Meet our esteemed speakers, who will be joining our stage at Gluten Free Expo Vancouver 2020! Please note that speakers and presentations are subject to change, so check back frequently!
The Gluten Free Expo would not be possible without the kind support of our sponsors. A special thank you goes to these kind community supporters:
Jess Pirnak
Jess is a Registered Dietitian & Certified Wellness Coach based in Vancouver, British Columbia. She graduated from UBC’s Food Nutrition and Health program, and completed her dietetic internship with Provincial Health Services Authority after finishing a Psychology degree from SFU.
Jess is passionate about education, prevention and creating a healthy community. She is an advocate for the power of food and its connection to health. With an extensive background in retail dietetics Jess understands the natural food sector and the importance of a sustainable food system. She is also the in-house dietitian advisor for the Canadian Celiac Association – Vancouver Chapter. Her focus is in plant-based eating, celiac disease and gut health.
Visit Jess’s Website / Twitter / Instagram
Mandy King
Mandy King, CNP, is a Holistic Nutritionist and the founder of HEAL – Healthy Eating And Living. HEAL provides Corporate Wellness programs for major organizations including Google, Facebook, Mobify, Unilever and PwC, along with 1:1 nutrition coaching and gluten free meal planning.
She is a regular on CTV Morning Live and has contributed to The Globe & Mail, CBC, and The Huffington Post
Visit Mandy’s Website
David Harper
Dr. David G. (Dave) Harper is a health science communicator, educator, researcher, consultant, and advocate for evidence-based public health policy and is passionate about the importance of critical reasoning and skepticism.
Dave is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at the University of the Fraser Valley, where he teaches courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Contemporary Health issues. He holds a BSc. and Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in mathematical biofluiddynamics and he completed post-doctoral fellowships at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole and the University of Cambridge in comparative physiology.
As a Visiting Scientist at the BC Cancer Research Centre, Terry Fox Lab, his current research focusses on the therapeutic benefits of ketogenic diets for women with metastatic breast cancer. He is on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Canadian Clinicians for Therapeutic Nutrition and a member of the Institute for Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition. His recent book BioDiet: The Scientifically Proven Ketogenic Way to Lose Weight and Improve Your Health, is now a best seller, recently reaching #18 overall for books on Amazon.com. The first print run sold out in one day.
Visit David’s Website
Gelina Berg
Gelina Berg is a primary care registered dietitian with over a decade of experience in a multidisciplinary setting. She has a special interest in chronic disease management and how gut health impacts our daily lives.
Driven by her passion for wellness and disease prevention, Gelina focuses on Practical solutions using real, whole food. She believes that individualization of any plan is vital, and supports clients in making whatever change they are able to make today and going forward
People suffering from digestive concerns and food allergies and in-tolerances can rely on Gelina to help them make positive change in their lives.
Gelina received her degree in Dietetics, with honours, from the University of British Columbia in 2004 and completed her practical training at St. Paul’s Hospital. She also attended the University of Wollongong in Australia.
Visit Gelina’s Website
Ali J. Chernoff
Ali J. Chernoff, BSc. R. D. is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition consultant who has taken the initiative to be part of the 11% in BC to operate a private practice. She offers corporate wellness packages that include educational workshops, healthy menu planning, access to multi-disciplinary teams, and individual counseling. In addition, she currently offers food tours that focus on how to read a food label.
Since 1993 she has been involved in numerous activities related to the field of nutrition. She provides services that include conducting educational sessions to groups and individuals on good fats, healthy snacks, weight loss, heart smart tips and basic eating principles. As well, Ali’s involvement with SportMedBC includes one on one with athletes and onsite counselling. She writes for numerous health and wellness magazines, including IMPACT Magazine, Canuck runner, and Pacific road racers. In addition, she has been quoted in articles in several publications; Chatelaine, Georgia Straight, Metro, Today’s Parent, Vancouver Courier, The Province, Verve Girl, The Vancouver Sun and Ottawa Citizen. Also she has been featured on CityTV (Breakfast Television and CityCooks), CTV (Olsen On Your Side and the 6pm news), PBS (Chowtime cooking show), Joy TV (First Talk with Tamara Bull) and Women’s Network (the Shopping Bags).
Ali started a second company called Energy Essentials 24-7 Inc. to develop healthy whole foods such as a 7% M.F. cheese, Essential which was sold in 2016. She has co-authored and self-published two books; Good Food Baby and Good Food Toddler.