Ms. Susan M. Mertens

Author and art historian

Ms. Mertens is a respected arts critic, cultural commentator, and educator with an extensive career in both Canadian and international arts media. Her insightful art commentary has appeared in numerous publications and has been featured on radio and television broadcasts. As a senior art critic for the Vancouver Sun, she was introduced to the work of Jack Shadbolt, leading to a professional friendship that spanned twenty-five years. During her tenure as a Shadbolt Fellow at Simon Fraser University, she authored Jack Shadbolt: In His Words (2024), an edited collection of his poems, letters, and journals. Her project aims to bring Shadbolt’s legacy to life through a unique performative piece that integrates his words, sketches, and personal images. Ms. Mertens was born in Toronto and educated at the universities of Carleton, Guelph and UBC in Canada, and the University of Cambridge, England, in philosophy.

Previous lecture

WHITHER THE NATIONAL GALLERY?

Dal Grauer Memorial Lecture
Ms. Diana Nemiroff’s curatorial work has made a lasting impact on the Canadian art landscape. From director of Carleton University Art Gallery, and as senior curator at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) for over twenty years. Some of her most recognized exhibitions include the ground-breaking Land, Spirit, Power: First Nations at the National Gallery of Canada (1992); Crossings / Traversées (1998); and Melvin Charney and Kzrysztof Wodiczko(1986) for the 42nd Venice Biennale.

Next lecture

UNDERSTANDING AND RESPONDING TO PUBLIC CONCERNS ABOUT FARM ANIMAL WELFARE

Dr. Marina von Keyserlingk is internationally renowned for her research on the welfare, care, and housing of dairy cows and calves. Her work has set new standards in agricultural animal welfare, providing science-based solutions to improve the lives of animals in production settings. Before joining UBC’s Animal Welfare Program, Dr. von Keyserlingk worked as a research scientist in the animal feed industry. In 2018, she received the prestigious Hans Sigrist Research Prize from the University of Bern for her scientific contributions to sustainable animal-based food production. Dr. von Keyserlingk is also a director on Canada’s National Farm Animal Health and Welfare Council. She is committed to student mentorship and training in animal welfare science and supports the development of young scientists through collaborations with other institutions and programs such as the Emerging Leaders of the Americas Program.