Our Leadership

For more than 30 years, Julia N. Dumanian has led complex healthcare organizations across the public, non-profit and private sectors, serving in CEO and senior executive roles across Canada. Throughout her career, she has focused on strengthening systems, expanding access, and delivering meaningful outcomes for the communities she serves.

She is recognized for building and transforming organizations that improve lives and expand opportunity. Guided by a belief that everyone deserves equal participation in society, she has dedicated her leadership to advancing a barrier-free future for Deaf and hard of hearing Canadians. 

Under her leadership, Canadian Hearing Services has taken bold steps to become Canada’s most comprehensive, full-service hearing health care provider. As Chief Executive Officer, she has strengthened CHS’ national leadership in Hearing Health and Deaf empowerment while positioning the organization for long-term growth and impact.

Her commitment to life-changing, research with generational impact led to the creation of Hearing Research International, formerly known as CHS Global Partnerships for Research & Innovation. Established as an international research foundation, Hearing Research International is designed to shape global research priorities, inform policy and systems, and advance equity for Deaf and hard of hearing communities worldwide through collaboration and evidence-driven innovation.

She believes deeply in the power of research, leadership, and partnership to transform lives. Through steady, forward-looking leadership, she continues to invest in a future where Deaf and hard of hearing people have greater access, opportunity, and influence in Canada and around the world.

Chantal Graveline, PhD is an award-winning healthcare executive with more than 30 years of progressive leadership experience across the healthcare continuum for local, national, and global organizations. She has led accreditation efforts, developed performance accountability frameworks, created internationally recognized clinical programs, and led successful funding and strategic partnership initiatives.

Dr. Graveline has dedicated her career to bridging clinical and community practice with academic and scholarly activities. She has pioneered new academic and practitioner roles supporting the translation of research into practice. Her own research in the fields of cell biology, neurophysiology, and epilepsy surgery in pediatric populations has contributed to advancements that continue to inform the field. She has supported the development of graduate work in rehabilitation and is the driving force behind the scholarly vision and mandate of CHS Global Partnerships for Research & Innovation, now Hearing Research International.

Dr. Graveline has led Canadian Hearing Services’ programs and services portfolio for the last 10 years, including Audiology, Interpreting, Deafblind Intervening, Connect Mental Health, as well as Community and Social Services. Her dedication and commitment to exceptional quality of care have been recognized through Accreditation Canada exemplary status.

Dr. Graveline leads by example and continues to be a passionate, lifelong learner. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Western University, a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Montreal, a Master of Science in Cell Biology, and a PhD in Neurosciences from the University of Toronto.

She has held executive and leadership roles at organizations in the hospital, community care, and home care sectors including Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, Baycrest Geriatric Health Care System, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, COTA Health, and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Rex Banks, Au.D. is an award-winning audiologist and hearing health system leader with nearly four decades of clinical, academic and senior leadership experience. He directs the operations of Hearing Research International (HRI), formerly CHS Global Partnerships for Research & Innovation, where he has been instrumental since its inception in designing the architecture of HRI’s research framework, overseeing the funding cycle that supports its grant programs, and cultivating an international network of researchers and collaborators to expand HRI’s global reach and impact.

At Canadian Hearing Services (CHS), Rex oversees Audiology Professional Practice and Quality, advancing standards of care and guiding accreditation and continuous quality improvement across the organization. His work bridges professional practice and research strategy, strengthening outcomes for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing.

Rex has served as a research advisor and co-author with Statistics Canada on national studies related to tinnitus, unperceived hearing loss, and the relationship between hearing health and hypertension. He has held adjunct faculty appointments, received major industry awards recognizing his clinical excellence, humanitarian contributions, and professional leadership, and has led several national professional associations within audiology. Throughout his career, he has worked within organizations dedicated to Deaf and hard of hearing communities and brings that perspective to service delivery, professional mentorship, and public engagement.