Bree Akesson

Bree Akesson is a Full Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Social Work and holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Global Adversity and Wellbeing. She leads the Global Adversity and Wellbeing Research Group, focusing on the intersection of extreme adversity (war, climate displacement) and family/home wellbeing through place-based methodologies. Her work integrates qualitative GIS, participatory research, and advocacy for marginalized populations.

Key research themes include:

• War-affected families' resilience and protection mechanisms
• Pregnancy loss in conflict zones
• Climate migration and health equity
• Global social service workforce capacity building
• Domicide as a human rights violation

Her research has been funded by SSHRC, UNICEF, and the Ontario Ministry of Research. Notable outputs include the book From Bureaucracy to Bullets: Extreme Domicide and the Right to Home and policy briefs on refugee belonging.

Dr. Akesson supervises numerous graduate students and collaborates internationally with organizations like the Hope Foundation for Women and Children. Her work bridges academia with practitioner/policy communities through participatory knowledge translation.