Melanie Hibbard

Melanie Hibbard is executive director of Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Canada, known as DRIFCan. The Edmonton based charity, founded in 2005, funds James Shapiro's islet transplant team at the Alberta Diabetes Institute and the University of Alberta. She came to the cause after both of her young sons were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the second at just 18 months old. She left a long banking career to work full time in the diabetes community. She directs the foundation's donor and grant strategy toward cure focused research, including a 10 million dollar campaign announced with the University of Alberta and partners. Before taking the executive role she volunteered across diabetes organizations as a board member, outreach chair, and mentor to newly diagnosed families.

Affiliation

Executive Director, Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Canada

Location

Alberta, Canada