Leong Centre Trainee Hub: Amplify Engagement

DATE: May 20, 2026
TIME: 12:00 – 1:30pm (ET) 
METHOD: In-person
REGISTRATION: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/iw4BYsWFC9

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Amplify Engagement provides public/patient engagement and knowledge translation services in Canada’s health, research and public policy sectors. Amplify was founded in Toronto, Canada in 2022 by Saskia Kwan and Jenine Paul who wanted to lend their collective 20+ years of experience to help others navigate the world of patient, public and community engagement.

SPEAKERS: 

Saskia Kwan is a Principal and Co-Founder of Amplify Engagement and designs and facilitates meaningful engagements to bring together ideas from diverse audiences. Saskia was formerly the Senior Lead, Knowledge Translation and Evaluation at the Ontario Brain Institute, where she developed and led projects to include patient perspectives in brain health and research. She also launched a novel program to connect patient advocates and community organizations with researchers and evaluators to improve the health of those living with brain disorders. Saskia is passionate about building relationships, bridging gaps between stakeholders, and making spaces accessible to all. Previously, Saskia collaborated with teachers and school systems at the non-profit NoticeAbility to create evidence-based education materials on reading-based disabilities. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from McGill University and a Master's degree in Mind, Brain, and Education from Harvard University.

Jenine Paul is a Principal and Co-Founder of Amplify Engagement and leads engagement initiatives aimed at embedding community voices in research, policy and healthcare. Formerly, Jenine was the Manager, Public Engagement and Knowledge Translation at ICES and led the Institute’s strategy to engage Ontarians in decisions related to the use of health data for research. Jenine also co-chaired ICES' effort to create an anti-racist research agenda, ensuring that racialized communities inform data governance and use. Previously, Jenine worked at the Ontario Brain Institute, where she developed mechanisms to support patient engagement and knowledge translation in neuroscience. Jenine founded the National Public and Patient Engagement in Research Community of Practice and has worked in the not-for-profit research and health sector for over 10 years. She is a trained facilitator and has a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from the University of Waterloo's Co-operative Education program.

TITLE: Getting Started: How to Include Community Engagement to Your Research

DESCRIPTION: 

This workshop offers a practical introduction to integrating community engagement into the research process. Participants will explore how to identify relevant community interest holders, consider where their perspectives can strengthen or shape research, and learn how to involve them in meaningful and appropriate ways. Through guided activities and discussions, you will begin to develop a realistic plan for incorporating community engagement and knowledge translation into your work.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

In this workshop, you will:

• Refresh your understanding of how community engagement and knowledge translation can be applied across the stages of research
• Map the key community interest holders impacted by your research
• Identify opportunities where interest holder input can help shape your research
• Begin developing an approach to reaching and involving these interest holders