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.
Meaghen Allen
National Director- Advocacy
advocacy@ciphi.caMeaghen was appointed to the National Director- Advocacy in 2023. Prior to that she served as the Alberta Branch President from 2019 to 2022. Meaghen has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Alberta, an After Degree in Environmental Public Health, and a master’s degree in public health management. Meaghen currently works as the Director of Safe Healthy Environments with Alberta Health Services.
Natalie Lowdon
President Elect
Natalie is the regional manager for the Winnipeg Health Protection Unit, Environmental Health Branch, with Manitoba Health. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba, and a Bachelor of Environmental Health (after degree) from the Concordia University College of Edmonton. A certified public health inspector (Canada) since 2007, Natalie has a wealth of experience in the field of public health inspection, as a public health inspector for the City of Winnipeg and with the Province of Manitoba.
Vanessa Nickelo
Social Media
Born and raised in Cape Breton before moving west and graduating from Concordia University College of Alberta’s After-Degree Program in Environmental Health in 2010, Vanessa worked as a public health inspector at the New Brunswick Department of Health in 2010 before moving back to Nova Scotia and practicing as a public health officer with the Government of Nova Scotia from 2011 to 2018. She recently accepted the role as an officer with the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Emergency Preparedness Program. Throughout her career, Vanessa has been an active CIPHI member, mentoring students, serving as a BoC examiner, presenting at the 2016 Annual Education Conference, and volunteering as webmaster at the Nova Scotia-Prince Edward Island Branch.
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.
Our Advocacy Work
“Made Possible” – 2022 and 203 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 2023
Each year CIPHI celebrates Environmental Public Health Week and EPHW was held on Sept 25 to October 1, 2023 with the theme ” “Standing Up to Protect Everyone’s Health Each And Every Day”
Numerous educational sessions were hosted during the week and CIPHI partnered with Be the Change Group to produce a National campaign showcasing members coast to coast. “I support the health o all Canadians By”
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!