Helen Hirsh Spence’s passion for lifelong learning defines her five-decade career as an educator. It began in Munich in the early 70s, where she embarked on her teaching journey and gradually assumed increasingly senior leadership positions in the Canadian public and private education sectors. Her path, however, took a significant turn when she experienced the direct impact of ageism and recognized the potential implications of the upcoming demographic shift to ‘older’ on North America’s social and economic fabric.

Helen is the founder of “Top Sixty Over Sixty,” a trailblazing initiative aimed at transforming the narrative of ageing from negative to positive. Fearlessly tackling the challenges facing older adults, she champions age diversity and strives to educate others about ageism.

A well-respected and sought-after thought leader, Helen Hirsh Spence has appeared on a TEDx stage*, in major national media outlets, on television, radio, and podcasts. She is invited to share her insights at conferences internationally as a keynote speaker. Her 2024 TEDx talk garnered over 100,000 views in its first month. Helen seizes every opportunity to promote an empowering perspective on aging, inspiring change for all generations.

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