Advisory Board

Distinguished Professor Emeritus and currently Director of the Centre for Dialogue & Spirituality in the World Religions at Renison University College/University of Waterloo, he was educated at Concordia College (BA Philosophy & Political Science), Harvard Divinity School (STB, Theology), and the Institute of Christian Thought, St. Michael’s University College (PhD, Special Religious Studies). He taught at Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfrid Laurier) 1967-69 and Renison College, University of Waterloo (1973-2007). He is the author/editor of more than 25 volumes in the study of religion, most recently, the 3rd edition of Religion in a New Key and three volumes of Ways of the Spirit: Celebrating Dialogue, Diversity & Spirituality, Ways of the Spirit: Voices of Women, and Ways of the Spirit: Persons, Communities & Spiritualities.

Ever since his childhood on the plains of Dakota near a Native American reservation, Darrol had been keen to know more about his own Christian faith and the faiths of others. That passion has continued and deepened through his studies and through many opportunities to meet people of different faiths in their own settings -- e.g., in ashrams, temples, masjids and gurdwaras in India, in Buddhist monasteries in Korea, Sri Lanka and Japan, and in masjids in Egypt and Turkey. His hope is that SHEN can become a resource and a place of dialogue about the wisdom essential to a life of spiritual depth.

Diya Chowdhury is a third year PhD Candidate from Bangladesh at the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo, Canada. After completing her undergraduate degree in Health Studies, she fast-tracked to a Ph D in the field of Gerontology and Geriatric Healthcare. She works with marginalized populations with a specific focus on social and health equity. Diya is driven by her passion to explore ways through which humans can achieve their fullest and truest potentials, while also living a life that provides meaning for her and others. Diya’s interests also lie in looking at the bigger picture in life and seeking out the path of both science and art to answer such questions.

A mother, an editor, a writer, a speaker, a life coach, a yogi, a runner, an avid reader, a home renovator, and a corporate nine-to-fiver, Christine's life purpose is to be an inspiring agent of deliberate change to contribute to a world where love and peace prevail and where people consistently act with love and compassion, regardless of external conditions. She achieves this through her mission of helping people awaken and master their inherent power so each can reach their greatest potential and live with resilience, happiness and love. Christine completed her Master of Science degree in Human Biology and Nutritional Science and a post-graduate Certificate in Adult Learning from the University of Guelph. She has spent her entire career in health sciences and adult education and training. She's been an avid spiritual seeker for the past 20 years and continues to be a fervent student of life. She completed Reiki Certification, Energy Codes training in Bioenergetic Medicine, Breathing for Better Health and Wellness training, and an intensive Spiritual Life Coach Certification program. Through extreme life challenges and her self-discovery and training, Christine has realized the essence of her Being. Regardless of external conditions, she walks her talk and lives each day with joy, vitality, unconditional happiness and love, and she is an unstoppable force in helping others to experience the same in their lives.
http://www.christineg.ca

Garima is the Executive Assistant and Special Policy Advisor to the Assistant Deputy Minister of Income Security and Pension Policy at the Ministry of Finance. Her main interests are in understanding how various sectors of society (government, civil society and private industry, for example) can work together to improve the well-being of populations worldwide. She holds a Masters of Public Health from the University of Toronto, and is also an avid reader, dancer, and foodie.

Santwana is based in Basel, Switzerland and has lived in Africa, India and U.K before arriving in Switzerland; her life split between three counties and six cities. She speaks four languages. On a scholarship from India and the UK, she completed a Ph.D. at the Univerisity of Cambridge and a diploma in Business Management from London Business School. She published a paper from her PhD work that shed the first light on the working of tau protein, a major player in Alzheimer’s disease. Having worked in the Pharma industry at three of the top five global companies, she has extensive experience in diverse therapy areas, specializing in Neurosciences. About 15 years ago, she started her first novel and has published short stories and articles, and is working on her third novel. Her first novel is in the process of being published. She lives in Basel and also has a bachelor's degree in Hindustani Vocal music.

Atif Khalil is an Associate Professor at the University of Lethbridge's Department of Religious Studies where he teaches courses on Islamic theology, mysticism, art and world religions. His main area of research lies in Sufi thought, with secondary interests in comparative mysticism, inter-religious relations and virtue ethics. His articles have appeared in Studies in Religion, the Journal of Islam & Christian-Muslim Relations, Sacred Web, the Oxford Journal of Islamic Studies, Philosophy East and West, and The Muslim World. He is also the author of the recently released Repentance and the Return to God: Tawba in Early Sufism (SUNY, 2018). 

Sharon received her undergraduate degree in osteopathic medicine in London, England.  She holds master's degrees in adult education, community music, and a PhD in sociology with a special interest in the social determinants of health.  After working in clinical practice for a number of years, she entered the postsecondary education system to teach  undergraduate anatomy, physiology, pathology, lifespan development, social inclusion, and mental health.  Sharon is a classically trained musician, and a multi-instrumentalist.  As a community music facilitator, she is passionate about combining models of health education, music engagement, and contemplative practice  for mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. 

Prof. Kamran Mofid is Founder of the Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (founded at an international conference in Oxford in 2002) and Co- founder/Editor, Journal of Globalisation for the Common Good, hosted at Purdue University, USA, member of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of the World Public Forum, Dialogue of Civilisations, and Founding Member, World Dignity University, and Global Advisory Board, Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies. Mofid received his BA and MA in economics from the University of Windsor, Canada in 1980 and 1982 respectively. In 1986 he was awarded his doctorate in economics from the University of Birmingham, UK. In 2001 he received a Certificate in Education in Pastoral Studies at Plater College, Oxford. From 1980 to 2000 he was Economic Teaching Assistant, Tutor, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at Universities of Windsor (Canada), Birmingham, Bristol, Wolverhampton, and Coventry (UK). Mofid's work is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on Economics, Business, Politics, International Relations, Theology, Culture, Ecology, Ethics and Spirituality. Mofid's writings have appeared in leading scholarly journals, popular magazines and newspapers. His books include Development Planning in Iran: From Monarchy to Islamic Republic , The Economic Consequences of the Gulf war, Globalisation for the Common Good, Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Globalisation for the Common Good , Promoting the Common Good (with Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke, 2005), and A non-Violent Path to Conflict Resolution and Peace Building (Co-authored, 2008).

http://gcgi.info/dr-kamran-mofid-cv-summary

Dr. Vijay R. Solanki is a 1976 graduate of dentistry from the University of Toronto. He has been in private practice in Kitchener, Ontario for 22 years. Born to devout Hindu parents in Johannesburg, South Africa, he was sent to India at the age of 11 years to escape the oppressive system of apartheid. Eight years in India formed a basis for his interest in the universal message found in Indian scriptures. Married to Brenda L. Hutton in 1971, the couple have four lovely children...Jay, Raj, Ram and Jyoti.

Spiritual Heritage Education Network (SHEN) comes at a time when the world has shrunk to a truly Global Village. Instant communication and supersonic travel have made the once remote cultures of the world take a closer look at each other and indeed a gradual reappraisal is under way of one's value systems to accommodate the larger global human community. SHEN will help this worthy cause leading to a world full of respect for all life and harmony amongst the 5+ billion humans inhabiting our Planet Earth.

Dr. Solanki is spiritually inspired by the teachings of Brahmarishi Vishwatma Bawra