidemiology at Queen’s University studying the impacts of cancer treatment delay on patient survival in both high- and low-income country settings. Matt’s passion for tackling the challenges of healthcare access and achieving value in cancer care has allowed him to work with international cancer and global health organizations in Canada, New Zealand, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka on a multitude of cancer and health system projects and programs. While living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, he worked as an epidemiologist and project officer with the Aga Khan Health Services coordinating a successful 15-million-euro grant aimed at strengthening cancer care across Tanzania. He has published 20+ research articles in several high-impact journals including the BMJ and Lancet Oncology. Matt’s career interests lie at the intersection of epidemiology, non-communicable diseases, and global health. Specifically, he is interested in cancer control and systems in humanitarian contexts.
Dr. Pyi Pyi Phyo, Senior Public Health Advisor
Dr. Phyo is a Medical Doctor and public health expert pursuing a PhD in Population Health at the University of Auckland. She holds a medical degree from Myanmar and a Master of Public Health (International) from the University of Leeds, UK.
With 15 years of global health experience, Pyi Pyi specializes in HIV prevention, drug addiction, tobacco control, nutrition promotion, and managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across diverse communities, including Indigenous populations. She has collaborated with community organizations, NGOs, WHO regional offices in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Europe, and the Asian Development Bank to design and implement disease prevention and control initiatives.
Hannah Horrell, Population Health Specialist
Hannah is a dedicated health professional, specializing in maternal health and issues experienced by aging populations. She holds a degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Liverpool and completed her Research Masters Degree at Liverpool’s Women’s Hospital, which is a prominent obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatology research facility.
As part of the AGI team, Hannah applies her strong quantitative data analysis skills to projects and collaborates closely with communities to develop evidence-based strategies promoting positive health outcomes. Her commitment to improving health equity is rooted in her passion for enhancing well-being and quality of life across diverse demographics.
Cassidy Laub, Population Health Specialist
Cassidy Laub is a Master of Science candidate in the Translational Medicine program at Queen’s University, where she is committed to advancing population health research methods and improving health outcomes. Her research focuses on the impacts of cancer treatment delays on lung cancer survival in Ontario, aiming to enhance patient care prioritization and contribute to evidence-based health policy. Cassidy earned her Bachelor of Science in Bio-Medical Science from the University of Guelph, where she developed a strong foundation in data analysis and project planning through her research in biomechanics. She’s trained in disciplines, including epidemiology, anatomy, and biomedical communications. Outside of academics, Cassidy volunteers as a Crisis Responder with Kids Help Phone, where she supports youth in crisis. At AGI, she draws on her expertise in population health research and technical writing to make meaningful contributions to community health initiatives.
Rachel Ross, Population Health Specialist
Rachel holds a Joint Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and Psychology with a Minor in Gender and Social Justice from the University of Waterloo. Through an intersectional and anti-colonial lens, she focused her work on housing and food security in rural and remote communities.
At Waterloo, she led health resource initiatives for unhoused community members and partnered with Indigenous leaders to organize cultural preservation events. Her international experience includes work in Guatemala City, supporting housing, employment, and healthcare access initiatives in Zone 3.
Based in London, UK, Rachel works in healthcare administration, focusing on addressing health disparities through systemic change. She brings this expertise to the AGI team to help identify and mitigate social, economic, and environmental factors affecting health outcomes.