ONEIG leadership members are truly a welcoming and supportive group and we definitely walk the talk of being "all in it together". We are at different places in our geography, nursing practice background, eco-awareness, and professional and leadership experiences BUT we all have in common a super huge love of people, the natural world and basically making the world a better place because we love it so much. Get in touch with us via email: oneigrnao@gmail.com to find out about how to join the team.
“Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.” - Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass
Current Executive Team 2024-2025
Chair: Rob Samulack, RN
Rob Samulack is an Ottawa-based RN currently working as a community nurse, but also with experience in urban emergency, rural in-patient and camp nursing settings as well as teaching first aid. He did his nursing degree at the University of Ottawa and his Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering Degree at Carleton. He has been a vocal climate advocate representing RNAO and Ontario Nurses for the Environment at COP28 in Dubai. When not working in patient care or doing climate advocacy volunteer work, he likes to be outside with his kids - as a Beaver leader, a xc ski coach, canoeing, biking or camping.
Co-Chair Position: (please inquire)
Social Media: Dominique Baillargeon, RN, BScN
Dominique joined the ONEIG executive team in August 2020. She completed her BScN at the University of Windsor and is currently working as a Registered Nurse. Her passion for environmental health sparked during her many long runs, hikes, and outdoor adventures as she became increasingly appreciative of nature's gifts. Specifically, she is extremely passionate about advocating for access to safe drinking water in Indigenous communities in Canada as this has been an ongoing issue for many years. She is excited to work with the ONEIG team to address these inequities and create a healthy environment for all. Meet Dominique here!
Policy and Political Action ENO: Olivia Brundia, RN, BScN
Olivia joined the ONEIG Executive in August 2020 and completed her BScN from Nipissing University and Infusion Therapy Certificate from York University. Olivia's final research paper for her undergraduate program was on the importance of environmental health from a nursing perspective. Her interest regarding the environment arose from extensive travel at a young age to various countries and national parks. She is a great advocate for citizen science and volunteers time with projects such as Mission Monarch, Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation & Clam Counter in association with the Toronto Zoo, and the Killarney Loon Count in collaboration with Bird Studies Canada. Olivia served as a Consultation Representative at the RNAO Annual AGM, and is an active RNAO member. She is passionate about issues such as clean drinking water and reduction of waste produced by hospitals.
Finance ENO: Emma Ayukawa
Membership ENO: Saddat Ghauri
Members-at-Large: Brenda Hutton, Sarah Thornley, Hilda Swirsky
Newsletter Editor: Cailin Doyle
Student Liaison:Lisa Prosyk & Elwad Ahmed
Social Media: Dominique Baillargeon
Newsletter Editor: Cailin Doyle
Webmaster(s):
Steve Cairns, RN, PhD
Steve is a nurse educator and researcher at Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario, focusing on planetary health and nurse engagement in environmental initiatives. In 2024, he participated in an RNAO Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship (ACPF) to enhance the health and well-being of nurses through nature-based activities (https://www.nuneru.ca/advance-clinical-practice-fellows). An advocate for active living, Steve enjoys spending time outdoors with his family in all seasons. As a co-webmaster for ONE, Steve seeks to leverage his expertise and interest in environmental stewardship to boost nurse participation within the Ontario region and to collaborate through the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) on a national level.
Néomie Séguin, RN, BScN, MPH
Joining the team in 2024, Néomie is a community health nurse in the downtown core of Ottawa. She developed an interest in environmental health by seeing first-hand how the environment community members live in has a direct impact on their health and well-being. This peaked Néomie's interest more as she decided to pursue her Masters in Public Health with the University of Victoria. She continues to advocate for improved policies that target equity-deserving groups who face systemic barriers that place them disproportionately at risk to the negative outcomes of climate change.
CANE Liaison: Lily Lu
Policy and Political Action ENO: Olivia Brundia
Members-at-Large: Brenda Hutton, Sarah Thornley, Hilda Swirsky
Past Chair: Josalyn Radcliffe, RN
Past Chair: Josalyn Radcliffe
Josalyn Radcliffe has been part of the ONEIG executive since 2019 and acted as co-chair and chair from 2021-2023 and as past-chair following. Her work has included advocacy for incorporating sustainability metrics in the annual report, co-writing the RNAO position paper on climate change, and direct collaborative advocacy on Ontario legislation that threatens our food, water, and well-being. She is pursuing her PhD in Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo. Her current research interests relate to the ecological determinants of health and the interconnections between biodiversity, food systems, and well-being. Josalyn is also a mother and an avid food local grower who dedicates time to advocacy, connecting with nature, and building relationships within her neighbourhood and broader community. Meet Josalyn here!
Past Chair: Elise Skinner, BA, MScN, RN
Elise was nominated to the role of ONEIG president in July 2019 and led ONEIG through the 2019-2021 period. She is a nurse with a passion for health equity and a desire to promote nursing leadership in mitigating climate change and its human health impacts. To the role, she brought leadership experience in palliative care, community health and education. She holds an undergraduate degree in law and human rights as well as master’s degree in nursing.
Past Student Liaison: Paula joined the role of ONEIG Student Liaison in September 2020. She is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. She is currently in her second year of the two- year program. Paula loves to participate in outdoor activities like running, biking, nature walks, and cross-country skiing. Paula is in interested in the environmental determinants of health, fair trade, and public health. She is eager to engage Ontarian students in the ONEIG's mission to promote water protection, climate action, and environmental justice. Meet Paula here!
Past President: Kerrie Pickering, RN
Kerrie emigrated from New Zealand 15 years and has over 25 years of international nursing experience. In 2010 Kerrie completed a BSc Environmental Studies and in 2013 an MA Geography focused on climate change adaptation. Her PhD work focuses on the health-environment intersection. She began a ‘Green Team’ at in the Niagara Health System and became a member of the Brock University Sustainability Coordinating Committee. Being an ONEIG member provides a unique opportunity to work with like-minded nurses with the best tools to create the changes we know need to happen. Nurses hold a unique position and responsibility within society as respected healthcare professionals allowing us to improve the health of the environment, individuals and communities.
Past Policy and Political Action ENO: Susan Munro, RN
Susan tirelessly works on water issues in her community. She has a deep conviction that access to reliable, clean water is a human right as the WHO declared in 2010. Susan has a nursing history in public health, mental health, home care and long-term care, so she brings a breadth of understanding the connection between the environment and health.
Past-Social Media ENO: Andrea Baumann, RN
Andrea joined the ONEIG executive in the role of Social Media ENO in 2018. Andrea is a registered nurse currently working as a research assistant. She joined ONEIG after learning more about the connections between the health of the planet and human health through an environmental health class during her Master of Nursing program. She is particularly interested in climate change and how nurses can be involved in advocating for public policy changes to both prevent further climate change, and to mediate its effects.