Executive Board
Elections are held annually for this committee which is responsible for providing leadership for the Chapter by expanding and improving the services offered to members. The officers coordinate the activities of the Association through regular meetings and promote educational initiatives and networking opportunities. The executive officers of APABA are the president, the president-elect, the past president, the secretary and the treasurer. The term of office for the president, past-president and president-elect is one year each for a total of three years, while the secretary and treasurer are elected for two year terms. Up to three Members-at-Large may be elected to constitute the Executive Board of the Atlantic Provinces Association of Behavior Analysis. For additional information on Executive Board Member roles and responsibilities, please click here.
Current Executive Board
President - Victoria Bernard
Victoria is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) based in New Brunswick, soon starting as a Clinical Supervisor at Capital Family Services. Since 2017, she has worked with individuals from 18 months to young adulthood, demonstrating that patience and problem-solving are her core strengths.
Originally from northern Maine, Victoria has strong Atlantic Canadian connections through her family’s roots in Prince Edward Island. She holds a degree in Human Kinetics from St. Francis Xavier University and a Master’s in Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in ABA from Brock University. This background equips her with a unique approach to ABA, integrating social determinants of health with other therapeutic goals.
Victoria’s true passion lies in enhancing the quality of life for those she supports, including her clients, teammates, and supervisees. She’s committed to teaching and inspiring others to apply ABA in ways that are as meaningful as they are trauma- informed. For Victoria, it’s not just about teaching—it’s about creating an environment where growth, understanding, and compassion for others can truly thrive.
In her spare time, Victoria enjoys exploring the outdoors with her partner, Daniel, and their energetic dog, Bo. She also enjoys other hands-on activities including tending to houseplants, baking, and knitting, all of which add creativity and joy to her life.
Victoria is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) based in New Brunswick, soon starting as a Clinical Supervisor at Capital Family Services. Since 2017, she has worked with individuals from 18 months to young adulthood, demonstrating that patience and problem-solving are her core strengths.
Originally from northern Maine, Victoria has strong Atlantic Canadian connections through her family’s roots in Prince Edward Island. She holds a degree in Human Kinetics from St. Francis Xavier University and a Master’s in Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in ABA from Brock University. This background equips her with a unique approach to ABA, integrating social determinants of health with other therapeutic goals.
Victoria’s true passion lies in enhancing the quality of life for those she supports, including her clients, teammates, and supervisees. She’s committed to teaching and inspiring others to apply ABA in ways that are as meaningful as they are trauma- informed. For Victoria, it’s not just about teaching—it’s about creating an environment where growth, understanding, and compassion for others can truly thrive.
In her spare time, Victoria enjoys exploring the outdoors with her partner, Daniel, and their energetic dog, Bo. She also enjoys other hands-on activities including tending to houseplants, baking, and knitting, all of which add creativity and joy to her life.
Past President- Laura Joyce
Laura is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a passion for empowering individuals, building high-performing teams, and ensuring the highest quality of services. For the last 15 years, she has worked in diverse environments, from early intervention to social services, adult services, and caregiver training. Currently, Laura is the Clinical Director of Quality & Community Impact at Capital Family Services in Fredericton, NB. This breadth of experience has instilled in her a deep understanding of the importance of behavior change principles, the power of collaboration, and the importance of delivering exceptional services to every client.
Compassion is at the core of her ABA practice, and she prioritizes trauma-informed care and creating strength-based interventions that foster long-term success. As a neurodivergent person, she champions neurodiversity-affirming care and accessible support systems for all: clients and team members.
She is driven to connect with the community at large, including organizations, government agencies, schools, and individuals. Through collaboration and knowledge sharing, she believes we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.
Laura is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a passion for empowering individuals, building high-performing teams, and ensuring the highest quality of services. For the last 15 years, she has worked in diverse environments, from early intervention to social services, adult services, and caregiver training. Currently, Laura is the Clinical Director of Quality & Community Impact at Capital Family Services in Fredericton, NB. This breadth of experience has instilled in her a deep understanding of the importance of behavior change principles, the power of collaboration, and the importance of delivering exceptional services to every client.
Compassion is at the core of her ABA practice, and she prioritizes trauma-informed care and creating strength-based interventions that foster long-term success. As a neurodivergent person, she champions neurodiversity-affirming care and accessible support systems for all: clients and team members.
