Josh Swain
Consulting
Bio
Portfolio
Services
Contact
Bio
I am a Red River Métis public health policy professional and clinical research coordinator dedicated to advancing Indigenous health equity across Canada. A proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA* community, I bring both lived experience and professional expertise to my work with Indigenous communities, service providers, and academic partners.
At Toronto Public Health, I work alongside Indigenous health service providers and community leaders to shape and implement policies that address systemic health inequities affecting Indigenous populations in Toronto. I have also supported transformative change for Indigenous post-secondary students in STEM, helping build pathways and mentorship opportunities.
I contribute internationally as Secretary of the Canadian Advisory Board of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and as a member of the Indigenous Advisory Council for Canadian Blood Services, ensuring Indigenous perspectives are represented in governance and decision-making.
I have also served as the Indigenous Clinical Research Coordinator with POPCORN (Pediatric Outcome imProvement through COordination of Research Networks), a pan-Canadian research platform that studies the impacts of COVID-19 and other emerging health issues on children, youth, and families. In this role, I advanced Indigenous engagement in clinical research by supporting inclusive study design, data governance, and knowledge translation to ensure findings were meaningful and responsive to Indigenous communities.
Through this blend of policy, research, and advocacy, I bring a unique skill set to Indigenous health, bridging evidence and community priorities to improve outcomes for children, families, and Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.
Portfolio
Advisory & Leadership Roles
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Canadian Indigenous Advisory Council (Secretary) – Alongside my Advisory Board colleagues, I help steer Canadian operations for the largest Indigenous STEM network and advocacy groups in North America.
- Canadian Blood Services Indigenous Advisory Council member – we aim to strengthen Indigenous representation and engagement within the Canadian Blood Services organization.
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Core Competencies Working Group – Consulted on the development of revised PHAC public health professionals core competencies.
Speaking Engagements
- POPCORN (Pediatric Outcome Improvement through Coordination of Research Networks) Annual Conference, 2024 – “Importance of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigenization as well as Race-based and Indigenous Identity collection considerations in clinical research.”
- Sanofi Canada, “A Million Conversations”, Trust, Inclusion, and Equity Summit (Panelist) – Discussed the important role of EDI initiatives in the removal of barriers to access to care for vulnerable communities.
- Providence Healthcare Annual Ethics Conference – Drawing on lessons from history, my talk examined the concept of decolonizing healthcare and healthcare ethics, offering strategies to advance these important goals.
Program Development & Partnership Building
- McGill University – Indigenous Worldviews in Health Research and Delivery (Co-Developer) – Having recognized a need for Indigenous worldview representation within the School of Population and Global Health, I co-developed the first Indigenous health course included in the course selection to meet requirements for a Master of Science in either Public Health or Epidemiology.
- University of Winnipeg – Pathways to Graduate Studies (P2SG) – Alongside UofW faculty and other Indigenous students, I helped to build out the Indigenous summer student research program aimed at providing Indigenous undergraduate students experience in STEM research.
Media Engagements
Services
Policy & Program Review
I provide analysis and recommendations to strengthen public health policies, strategic plans, and programs through an Indigenous worldviews and health equity lens. My approach supports organizations in aligning their work with reconciliation principles, ethical practice, and meaningful community impact through co-development and collaboration with Indigenous communities.
Post-Secondary Recruitment & Retention Strategy
I work with colleges and universities to improve Indigenous student access, recruitment, and retention. Through admissions policy review, program design, and staff engagement, I help institutions create environments where Indigenous learners feel truly welcomed, and can thrive and succeed.
Strategic Planning & Partnership Development
I support organizations in developing strategic directions and partnerships grounded in Indigenous planning methods. My facilitation approach emphasizes relationship-building, shared accountability, and co-creation with Indigenous communities and service partners.
Cultural Safety Education & Facilitation
I design and deliver sessions that build organizational capacity in Indigenous cultural safety, tangible reconciliation, and removing colonial barriers. These sessions create a brave space for reflection, learning, and change, helping teams move from awareness to action.