KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Shirley Weir

Founder of Menopause Chicks, author of Speak Menopause™, and the creator of Script Tips™ a new conversation tool transforming health appointments across Canada.

For over a decade, Shirley has been educating, advocating, and translating evidence-based menopause information for her popular online community.

Her work bridges the gap between confusion and clarity, cutting through the tsunami of marketing and media messages to help you navigate your perimenopause-to-menopause-to-postmenopause journey with more confidence, more clarity, and an empowering new vocabulary.

Shirley is a certified Peer Counsellor, a trusted voice for women’s midlife health in Canada, and a sought-after speaker for workplaces, healthcare teams, and global brands.

Her mission? To help women speak the language of their health so fluently, it’s impossible to be dismissed.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

These sessions are held in the larger room with theatre style seating.

Virtual tickets will only provide access to this portion of the event including our keynote speaker.

These featured speakers run concurrently with other sessions, so you’ll have to choose your priorities when purchasing your ticket.

Kathi Cameron

Registered Clinical Counsellor

Kathi holds degrees in kinesiology, exercise and sport psychology, and clinical psychology and splits her time between writing, speaking, coaching, and counselling.

She has over 25 years working in the exercise profession, nine years as a psychotherapist, and has served as a sessional lecturer with the University of Victoria.

She currently works in private practice as a psychotherapist and coach integrating exercise for mental health support and recently published a book on the subject; “Exercise [Your Way] to Better Mental Health; Exploring the relationship between fitness culture, neuroscience, exercise, and mood”.

As a speaker, she is known for her humour and “real life” approaches to health and wellness coaching while addressing the neuroscience behind why we do what we do. At 57, she continues to enjoy a healthy balance of mountain biking, resistance training, and dancing to old aerobics tunes (like no one is watching).

Dr. Elisabeth Crisci

Medical Doctor

Dr. Elisabeth Crisci is a multi-award-winning medical doctor and a director of Pacifica MD located in Qualicum Beach. Beyond her 20 years of diverse clinical experience she specializes in addressing hormone imbalances and menopause with a comprehensive approach that goes beyond traditional symptoms like mood changes and genitourinary issues. Dr. Crisci emphasizes the critical link between untreated menopause, insulin resistance, and the increase risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and dementia. As a recognized leader in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, functional medicine, and metabolic health, she is passionate about shifting from reactive medicine to proactive care. Dr. Crisci is dedicated to empowering her patients with evidence-based strategies to optimize their health span and lifespan, helping them achieve vibrant health and well-being at every stage of life.

Erin Roman

Registered Dietitian

Erin is a registered dietitian who has worked in a diversity of roles including public health, indigenous food security, mental health and nutrition, culinary nutrition, leading a provincial supportive cancer care nutrition team and now focuses solely on her private practice.  She has a passion and particular interest for supporting women’s health and digestive health concerns, supporting an embodiment of the physiological ways our body can use food to fuel us and support us.  Erin appreciates a biopsychosocial approach to wellness exploring how nutrition intersects our mental and emotional wellbeing as well as our cultural and social connections. She currently is honored to be live and practice within the traditional and unceded territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, Sathloot (‘sath-loot), Sasitla (sa-‘seet-la), Ieeksen (eye-‘ick-sun), and Pentlatch and Xa’xe (‘ha-hey) in Tin Town, Courtenay.  Erin currently sits on the National Leadership Council for the Women’s Health Coalition.

Carole Boivin

Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified EMDR Therapist

Carole Boivin is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, a Certified EMDR Therapist with the EMDR International Association, and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with a Master’s degree in the field of counselling. Based in her private practice in Campbell River, BC, Carole brings over 24 years of experience and a deep commitment to helping individuals find resolution, healing, and happiness.

Her evidence-based, action-oriented, and holistic approach provides support in a safe and accepting space for those navigating anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, relationship issues, decision-making, low self-esteem, and life balance challenges, as well as for those seeking personal growth. Carole’s methods are continually enhanced through her ongoing study and extensive experience.

Having personally experienced menopause and worked with many women, Carole has a firsthand understanding of its impact. Additionally, her over two decades of mindfulness study, coupled with her love for nature and animals, often lead her to the beautiful forest trails of the Island for walks or runs.

