Meet the 2024 UCalgary 3MT Finals' Hosts and Judges!
Jamie Roeske
Jamie Roeske (she/her) is an MSc/MD student in the Biomedical Engineering program, specializing in Medical Imaging. She is also part of the Leaders in Medicine physician-scientist training program. Jamie discovered her love of working with children and adolescents during her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at UCalgary. Since then, Jamie has led child health initiatives in Calgary and held various volunteer and employee positions at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Her research uses magnetic resonance imaging to characterize and compare the developmental trajectories of brain regions in typically developing children and adolescents.
Abdul Al-Shawwa
Abdul is a second-year MSc/MD student whose research focuses on predicting spinal cord deterioration. He is a strong advocate for knowledge mobilization, having participated in 3MT and SSHRC Storyteller competitions in the past. By effectively communicating his research, Abdul hopes to impact the lives of patients through more informed decision-making. In his spare time, he is doing his best to become a better skier!
Kat Kastner
Kat Kastner is the recent winner of CTV's The Amazing Race Canada, a journey that spanned over 12,000 kilometers and six provinces. Kat and her fiancé defeated 10 teams in various physical, intellectual and emotional challenges throughout the race.
Kastner is a born and raised Calgarian who is passionate about mental health advocacy and opening the conversation on anxiety, empowerment and resilience. She graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies in 2020.
Kastner currently works in high performance sport and has a fierce desire to inspire others to spread connection and hope in our communities. In her spare time, she enjoys playing various sports, traveling and hiking.
Kim Ruse
As a leader and innovator, Kim Ruse has built a career exemplified by excellence in scaling and growing non-profit organizations, developing strong teams, and transforming cultures. As the CEO of FearIsNotLove, Kim more than doubled the size of the agency and its revenue over eight years.
In non-profit leadership roles over the past 20+ years, Kim championed innovation projects that improve social conditions and systems. At FearIsNotLove, Kim spearheaded innovative violence prevention programs, such as the Innovative Systems Response Project; co-authored Shelter 2.0 on enhancing women’s shelters’ impact in ending violence, and launching the Shelterlink App and Men &.
Kim has been honoured with the McKillop Award for commitment to the Calgary community, and an Alberta Government Inspiration Award for leadership. In 2022, she was named one of Calgary’s Influential Women in Business, and in 2023, received Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee medal recognizing her contributions to the Province.
Rahim Sajan
Rahim Sajan is a public teacher, speaker coach, and leadership advisor who has served in multiple roles within civil society. Including serving as Chair of the 2030 Alberta World Expo Bid to mark Alberta’s 125th Anniversary.
Rahim as the Co-Founder and Curator of TEDxCalgary, has the distinction of being one of the longest serving TEDx curators in the world. As a speaker coach, he has coached over 100 speakers from multiple disciplines. Rahim is also the founder of the Resourceful Human Project which is focused on developing next generation learning systems.
Deborah Yedlin
Deborah Yedlin currently serves as President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. She took on the role of stewarding the 132 year old organization in July 2021, bringing with her experience in capital markets gained while working on Wall Street and Bay Street, two decades of covering Canadian Business as a columnist for various media outlets and a unique perspective on the role of post-secondary education in society, having just completed a four year term as Chancellor of the University of Calgary.
Since moving to Calgary in 1992, Deborah has been very active in the Calgary community, serving on the boards of a number of arts and community organizations and is currently one of three co-chairs for the $250 million Calgary Cancer Centre fundraising campaign.
Learn more about the UCalgary Three Minute Thesis Competition