National Advocacy Committee
The advocacy committee works to advocate for the profession and works to advance the profession. Our focus includes:
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General public awareness of the professional and the work environmental public health professionals do each day to protect public health.
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Initiatives and campaigns to recruit individuals to the professional.
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Advocacy to employers and government on the fundamental work and skill sets environmental public health professionals bring to the table.
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Meet the committee
The advocacy committee is made up of representatives from across the country. If you are interested in getting involved, have suggestions or want to learn more about the advocacy work please email advocacy@ciphi.ca or reach out to your branch president.
Are you looking for CIPHI campaign material or documents? Visit Association Documents – ciphi to view and download material for use.
Kevin Kapell
National Director - Advocacy
advocacy@ciphi.caKevin has been a member of the Board of Directors since May 2017. He earned his bachelor's degree in health and environmental sciences and his CPHI(C) certification in the same year. He is currently the Clinical Integration Manager at the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Kevin has served as a branch advisor and president, and served as National President from 2021 to 2023, and is currently Chair of the National Advocacy Committee.
He currently lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. When not working, he coaches hockey and baseball, plays recreational hockey and golf, travels, and spends time at the family cottage.
Natalie Lowdon
National President
Natalie is the regional manager for the Winnipeg Health Protection Unit with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care. She holds a BSc degree from the University of Manitoba, a Bachelor of Environmental Health (AD) from the Concordia University of Edmonton, and was certified in 2007.
She has been a MB Branch Councilor, Secretary, and President in 2019-2020. She was the National Director for advocacy in 2022 and led the first CIPHI national public awareness campaign.
Natalie is currently the CIPHI National President. During her free time she enjoys travelling, spending time outdoors, and with family and friends.
Vanessa Nickelo
Social Media
Born and raised in Cape Breton, Vanessa moved west to complete the Environmental Health After Degree program at Concordia University College of Alberta, graduating in 2010. She began her career that same year as a Public Health Inspector with New Brunswick Department of Health before returning to Nova Scotia to work as a Public Health Officer.
Over the years, Vanessa has held several roles with a focus on Public Health Emergency Preparedness. She has also started her Masters of Disaster and Emergency Management. As part of a military family, she returned to New Brunswick following a posting and now works as a Senior Program Advisor. Vanessa has been an active member of CIPHI: she has mentored students, served as a BoC examiner, acted as the CIPHI NS/PEI Branch President, and currently serves as the CIPHI National Social Media Manager.
Valerie Jackson
President - BC Branch
Valerie started her started her post-secondary education at the University of Winnipeg with a degree in Bio-Anthropology. After graduating and working in the research field she decided to follow her passion for public health and obtained her Bachelor of Environmental Public Health at Concordia University of Edmonton and became a CIPHI certified Public Health Inspector. She has completed the Infection Prevention and Control course from Queens University and recently applied to a Masters of Public Health program through University of Waterloo. Valerie moved to beautiful BC and began working as an Environmental Public Health Officer (EHO) with first Nations Health Authority in Aug 2021. She previously lived in Manitoba where she worked with Indigenous Services Canada as an EPHO in remote, Northern and rural Manitoba First Nations.
Fatih Sekercioglu
ON Branch
Fatih is an Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and Adjunct Professor at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Before joining TMU in 2019, Fatih was a lecturer in the Department of Geography at Western University and an environmental health manager with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Throughout his 15-year public health career, Fatih worked as an environmental health manager, child and family health manager, vector-borne disease program coordinator and public health inspector. Fatih was a Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) Board of Certification examiner for ten years and the CIPHI National Exam Panel member between 2012-2019. He was appointed CIPHI Ontario Board of Certification Representative between May 2018 and July 2019. Fatih is a member of the CIPHI Ontario Branch Executive Council.
Hilary MacDonald
SK Branch
Hilary was born and raised in Cape Breton where she obtained a Bachelor of Health Science in Public Health in 2016 from Cape Breton University. She completed her practicum with Nova Scotia Environment and was certified late 2016. Short after, she made the move to Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan for a position as an Environmental Public Health Officer with Meadow Lake Tribal Council. In 2021/2022, she spent some time additional time working for Nova Scotia Environment as a Public Health Inspector before returning to northern Saskatchewan.
Erin Lamey
NB Branch
Erin is a Certified Public Health Inspector with a Bachelor of Health Science (Public Health) from Cape Breton University. After completing her degree, she returned to her home province of New Brunswick to serve as a dedicated Public Health Inspector with Health Protection Services. Committed to furthering her education, Erin is currently pursuing a Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety at University of New Brunswick.
She is passionate about mentoring students and collaborating with fellow Public Health professionals.
Outside of work, Erin enjoys biking Fredericton’s scenic trails, camping, travelling, staying active, and tending to her garden.
Chirag Rohit
AB/NT/NU Branch
Chirag is a Chief Environmental Health Officer for the Northwest Territories. He completed his Bachelors from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2018 and has been working in the North since 2019. He finished his Masters in Public Health from University of Victoria. Apart from holding the position of Arctic Counsellor with the Alberta CIPHI branch, Chirag represents a number of national committees related to Environmental Public Health.
Chirag is passionate about advancing the Environmental Public Health profession and actively involved in advocacy. Chirag wants to bring the unique northern perspective to the broader CIPHI organization. Chirag has touched the Arctic Ocean and owes all his adventures to CIPHI. He is always happy to talk about life in territories and bust some myths.
Our Advocacy Work
2024 CIPHI Recruitment Campaign – “A Career Outside the Ordinary”
The recruitment campaign targeted current and recently graduated post-secondary students with a background in science. The campaign‘s goal is to raise awareness of Environmental Public Health (EPH) as an exciting and rewarding career path and to encourage further exploration of this field.
“Made Possible” – 2022 and 2023 Summer Campaign
CIPHI partnered with Be the Change Group on a national campaign to raise the profile of the profession. Billboards, digital ads, transient ads and media posts were showcased coast to coast.
To view and download promotional materials visit Association Documents – ciphi
Environmental Public Health Week 2024
Each year CIPHI celebrates Environmental Public Health Week and EPHW was celebrated from Monday, Sept 23 to Sunday, September 29, 2024.
This year’s theme is “Creating Resilient Communities through Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation“.
Various social media assets and images were created and shared with members. Individuals and organizations were encouraged to share images and posts that highlight the incredible work EPHPs do to keep our communities safe.
Promotional Pamphlet
The advocacy committee worked with Be The Change Group to develop a pamphlet that describes what environmental public health professionals do, what is CIPHI, how to obtain certification, where to study and information on the job market. Members, employers and members of the public are encouraged to view the pamphlet, print and share!