Dr. Brittany Filipetti

Chiropractor, Yoga Instructor & Adrenal-Burnout Health Planner

Dr. Filipetti is a speaker and guide on how adrenal health impacts hormones and what you can do about it! She designs tailored treatment plans for individuals navigating health journeys such as peri- and menopause, burnout, chronic pain, movement issues, addiction, and mental well-being. She owns and operates Origin Integrated Health in Comox, BC—a collaborative space uniting alternative health professionals to address the root causes of dysfunction in both body and mind. She refers clients to the right practitioners at the right times—starting with passive care and guiding them toward active, self-directed approaches.

Her focus is to stabilize energy, the adrenal glands, and the nervous system before initiating treatments like hormone therapy, counseling, addiction support, or physical rehab. With her planning expertise, she acts as a guide, helping make sense of all the puzzle pieces and creating a clear map to support ongoing growth and independence.

Additionally, she is a certified yoga instructor who explores philosophy and chanting of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. She leads immersive retreats that blend mindfulness, philosophy, movement, and energy healing.

Her ultimate goal: for you to emerge into true vitality and peace—empowered to care for yourself, connected to your inner wisdom, and inspired to live a balanced, joyful life.

Tara Findlay

Registered Massage Therapist

Tara Findlay is a Registered Massage Therapist with 25 years of experience, a perimenopause educator and advocate, and a self-proclaimed anatomy and yoga geek. A lifelong sports enthusiast, she’s also personally navigated chemical menopause, a hysterectomy, and perimenopause — complete with the early signs of frozen shoulder. When she says she gets it… she truly does. Tara’s passion is helping others understand what’s really happening in their bodies during this life stage. She translates the latest research into plain language, colourful metaphors, and relatable insights — all delivered with humour, heart, and a Gen X twist. Blending science with the “woo,” and logic with intuition, Tara brings a human, whole-person approach to her work.

Whether through public talks or training practitioners, her mission is to help people feel empowered, informed, and supported as they navigate perimenopause and menopause — and to remind them they are not alone in the journey.

Tanya Kessling

BMR, PT, Registered Physiotherapist

I knew at 15 that physiotherapy was my path—and after 23 years in the field, it still feels like magic. From working with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to arthritis clinics and two decades in sports and orthopedics, I’ve seen how movement transforms lives. A pelvic health education session 20 years ago changed me. Since then, I’ve become a passionate advocate, educating physicians and policy makers to make pelvic health a priority—because women deserve better care.

In my clinic, helping a woman overcome incontinence in a matter of weeks? That never gets old.

As one of the top 5% of Canadian physiotherapists with advanced orthopaedic training, I utilize specialized training in spinal and joint manipulation, pelvic health, prenatal/postnatal care, and even the mysterious world of migraines amongst others.  In 2023, after 20 rewarding years in Campbell River (and five Reader’s Choice nominations for Best Physiotherapist), my partners and I opened a new clinic, Mend Bodyworks, right here in our beloved city. It’s a space dedicated to expert care, real conversations, and a little laughter—because healing doesn’t have to be boring.

When I’m not in the clinic, I’m chasing my 3 boys through the mountains on skis and bikes, speaking English, French, or German (sometimes all at once), and collecting stories from around the world—over 50 countries and counting. Come share yours. We’ll laugh, learn, and get you laughing and moving again. 

Vicki Roberts

Registered Nurse &
Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist

With 17 years of experience as both a labour and delivery nurse and an operating room nurse, Vicki Roberts brings calm, clinical expertise to every session. As owner of Simply Focus Hypnosis, a Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist in Canada and an active member of the Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis, she collaborates with doctors, surgeons, psychologists, and psychiatrists to stay current with the latest evidence-based approaches.

Unlike entertainment hypnotists who perform for laughs, clinical hypnotherapists apply proven neuroscience to create real, lasting change—often in as few as one to six sessions. Concerns such as sleep disturbances, hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, mood swings, and unresolved trauma don’t have to take years to address. You decide how you want to feel—Vicki helps rewire the subconscious patterns that have been holding you back.

How can it be that easy? Experience it for yourself—feeling is believing.

Dr. Alexandra Tumbach

Naturopathic Doctor

Dr. Alexandra Tumbach is a naturopathic doctor with a clinical focus in hormonal health. She obtained her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from Boucher Institute in New Westminster after completing her Bachelor of Science at UBC Vancouver. 

Dr. Alex is deeply passionate about supporting her patients through empowerment and education. Her holistic approach combines evidence-based therapies, comprehensive assessment tools and naturopathic principles to provide sustainable and effective strategies to promote optimal health.

Outside of the clinic, you can most likely find Dr. Alex spending time outdoors, playing soccer, or drinking an oat milk latte.