Brian Dijkema is the Vice President of External Affairs with Cardus, and an editor of Comment. Brian can often be found making presentations on Parliament Hill, contributing to newspapers and periodicals across Canada and regularly speaks to industry and professional associations on labour, competitiveness and economic trends.
His primary research interests at Cardus are the institutional and policy relationships between government, civil society and the markets; with a particular view to exploring how a diverse civil society contributes to a vital and thriving market economy and stable government.
Renee James is the communications director for Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec (CBWOQ) and editor of its award-winning magazine live. Prior to this position, she worked at two of Canada’s largest ad agencies and a Baptist church in downtown Toronto.
Moira McQueen, LL.B, M.Div., Ph.D is the Executive Director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute and teaches moral theology at St. Michael’s Graduate Faculty of Theology in the University of Toronto.
Moira has a Master of Divinity Degree and PhD in moral theology from St. Michael’s College.
In September, 2014, Pope Francis appointed her for a five year term to the International Theological Commission, a 30-member Vatican advisory body within the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.
Prior to immigrating to Canada, Moira worked as a lawyer, specializing in family law and juvenile court in Glasgow, Scotland.
Calvin Forbes is a Creative Director, Butcher’s Apprentice, Storyteller, and Pastor. Born in the GTA as a product of Jamaican/South African heritage, his diversity of work and family origin afford him the ability to offer unique perspectives on faith, art, and culture.
Calvin is currently in his 15th year of vocational ministry, serving as Connections Director at The City Church in Mississauga, Ontario.
He is one of the hosts of the House of Commons Show podcast – a collective of 10 men who debrief anything and everything from various points of view.
Julia Beazley is the Director of Public Policy at the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Julia’s work includes issues of domestic and global poverty, homelessness, prostitution, pornography and human trafficking.
Julia has testified before Parliamentary committees on legislation including changes to prostitution laws and the expansion of Medical Assitance in Dying.
Julia has more than ten years experience working with homeless and street-involved youth and adults, and a deep understanding and concern for those who live on the margins of our society.
Colin Toffelmire is an Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies and Chair of the School of Ministry at Ambrose University in Calgary, Alberta. He specializes in the theory of interpretation, Israelite prophetic literature, and the use of the Bible in contemporary conversations.
Colin grew up in Saskatoon and was assistant pastor at Heritage Alliance Church in Regina before doing his Masters at Ambrose Seminary and his PhD in Old Testament at McMaster University.
He is married, has three children, and likes to cook.
