Leadership Team Work life expertise, industry insight, and an appreciation for the complexities of Health and Disability are the hallmarks of the Gowan Consulting team. Their vision and client-centered focus have guided the company's continued success as a leading provider of Health and Disability Management services.

Nancy J. Gowan, B.H.Sc. (O.T.), O.T. Reg. (Ont.), CDMP, President

Melanie Weller, B.H.Sc. (O.T.), O.T. Reg. (Ont.)

Heather Sewell, B.H.Sc. (Kin.), M.Sc. (O.T.), O.T. Reg. (Ont.)

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Nancy J. Gowan, B.H.Sc. (O.T.), O.T. Reg. (Ont.), CDMP

Nancy Gowan is a registered occupational therapist and Certified Disability Management Professional with experience working in industrial rehabilitation and return to work programming.

Since her graduation from McMaster University in 1988, Nancy has assisted employers both local and national with development of health and disability management strategies, which have added bottom line profits through improved productivity and reduced disability costs. She has implemented client centred health and disability management programs for companies such as NCR Canada Ltd., Research in Motion, BMO Financial Group and Bell Canada yielding returns on investment ranging from 10% to 600%.

Nancy works in partnership with employers and unions to develop customized strategies that will bring sustainable savings and improved employee health and productivity. She has presented at national and international forums on disability management and regularly contributes to disability management education through workshops and training programs as well as online newsletters. She has been involved with the National Institute of Disability Management and Research since 1999 as a lead faculty in the Mohawk College Disability Management Certificate program in Ontario and as an online facilitator.

Nancy has coauthored a chapter on “Ergonomics in Disability Management” in Ergonomics for Therapists, 3rd edition, 2007. Nancy is currently working on writing a Human Resources Best Practice Manual for Managing Disability in the Workplace with Carswell. She is also preparing a chapter “Disability Management: Transferring Research to Practice in Canadian Organizations” to be included in the Edited Book Disability Management: Theory, Research and Methods.

In 2008, Gowan Consulting prepared a survey of Canadian Organizations regarding the implementation of research to practice in disability management. If you wish to participate in the upcoming 2010 survey, send us an email. Nancy has led Gowan Consulting from a local company to a nationally recognized brand that allows each individual customer the opportunity of having consultation supported by years of experience and business centred focus.

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Melanie Weller, B.H.Sc. (O.T.), O.T. Reg. (Ont.)

Melanie Weller graduated from McMaster University in 1989 and since then has concentrated her practice in occupational therapy on industrial and corporate rehabilitation.

She focuses her practice on complex return to work issues and has worked with organizations such as Hydro One, BMO Financial Group, Bell Canada and the Government of Ontario. Her work has assisted employees in prevention of injury and illness and return to productivity. She provides ergonomic services, consultation on difficult accommodation issues and provision of proactive and sustainable work plans.

Melanie is active in working with educational institutions and corporations to improve the understanding of the community regarding strategies to ensure employees can maximize their productivity at work. She has presented to organizations throughout Ontario on practical suggestions for improving return to work plans.  Melanie has coauthored a chapter on “Ergonomics in Disability Management” in Ergonomics for Therapists, 3rd Edition, 2007.

Melanie’s experience working with complex issues in the workplace, brings the knowledge of function and productivity to her customers. She has provided practical accommodation plans for individuals with mental health concerns, physical disabilities and transformed generally complex issues into productive meaningful work solutions.

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Heather Sewell, B.H.Sc. (Kin.), M.Sc. (O.T.), O.T. Reg. (Ont.)

Heather Sewell completed her Masters degree at University of Western Ontario in 2007 and brings with her fresh insight and intuitive ideas. Heather’s undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo provides her with a wealth of knowledge in ergonomics and related human movement.

Heather is experienced in working closely with the health care team. She utilizes her experience working as a personal trainer and brings a proactive exercise perspective to her clients. Heather’s passion for health and well-being has driven her to research and present on a variety of health related topics to her peers. Her primary research interests and presentation topics include older adult fitness and daily function, low-back care, human-ergonomic factors, soft tissue injury, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and diabetes mellitus therapy.

Heather has assisted organizations with accessibility and ergonomic solutions that allow access to work and the workplace for individuals with various disabilities. She is a certified Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP) provider and uses these strategies to ensure successful recovery to function for individuals with pain, chronic health conditions, cancer survivors, and persons with mental health conditions. Heather works with a focus on early and safe return to work. Her background and experience assists in developing ergonomic and complex return to work solutions for employers.

Gowan Consulting - Working Together for Healthy Businesses

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