Neena L. Chappell, PhD, FRSC, Canada Research Chair in Social Gerontology, Professor of Sociology and Centre on Aging, University of Victoria. She was founding Director of the Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba (1982 - 1992) and first Director of the Centre on Aging at the University of Victoria (1992 - 2002), developing both into world-class research facilities while ensuring accessibility to the community. For over 25 years, she has been a leader in gerontological research, focusing on three areas: quality of life for seniors, caregiving, and the health care system and related policy. Her research can be characterized as partnerships with other researchers in the social sciences and with non-researchers in government and community agencies.

Dr. Chappell promotes relevance and scientific rigour. She conducts large quantitative studies, small in-depth qualitative studies, publishes policy papers, and commentaries on the current societal situation. She argues for recognition of the positive aspects of aging as well as recognition of problems and challenges.

She has written more than 250 academic articles and reports, authored books and spoken extensively on health, health care policy, and formal and informal caregiving that has relevance to seniors. She is an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Aging and Ethnicity, Canadian Journal of Sociology, Journal of Aging Studies, Journal of Applied Gerontology, Social Sciences, Journal of Gerontology and The Gerontologist and has sat on many boards and committees. She was an executive member of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Task Force and its interim governing council. She is currently a member of Health Canada's Science Advisory Board and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.