Founding Director, Canadian Poverty Institute at Ambrose University, Calgary (Canada), currently President and CEO, Simon House Recovery Center, Calgary (Canada), adjunct professor, University of Calgary. BA in Psychology, Doctorate from Oxford University, Past President, Calgary Homeless Foundation, Chair, National Council of Welfare (2007-2012), a federal body reporting to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, proposing recommendations for improving the lives of Canadians. Dr. Rook was awarded with the Queen's Silver Jubilee Award (2016).
A popular speaker at conferences, Dr. Rook tackles topics related to poverty and policy change, he has a talent for unraveling the theoretical. He has a practical sense for the realities of poverty from some of his own life experiences as well as from decades of working in the field.
Dr. Rook has spend his whole career in the field and has a brilliant expertise to unvail the connection between poverty and crime especially for young people who age out of the child welfare system and are ending up on the streets in increasing numbers.