Joanne Speakman is from the Northwest Territories. She grew up on Great Bear Lake in Délı̨nę before moving to Yellowknife. Growing up in the North and spending time on the land inspired Joanne’s interest in biology. She decided to study at the University of Alberta and in 2020, Joanne graduated with a B.Sc. in Environmental and Conservation Sciences. Throughout her career, she has contributed to research, government, and regulatory organizations toward environmental stewardship. Joanne is Sahtúot’įne Dene and she’s also passionate about incorporating Indigenous perspectives in her work. Currently, Joanne is pursuing her interest in health care at the University of British Columbia in the School of Population and Public Health. Her Master of Science research will focus on health care equity and access to medical diagnostic services. Joanne is honoured to be the 2021 recipient of the ICHR Grant for Education in Health Studies and looks forward to a rewarding career ahead.