With the expansion of the International Research Advisory Council (IRAC) of PCU-WHS, and the current development of a new 5-year IRAC strategic plan extending out to 2030, we are extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Dr. Stacie Chappell as Chair of IRAC for PCU-WHS. Stacie assumes the role following Prof. Dr. Kara Arnold, who will continue to play a key role within PCU-WHS for both degree renewal and new degree applications.
With regard to the appointment, Stacie commented as follows. “I am excited by the opportunity to serve PCU-WHS in this role. My background in facilitating expert teams and research projects positions me well to support IRAC’s mandate to advise on research priorities and foster international cooperation. Given the recent funding extension announcement for the Reducing Poverty Initiative, IRAC will also assume an important oversight role for the TransAtlantic Implementation Research on Early Intervention for Occupational Rehabilitation (TAIR) that is associated with this project. The constant conversation and iteration between practice and research is essential for advancing occupational health and safety, disability management, rehabilitation, and related fields.”
Stacie Chappell is the inaugural Dean of the School of Business and Management at University Canada West. A leadership scholar and organizational development practitioner, she brings a rich academic perspective shaped by experiences at the University of British Columbia, the University of Western Australia, Western New England University, and Vancouver Island University. Her research, often conducted through international collaboration, spans leadership practice, ethics, experiential learning, and organizational change.
Beyond academia, Stacie has partnered with leaders and organizations around the world to strengthen capabilities at the individual, team, and system levels. A master facilitator, certified professional coach, and published author, she is a lifelong learner who approaches leadership and education with curiosity, reflection, and authenticity. She also contributes her expertise through community service, including her role on the Board of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.
At a time when “Employment as a Key Social Determinant of Health” is increasingly being recognized as a societal priority, and the fact that many individuals, following onset of a mental/physical health impairment lose their workforce attachment and consequently get pushed to the margins of society, effective early intervention, driven through innovation and thought-leadership, informed by evidence-based research, can be a premier catalyst in identifying solutions designed to reduce the socio-economic costs of disabling impairments on workers, employers and society at large.