RITHIM Staff

Freyja Arnason

Director, RITHIM

Freyja Arnason is the Director of the Research Improvements Through Harmonization in Manitoba (RITHIM) initiative.

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She has a Master’s degree from the University of Manitoba. Throughout her career she has worked in public administration in the areas of health policy, research and innovation. She is experienced in project and program management, change management, and policy analysis and development. She works closely with stakeholders including researchers, post-secondary institutions, industry, government and health system partners to foster research and innovation in Manitoba.

Elaine Burland

Coordinator, RITHIM

Elaine received a PhD in Community Health Sciences and an MSc in Family Studies, both from the University of Manitoba. She worked at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) from 2001-2020. Prior to joining MCHP, she worked for the South-Eastman Regional Health Authority as a research project coordinator for the ‘Tots Study’ and as a research coordinator for the Pembina Valley Learning Centre.

Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to gain experience in many different areas including program evaluation, research program management, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and working with administrative data. 

Hope Nicholson

Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator,  RITHIM

Hope holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from York University. Her career background is in governmental administration, previously working with the Sports, Culture, and Heritage branch of the Manitoba Government. She joined the RITHIM group in 2020 and works to ensure that RITHIM's many stakeholders are engaged and informed about the project.