She is driven to connect with the community at large, including organizations, government agencies, schools, and individuals. Through collaboration and knowledge sharing, she believes we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.
President-Elect - Nicole Turnbull
Nicole Turnbull began her career in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in 2008 as a Behaviour Interventionist with the Preschool Autism Program in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Over the next 12 years, she advanced through roles including Lead Therapist, Trainer, Behaviour Consultant, and Clinical Supervisor. During this time, Nicole earned a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Arizona State University.
In 2021, Nicole became a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and now supervises BCBA candidates, supporting the next generation of professionals in the field. In 2020, she joined the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) as a Learning Specialist for the Autism Learning Partnership. She currently serves as the Learning Specialist for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Complex Behaviour. Nicole is Level 4 certified in Skills-Based Treatment and is dedicated to advancing the values of Today’s ABA through her professional practice.
Nicole is also deeply committed to her local autism community in Fredericton, actively participating in fundraisers and programs that support autistic youth and adults. Within APABA, she has served as Engagement Team Chair and has been a consistent contributor to initiatives that connect and strengthen the ABA community.
Passionate about disseminating the science of ABA, Nicole is committed to promoting best practices, fostering professional growth, and advocating for ethical, evidence-based approaches across the Atlantic provinces. She looks forward to continuing to serve APABA members, supporting the field’s growth, and advancing the impact of ABA in both clinical and educational settings.
Nicole Turnbull began her career in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in 2008 as a Behaviour Interventionist with the Preschool Autism Program in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Over the next 12 years, she advanced through roles including Lead Therapist, Trainer, Behaviour Consultant, and Clinical Supervisor. During this time, Nicole earned a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Arizona State University.
In 2021, Nicole became a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and now supervises BCBA candidates, supporting the next generation of professionals in the field. In 2020, she joined the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) as a Learning Specialist for the Autism Learning Partnership. She currently serves as the Learning Specialist for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Complex Behaviour. Nicole is Level 4 certified in Skills-Based Treatment and is dedicated to advancing the values of Today’s ABA through her professional practice.
Nicole is also deeply committed to her local autism community in Fredericton, actively participating in fundraisers and programs that support autistic youth and adults. Within APABA, she has served as Engagement Team Chair and has been a consistent contributor to initiatives that connect and strengthen the ABA community.
Passionate about disseminating the science of ABA, Nicole is committed to promoting best practices, fostering professional growth, and advocating for ethical, evidence-based approaches across the Atlantic provinces. She looks forward to continuing to serve APABA members, supporting the field’s growth, and advancing the impact of ABA in both clinical and educational settings.
Secretary - Monica Peters
Monica Peters has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2014. She is currently residing in Halifax working at Nova Scotia Health in a community outreach program supporting adults with dual diagnosis (intellectual/developmental disability plus mental health diagnoses). Although she has supported individuals across the lifespan (ages 4 and up), her passion remains with the adult population. She spends most of her time consulting with families and teams to ensure that the adults she is supporting have the right supports in place to live safe, happy and healthy lives. In addition to her regular
job, since 2021, Monica has also been a research assistant with Dr. Alison Cox on a project looking at the impact of psychotropic medications on individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities who engage in challenging behaviours. Earlier this year, She was fortunate enough to present both at ABAI and at the QCABA conference on increasing psychological flexibility using the ACT Matrix.
Monica Peters has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2014. She is currently residing in Halifax working at Nova Scotia Health in a community outreach program supporting adults with dual diagnosis (intellectual/developmental disability plus mental health diagnoses). Although she has supported individuals across the lifespan (ages 4 and up), her passion remains with the adult population. She spends most of her time consulting with families and teams to ensure that the adults she is supporting have the right supports in place to live safe, happy and healthy lives. In addition to her regular
job, since 2021, Monica has also been a research assistant with Dr. Alison Cox on a project looking at the impact of psychotropic medications on individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities who engage in challenging behaviours. Earlier this year, She was fortunate enough to present both at ABAI and at the QCABA conference on increasing psychological flexibility using the ACT Matrix.
