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Board Members

Our Board of Directors is an unpaid, volunteer board that serves as the authoritative link between the operational organization and you, the people that the organization serves.

The Board oversees the organization using a Governance Model and written governance policies within the broad categories of:

  • Ends
  • Executive Limitations
  • Governance Process
  • Board-Management Delegation

Responsibility for the organization’s operations is delegated to the CEO, who reports to the Board of Directors.  The performance of the CEO is reviewed annually. 

Terms of Reference for Board and Board Committees 2022

 

Join Our Board

We are accepting applications for new Board Members until April 5, 2024!

More Info | Apply Online

 

Board Performance

To assess its performance, the Board and individual members undergo an annual self evaluation process.  The aggregated results are reviewed by the Governance Committee and addressed as necessary.  Attendance of individual members is reviewed annually by the Governance Committee.  Board members who miss three consecutive board meetings may be removed from the Board.  All Board members must declare any conflicts of interest at the outset of every meeting.

An annual education plan is developed for existing members of the Board that includes internal and external opportunities to grow their knowledge on a variety of topics relevant to their role.

The Board publicly shares the Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements so that our community is confident that the organization is effectively providing exceptional client care, good governance and fiscal accountability.  More informally, the community is kept up to date through its social media channels, email newsletters, and virtual updates.

 

Joining the Board

For more information on joining our Board of Directors please contact Michele Swanson, Executive Assistant at 905-827-8800 x2011.

Prospective board members are asked to provide a cover letter outlining their interest in joining the board, along with a resume. If there are open board positions, and the candidate and their skills match current board needs, the candidate will be interviewed by the Board Chair, Governance Committee Chair and CEO. Successful candidates will recommended to the board for membership via motion at the next board meeting.

New board members are provided with a formal orientation to the organization.

 

Board Sub Committees

The board has created the following standing sub committees:

  • Finance
  • Governance
  • Pension & Benefits
  • Quality & Risk

 

Board Members

To contact one of our board members, please contact Michele Swanson, Executive Assistant at 905-827-8800 x2011.

Cindy Heinz

Chair

Appointed to the Board: 2015
Cindy is a senior legal counsel with 20 years of experience and extensive accomplishments as both a Partner in a large international firm in Toronto and as In-House Counsel. During her career she has had accountability for a broad range of legal matters including private mergers and acquisitions, corporate commercial law, contract drafting and negotiation, civil litigation and employment law. She spent nine years on the Board of Directors of a large community hospital and was a member of various Research Ethics Board.  Currently, she co-leads and facilitates the Advanced Corporate Governance Course for Ontario hospital boards of directors offered by the Governance Centre of Excellence of the Ontario Hospital Association.


Debra Deakin

Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair

Appointed to the Board: 2021
Debra is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA/CMA) with over 30 years of experience in business partnering across various industries including financial institutions, logistics and automotive. An Acclaim volunteer in the Friendly Visiting / Tele-Touch program and former volunteer at Halton Women’s Place, she is excited about contributing her knowledge and skills in supporting not for profit health care services.


Stuart Du Kamp

Secretary, Quality & Risk Committee Chair

Appointed to the Board: 2017
Stuart is a Quality Assurance professional with over 30 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry. After spending his formative years in the UK, Stuart immigrated to Canada in 1997, and had held a series of Senior Quality Management roles with companies spanning the pharmaceutical spectrum.  Throughout his career Stuart has sought out opportunities that would not only expose him to a diverse range of experiences, but also allow him to apply his core quality philosophies across a wide range of platforms. Stuart is very excited about the opportunity to leverage his extensive experience within pharmaceutical manufacturing to the challenging arena of health care delivery, and in doing so, improve the patient experience.


Lawrence Benjamin

Governance Committee Chair

Appointed to the Board: 2020
Lawrence is a professional with over two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical, banking and technology industries, where he held several progressive positions. He was also a volunteer tutor for several years at Skills for Employment, Life and Family (SELF), formerly the Peel Literacy Guild, and is currently a mentor for post-graduate students of colour. Lawrence has a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) specializing in Healthcare Management, an M.Sc. in International Management focusing on Health Systems Management and Operational Excellence and a B.Sc. Biology/Chemistry. He also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Strategic Organizational Leadership and is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. He is extremely excited to continue his passion for advocating for positive social change.


Dwania Peele

Member

Appointed to the Board: 2021
Dwania wears two hats – a Quality Control Manager in the Beverage & Distilled Spirits Industry and the Founder of Canadian Small Business Women. She holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Windsor, a Diploma in Chemical Laboratory Technology from St. Clair College and postgraduate courses in Project Management from University of Toronto. Living in three different countries throughout her lifetime has given her a high level of cultural intelligence, which she has used to build an online community of thousands of diverse entrepreneurs. She is an avid volunteer in her community and a proud member of the University of Windsor Alumni Association’s Reunions & Special Events Committee. She has been recognized for her excellence in the entrepreneurship world as IWAA Entrepreneur of the Year, Top 40 under 40 and Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada. Dwania has also used her platform to promote entrepreneurs in two collaborative books. She is also a proud breast cancer conqueror.


Mukul Asthana

Member

Appointed to the Board: 2023
Mukul is an innovative, results-oriented professional and board member with over several years of board experience in the corporate sector, not-for-profit sector and advisory boards. Over 40 years of international and national business experience in the private sector, dealing with governments and not-for-profit sectors. Expertise in the areas of governance, strategic planning, policy, public relations and government affairs. Mukul has served on the Oakville Chamber of Commerce: serving on the Govt. Relations & Advocacy Committee for almost a decade. As chair of the Halton Champions of Innovation for 8 years where his focus is on governance, innovation strategic planning. Mukul also serves as a board member of Waterlution, a water learning experience, focused on governance issues, strategic planning and risk & opportunity management. Mukul is actively involved with OSPE (Ont. Society of professional engineers) on their Research & Innovation as well as sustainable cities board committees. He is also a past chair (innovation) of the Oakville chapter of Professional Engineers of Ontario.


Cathi Mietkiewicz

Member

Appointed to the Board: 2023
Cathi is the founder of Mietkiewicz Law in Burlington. As its sole practitioner, she counsels regulators, associations, other not-for-profits, and operators in regulated sectors on governance, regulations, by-laws, policies, and contracts. Before starting Mietkiewicz Law, she practiced regulatory and health law at one of Canada’s largest international law firms. She then practised at a boutique law firm in Toronto that specializes in professional regulation. She regularly speaks on regulatory compliance, ethics, and board governance. In our community, she served on the Board of Directors of Mohawk Shared Services and was the president of a local riding association. Before joining the Board she served on Acclaim Health’s Governance Committee. Prior to entering law, Cathi had a career as an optician, and for nine years served on the Council of the College of Opticians of Ontario, the regulator of opticians in Ontario.

 

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