Meet the emcees guiding e-Health26
As excitement builds for e-Health26, two accomplished leaders will serve as this year’s conference emcees: Rachel Gillespie and Ryan MacNeil. Both bring deep system insight, strategic perspective, and a people-first approach that reflects the heart of e-Health’s growing community.
Rachel Gillespie
Based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Rachel Gillespie is a senior consultant and strategic advisor with Mariner Innovations, working at the intersection of digital health and public sector reform. Her experience spans provincial health systems, post-secondary modernization, and national organizations advancing accessibility and sustainable change.
Gillespie’s work is grounded in organizational readiness, human centred design, and communication that supports understanding and trust. She holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications and Leadership and is also a public speaker and writer who emphasizes empathy and proximity as critical inputs to thoughtful design and better outcomes. As emcee, she will bring insight and thoughtful curiosity, while skillfully connecting each conversation back to what matters most: better care.
Ryan MacNeil
A proud Halifax native, MacNeil is a recognized digital health leader with a background in industrial engineering and health system transformation. He currently serves as project executive and director of digital health at the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, where he focuses on digital strategy and governance to enable meaningful, system-wide change.
MacNeil’s influence extends nationally. He serves as national chair for artificial intelligence for health with Health Canada and as chair of the Atlantic Digital Health Collaborative with Canada Health Infoway, contributing to the advancement of responsible, coordinated digital health innovation across the country. In 2025, he was also named an AMS Fitzgerald Fellow in AI and Human-Centered Leadership at the University of Toronto, reflecting his commitment to aligning emerging technologies with human values. As an emcee, MacNeil will bring credibility and a strong commitment to digital health action this June in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Join e-Health in Halifax
e-Health26 aims to deliver engaging dialogue, thoughtful facilitation, and a one-of-a-kind conference experience. Early bird registration is open – register now and be part of the conversations shaping the future of digital health in Canada and abroad.
