Save the date: Health Crises in an Era of Autocracy, Disinformation, and Shifting Geopolitical Risks
The Pandemic and Emergency Readiness Lab (PERL) at 海角社区 is pleased to formally launch on February 3, 2026 at the 海角社区 Faculty Club. PERL is an interdisciplinary, practice-oriented research and leadership lab that brings together science, leadership, and convening to help societies, governments, and organizations better prepare for and respond to health crises.
Our mission is to strengthen global and local readiness for health crises by advancing actionable research, promoting crisis-ready leadership, and building collaborative links across disciplines, sectors, and borders.
PERL is built on three core pillars:
- Science & Evidence: Research across five streams: pandemic prevention and risk anticipation; governance and crisis infrastructure; data and systems innovation; equity and community resilience; trust, communication, and crisis leadership.
- Leadership & Learning: Identifying learning and leadership opportunities including the development of a new Pandemic Fellows Program to equip the next generation of crisis leaders.
- Convening & Collaboration: Hosting convenings, seminar series, and high-level dialogues connecting Canadian and global leaders on health emergencies.
At the launch, we will explore how PERL鈥檚 mission comes alive through real-world challenges in crisis preparedness. Join national and global voices in panels and dialogues as we chart a shared path forward in an era of autocracy, disinformation, and shifting geopolitical risks.
Agenda
| Time | Session | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00-9:30 | Networking/Breakfast | 听 |
| 9:30 鈥� 10:00 | Welcome & Opening Remarks |
海角社区 and PERL Leadership |
| 10:00 鈥� 10:45 |
Keynote and fireside chat: |
Michael Osterholm, Author of The Big One: How to prepare for world altering pandemics to come, Moderated by Joanne Liu. |
| 10:45 鈥� 11:15 | Break & Book Signing |
Michael Osterholm, The Big One |
| 11:15 鈥� 12:15 | Panel: Responding to human crises in a fractured world | Paul Wise (Stanford); Conrad Sauv茅 (Canadian Red Cross); Kelley Lee (SFU), Moderated by Joanne Liu (PERL) |
| 12:15 鈥� 1:15 | Lunch | Lunch and Book Signing, Michael Osterholm |
| 1:15 鈥� 2:15 | Panel: Politics of preparedness | Fatima Hassan (Health Justice Initiative), Roojin Habibi (UOttawa), Nina Schwalbe (Spark Street Advisors), Moderated by Jennifer Welsh听(Max Bell School of Public Policy) |
| 2:15 鈥� 3:15 | Panel: Confronting the rising dangers of mis and disinformation | Andr茅 Picard (Globe and Mail), Nora Loreto (Author, Spin Doctors), Kim Lavoie (UQAM), Jessica Malaty Riveria (JHU), Moderated by Prativa Baral (PERL) |
| 3:15 鈥� 3:30 | Closing remarks: Where to next? | Reflections and call for collaboration, with Joanne Liu, Michael Osterholm, Paul Wise |
| 3:30 鈥� 4:00 | Networking | 听 |
| 4:00 鈥� 4:45 | Students only: fireside chat and webinar | A student-led conversation with panelists (webinar) |