Christopher T. Sutton was appointed Accessibility Commissioner at the Canadian Human Rights Commission in May 2025. Mr. Sutton’s work is influenced by both his professional expertise and lived experiences of advocating for accessibility as a fundamental human right in Canada.

Before his appointment to the Commission, Mr. Sutton served as the Chief Executive Officer of Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility, where he spearheaded initiatives focused on hearing healthcare, accessible communication, and inclusive technology solutions. Under his leadership, Wavefront Centre significantly expanded its programs and services, strengthened strategic relationships, and emerged as a national leader in communications accessibility. A recognized thought leader in inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, he has also held leadership roles across the not-for-profit, public, and start-up sectors in both Canada and the United States.

Throughout his career, Mr. Sutton has worked closely with disability communities to ensure that accessibility policies are intersectional and inclusive. He has played a significant role in shaping Canada’s accessibility policies and legislation at both the federal and provincial levels, including the Accessible Canada Act and the Accessible British Columbia Act.

Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Sutton holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gallaudet University and an MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.

Carly Sygrove is a hearing loss coach, advocate, and writer with a background in education. In 2016, she experienced profound sudden hearing loss and developed tinnitus in her left ear, leading to diagnoses of Meniere’s disease and vestibular migraine. As a hearing loss coach, Carly supports individuals in achieving their goals and living confidently with hearing loss. She shares her personal journey on her blog, My Hearing Loss Story, and founded the Sudden Hearing Loss Support website to provide resources for those affected. Additionally, Carly manages an online support group for people with hearing loss and co-hosts the Happy Hearing podcast, focusing on the psychological and therapeutic aspects of managing hearing loss.

Ariane Gobeil is the Senior Territory Manager for Cochlear Americas serving the Canada East
Region. In this position, Ariane supports the regional team, provides clinical and surgical
support, as well as education and outreach across the region.
Ariane earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Audiology at the University of Montréal in
2007. Prior to joining Cochlear in February of 2016, Ariane worked as a clinical cochlear implant
and Baha audiologist in Montreal. She has been a Cochlear Implant programming audiologist
since 2009.

For more than four decades, Tim has been bringing stories to life through sound, designing
immersive audio experiences for IMAX films, museums, science centers, and themed
attractions. In 2012, he founded Advanced Listening to bring his expertise to the hard of hearing
community, by designing and installing assistive listening systems throughout Canada.
Tim and his team at Advanced Listening invest considerable effort into researching and
developing innovative technologies that improve communication. Their expertise is further
shared through ongoing contributions to the Rick Hansen Foundation’s technical sub-
committee.

Gemma Greco is a passionate hearing-health advocate, newly appointed CHHA Young Adult
Network Director, and Hearing Instrument Specialist student. As the founder of @gghearing and
President of @humberhhac (Humber Hearing Health Advocacy Club), she champions
accessibility and inclusion for youth across Canada. Through her clinical experience and global
engagement with @ifhohyp, Gemma empowers young people to embrace their identities,
access support, and amplify their voices.
Her mission extends beyond education; she is dedicated to building bridges between
communities, advancing awareness of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing experience, and inspiring
the next generation of changemakers.

Leon Mills (CAE), M.Ed., COHC, has served as Executive Director of the Canadian Hard of
Hearing Association–Newfoundland and Labrador (CHHA-NL) since 1995-1996. He has
extensive experience as a community volunteer leader, having served as a Board Member and
President of his current organization, CHHA-NL in 1994-1995, as well as President of the
Newfoundland & Labrador Society of Fundraising Executives (NLSFRE), now known as the
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

He has a Masters Degree in Education (1997), specializing in Educational Leadership. While
attending MUN, he was awarded several academic and athletic awards, including the
Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution to Residence Life, Induction to the Athletic
Honour Society and the Birk’s Convocation Medal for Student Leadership. Leon was also
nominated for Memorial’s Volunteer of the Year Award.
In 2004, he earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) Designation from the Canadian
Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and was a CSAE National Board member for six
years. He facilitated CAE 200 from 2004-2021, and CAE 100 from 2014 to 2024. He has a wide
variety of career experience in various fields as a non-profit leader and Executive Director, as a
secondary and post-secondary teacher, an online course facilitator for association executives
with the CAE Program, and as a Community Recreation Manager.
He self-identifies as being hard of hearing and has worn two hearing aids since 1984. He is a
strong community advocate for hearing loss and other disability issues and has served, or is
serving, on a number of local, national (including CSAE), community, government and corporate
agencies. He served as Co-Chair of the 2017 CSAE Annual Conference AGM, held in St.
John’s, NL, in October 2017. Currently, he’s a member of the Rotary Club of St. John’s, NL, and
a member of Marine Atlantic International’s Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Jo-Ann Bentley is the Director of Accessibility Services at Wavefront Centre for Communication
Accessibility, bringing over 25 years of experience supporting businesses, healthcare, and
government in achieving their accessibility goals. Her work focuses on advancing
communication access through education, advocacy, and technology.
She has contributed to shaping accessibility standards across Canada, including the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and has served on advisory committees
for transportation, the built environment, the Ontario Building Code, and the Rick Hansen
Technical Advisory Committee. Combining personal experience with professional expertise, Jo-

Ann is dedicated to building more inclusive communities through practical solutions and
innovative approaches.

Ariel Caner, as Bettear’s Business Development Manager, Ariel Caner is responsible for driving
new business initiatives across international markets. He leverages three decades of
experience in global product, business development, and sales management, gained at both
Israeli and international organizations (including a Chinese company). Ariel’s deep technical
foundation comes from his B.Sc and M.Sc in Biomedical Engineering from the University of
Kent, England, where his specialization was in programmable hearing aid development.

Kellina Powell is a dynamic deaf coach and advocate, international speaker, 4X best-selling
author, and passionate entrepreneur dedicated to helping young adults with disabilities achieve
their dreams. Her mission extends beyond personal coaching; she is committed to educating
the wider community about the deaf experience and fostering a more inclusive society.