Treasurer - Amy Lays
Amy has been the treasurer for APABA since 2021. She has worked in a variety of clinical and related administrative roles supporting persons with autism and developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis from toddlers to adults. She started working with children with autism when she was in high school in 2001, one of her teacher’s knew she would be the right fit to support their child with autism in learning and developing new skills using the principles of behaviour analysis. It was from that moment she knew she wanted to be a Behaviour Analyst, a goal she achieved in April 2023 when she became a BCBA. Amy completed high school in 2003, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Ottawa in 2007 and graduated with her Master of Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis in June 2021 from Brock University. Amy currently resides in Antigonish and works as a Clinical Interventionist for the IWK in the early intervention autism program. She also works in private practice supporting a diverse age of clients in a variety of settings. Amy is passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and using behaviour analysis to assist learners, parents and staff to learn new skills. Amy also uses a variety of resources to coach parent’s on generalizing interventions in their own environments.
Amy has been the treasurer for APABA since 2021. She has worked in a variety of clinical and related administrative roles supporting persons with autism and developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis from toddlers to adults. She started working with children with autism when she was in high school in 2001, one of her teacher’s knew she would be the right fit to support their child with autism in learning and developing new skills using the principles of behaviour analysis. It was from that moment she knew she wanted to be a Behaviour Analyst, a goal she achieved in April 2023 when she became a BCBA. Amy completed high school in 2003, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Ottawa in 2007 and graduated with her Master of Applied Disability Studies with a specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis in June 2021 from Brock University. Amy currently resides in Antigonish and works as a Clinical Interventionist for the IWK in the early intervention autism program. She also works in private practice supporting a diverse age of clients in a variety of settings. Amy is passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and using behaviour analysis to assist learners, parents and staff to learn new skills. Amy also uses a variety of resources to coach parent’s on generalizing interventions in their own environments.
Member-at-Large - Abby Lowry
Abby entered the field of ABA in 2017 and has been a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst since 2021. Originally from Burlington, Ontario, Abby now resides in Bedford with her two cats and sometimes present, military husband. After spending the last nearly four years as the Post-Secondary Manager at Autism Nova Scotia, Abby transitioned to working full time with Allied Therapy, a multidisciplinary team based in Bedford.. Abby is passionate about working with individuals looking to gain skills to support the life they want to live, as well as the families and teams surrounding the individual. Joining the APABA Board within the Member at Large role is an incredible opportunity, and Abby is excited to learn from the Board!
Abby entered the field of ABA in 2017 and has been a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst since 2021. Originally from Burlington, Ontario, Abby now resides in Bedford with her two cats and sometimes present, military husband. After spending the last nearly four years as the Post-Secondary Manager at Autism Nova Scotia, Abby transitioned to working full time with Allied Therapy, a multidisciplinary team based in Bedford.. Abby is passionate about working with individuals looking to gain skills to support the life they want to live, as well as the families and teams surrounding the individual. Joining the APABA Board within the Member at Large role is an incredible opportunity, and Abby is excited to learn from the Board!
Member-at-Large - Heather Dort
Heather is a BCBA mom of 2 living in Moncton, NB originally from Ottawa, ON. Her experience in the field of ABA is vast across many service provisions and leadership roles including hospital in-patient settings, public schools and centre-based services. Currently Heather is working with the First Nations population in New Brunswick and has recently started offering ABA-based sleep support.
Heather began her career in ABA working as a behavioural interventionist in Ontario implementing ABA for newly diagnosed children with Autism. She fell in love with the science of behaviour, and seeing her clients acquire new skills.
Eager to expand her experience Heather accepted a role support forensic inpatient clients helping them reintegrate into society. Soon after she became the professional practice lead for behavioural therapy guiding the development of the discipline in the hospital setting, as well as planning and delivering professional learning on applied behaviour analysis.
Heather is a BCBA mom of 2 living in Moncton, NB originally from Ottawa, ON. Her experience in the field of ABA is vast across many service provisions and leadership roles including hospital in-patient settings, public schools and centre-based services. Currently Heather is working with the First Nations population in New Brunswick and has recently started offering ABA-based sleep support.
Heather began her career in ABA working as a behavioural interventionist in Ontario implementing ABA for newly diagnosed children with Autism. She fell in love with the science of behaviour, and seeing her clients acquire new skills.
Eager to expand her experience Heather accepted a role support forensic inpatient clients helping them reintegrate into society. Soon after she became the professional practice lead for behavioural therapy guiding the development of the discipline in the hospital setting, as well as planning and delivering professional learning on applied behaviour analysis.