Meet Our Speakers!
Dr. Ira Helfand
Ira is the immediate past president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War - the recipient of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize, and co-founder and past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Ira has tirelessly worked to educate the public about the medical consequences of nuclear war, with published works in leading medical journals and lectures across the globe.
His contributions to the field of nuclear disarmament culminated in his instrumental role at the UN Open Ended Working Group in 2016, which led to the negotiation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
As a Harvard-educated physician and internationally recognized peace advocate, Dr. Helfand embodies the summit's commitment to fostering an informed, engaged, and empowered generation to carry forward the mission of nuclear disarmament
Kazuhiro Iguchi
Kazuhiro Iguchi is an English language teacher at Kansai Soka High School in Osaka, Japan. He is also the coordinator of Learning Cluster, a global citizenship program conducted in English. He holds a BA in Education and an MA in International Language Education: TESOL from Soka University, Japan.
He is currently a doctoral student at DePaul University, enrolled in the Value-Creating Education for Global Citizenship program. His research interests include exploring the application of Value-Creating pedagogy in second-language acquisition and conducting comparative studies between Waldorf and Soka education.
Kazuhiro combines his rich experiences to deliver a unique contribution to the Youth Nuclear Peace Summit.
Hon. Marilou McPhedran
Marilou is a human rights lawyer, professor and activist, appointed as an Independent Senator in the Parliament of Canada by Governor General David Johnston on the recommendation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in November 2016.
Marilou was one of the most influential leaders of the 1981 Ad Hoc Committee of Canadian Women on the Constitution conference - the grassroots social movement of women across Canada resulting in stronger equality rights in the constitution.
She attended the ICAN Nuclear Ban Forum and the First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW in Vienna and continues to strongly advocate for the Canadian government to sign the TPNW.
Sarah Rohleder is a third-year student at the University of British Columbia majoring in History with a minor in Anthropology. She serves as a youth advisor for Senator Marilou McPhedran and as a youth coordinator for Reverse the Trend.
Presently, she's a Peace Campaign Intern for both the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Canada (WILPF). Having previously interned with IPPNWC, she now collaborates with them on a youth education series. Sarah represented as a youth delegate at the Nuclear Ban week in Vienna, the inaugural meeting of state parties for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and the Youth MSP in June 2022.
In April 2023, she participated in the ICAN Hiroshima Youth G7 Summit, where she, alongside her peers, delved into the profound impacts of nuclear weapons, visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, and aided in presenting the adopted youth statement.
Sarah Rohleder
Rooj Ali
Rooj Ali is a second year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, studying Peace Conflict & Justice and History. She was a youth co-chair of the Youth Nuclear Peace Summit and a youth coordinator for Reverse the Trend Canada (RTTC). She has taken part in various events and projects including the launch of Reverse the Trend: Save Our Planet, Save Our People where she is a coordinator. Rooj is a member of the Canadian Council of Young Feminists and previously held an internship as a Manitoba High School Liaison in Senator Marilou McPhedran’s office where both projects overlap.
She co-led the successful Winnipeg campaign for the ICAN Cities Appeal in 2021 and completed a summer internship with the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada.
Rooj attended the Hiroshima G7 Youth Summit as a Canadian delegate and will be continuing her activities on the Cities appeal and youth engagement with RTTC following the youth summit. She seeks to create positive contributions towards the advancement of nuclear disarmament and youth led initiatives.
Shawn Kettner is an active volunteer with Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition a community-led alliance of volunteers living in Manitoba committed to climate action and climate justice. MEJC seeks to protect and restore the environment while promoting social justice policies and community resilience.
Shawn is also involved with Better Manitoba, a dedicated team of concerned citizens working towards a world where everyone can thrive and no one is left behind, built on care for people and the environment while championing a sustainable economy that is environmentally responsible and equitable.
It is through these relationships that Shawn has found a glimmer of hope for the future, and it is that glimmer of hope that inspires her to continue the work. Professionally Shawn is very proud of being a founder of Patient Puppets Inc. a company that produced over 2400 medical demonstration puppets during her tenure for children in hospitals and clinics worldwide. Shawn had a long career as a puppet designer/builder, theatre designer and arts educator.
Shawn Kettner
Bea Basaran
Bea Basaran, MARL's Education Coordinator, is a passionate advocate for global peace and social justice. With a Bachelor's degree in Human Rights and Sociology, her interdisciplinary research revealed the critical importance of peace and international cooperation.
Bea's role involves advancing human rights education in Manitoba, fostering awareness, and promoting understanding through educational programs. She firmly believes in the power of education to empower individuals and create an inclusive, equitable, and peaceful society. She aspires to help prevent nuclear conflicts through peaceful summits.
Bea is grateful to be part of the team and is dedicated to providing aid to the inspiring youth leading us toward a peaceful future.