Board of Directors

Chair, Alexandra Carson is an Education Assistant for Paediatrics and Psychiatry at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry- Windsor Campus. Prior to working at the University of Windsor , she had many years of experience in customer service. She graduated from both the University of Windsor (Psychology & Communication studies) and St Clair College (Business Marketing). Having a family member with a brain injury makes being part of this association even more important to her. She hopes to  bring her work experience and passion to help those with brain injuries to this role as a board chair. 

Vice Chair, Theresa Wunder is a legal assistant at Wunder O’Brien. Mr. O’Brien represents people with serious injuries, including brain trauma.  As a result she has attended seminars, webinars and conferences on brain trauma (as well as chronic pain) to enhance her knowledge and to help others.

Treasurer, Joanne King

Joanne is an accountant and has been actively involved in the community for many years.  Her involvement has included health care organizations and anything her children were involved with.  Joanne is married to Mark Huggard and they have four adult children. BIAWE is important to Joanne as she has a family member with an acquired brain injury.

Secretary, Lauren Fields is a recent graduate at the University of Windsor for Social Work and continues her career in gerontology. She is passionate about working with BIAWE from her personal experiences and drives to help others. She is looking forward to working with BIAWE members and staff to create a positive and fun environment for everyone! 

Dr. Marcus Niessen is a plastic surgeon in Windsor. His interest in supporting BIAWE is  personal.  He was in a London hospital for 4 months after a brain injury. He knows the important work BIAWE does changes people’s lives.

Ann Marie Keough graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. From 1994 to 2015, Ann Marie worked in acute care at Hotel-Dieu Grace/Windsor Regional Hospital-Ouellette Campus, spending most of her time working with patients on the acute neurology unit. ​
In 2015, Ann Marie left the hospital setting to begin a career in the community by opening Enable Physiotherapy. Her treatment focus remained on clients with neurological diagnoses including stroke, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. The clinic has grown quickly and now employs two other Physical Therapists with a focus on neurological clientele.
Ann Marie is certified with the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association and has experience treating clients with vertigo, vestibular dysfunction and concussion.

Danielle Ferri started her career in the dental field after graduating with honours in dental assisting and is currently working part time for Asprakis & Danti Dental.  Life threw a curve ball in 2015 when her husband Rob Downes was in an ATV accident, in which he sustained an acquired brain injury (ABI) as well as other injuries.  In search of more understanding and awareness about brain injuries she has attended multiple conferences and conventions and completed courses through Brock University in Neurorehabilitation and Neurobehavioral Disorders.  
Finding a new passion for awareness, advocating, and supporting individuals with ABI she also works as a Rehab Support Worker for Bartimaeus Rehabilitation Support Services Inc. With a significant need for help in the mental health field she has an applied metapsychology practice called Traumatic Incident Reduction. 
She is looking forward to making good things happen! 

Dr. Allison Kivisto grew up in Windsor Ontario and attended post secondary education at the University of Windsor graduating from the Human Kinetics program before attending the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC). She worked as an associate for 2 1/2 years before opening her own clinic, where she built a multidisciplinary practice of providers that included massage therapists, psychotherapists, fascial stretch therapist and naturopathic medicine.
Currently, in addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Kivisto is working with the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (Windsor Campus) with the Standardized Patient Program.
She has worked with a number of athletes and club sports organizations and built a special interest in treating and helping manage those who have suffered from concussions. Her goal is to help spread awareness of how to manage, treat and recover from concussions, so that no individual or athlete is left in the dark.

Krystal Decker is a  client representative on the board of
directors. Krystal has been a client of BIAWE for many years and will bring her client experience to the board. She joined the education committee in January of 2025.
She has been a dedicated volunteer within the community since 2013 in various organizations. She is excited to continue the advocacy work of BIAWE. She will keep the board exceptionally organized with a colour coded schedule. She is also excited to help with planning any future BIAWE fundraisers. She has been a dedicated bingo volunteer for the last 3 years and helped at the pasta fundraisers at Caboto club in the past.
She brings her education background as a community service worker diploma (2016) to the table. She currently attends lots of the programs offered by BIAWE on a monthly basis and will continue to do as much as she can.
Krystal is known as the “human calendar” for her exceptional memory for dates and schedules.
Outside of BIAWE, she is a sparks leader (youngest branch) of Girl Guides of Canada and an avid book hoarder who attends a monthly book club.