HONOURARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JEFFREY BEACH • BOARD MEMBER

Jeffrey Beach is a passionate leader in the Canadian non-profit sector with experience in organizational management, governance, and community and fund development. He is driven to help others and thrives on developing and executing strategies to empower people to reach their full potential despite their health and social challenges.

As the President & Chief Executive Officer of Asthma Canada, Jeff oversees the operations of a national health charity that is driven by the vision of a future without asthma and the mission to provide education, support, advocacy, and research for more than 4 million Canadians living with this chronic respiratory disease.  

Jeff’s career began as a student running a summer work experience program for blind and visually impaired youth. That experience ignited an altruistic drive within him to understand and meet the needs of communities and improve lives.

Before being appointed the President & CEO of Asthma Canada, Jeff held positions with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Youth Assisting Youth, The Arthritis Society, the Victorian Order of Nurses, and Willow Breast & Hereditary Cancer Support. He was a member of the executive leadership team and Interim Chief Executive Officer at Cystic Fibrosis Canada and was the Executive Director of the Canadian Spondyloarthritis Association. 

Jeff is a graduate of University of Windsor, Leadership Windsor-Essex, and earned a post-graduate certificate in Non-Profit Management. A Past Chair of the Board of Directors for Federated Health Charities and Founding Advisory Council member of A Life Worth Living, his lifelong commitment to volunteerism and community includes volunteer leadership work with several faith-based and community service organizations. He is also a long-time active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Toronto Chapter and represents Asthma Canada as a member of the Health Charities Coalition of Canada.

DR. VIVIEN BROWN • BOARD MEMBER

Vivien Brown MDCM, CCFP, FCFP, NCMP is a family physician in Toronto, the North American VP for the Medical Women’s International Association, and an Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto.

Educated at McGill University, she currently is appointed to the Department of Family & Community Medicine at both the University of Toronto and at McMaster University. She teaches medical students, residents and is highly respected for her work in continuing medical education for family doctors.

As a NAMS certified Menopause Practitioner, Vivien is the Chair of the Consumer Education Committee for NAMS. As an expert in Menopause, she is influential in numerous advisory boards, helping to edit teaching modules for the SOGC aimed at both practicing physicians and the public at large.

An award winner for teaching on many levels, Vivien’s major interests are in the area of health promotion and prevention for women, and continuing medical education. She is particularly focused in the area of Adult Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Illness. In 2009, she won the prestigious Enid Johnson MacLeod Award from the Federation of Medical Women of Canada for teaching in women’s health and has just been bestowed a great honour by the College of Family Physicians by being awarded “Physician of the Year” for the region of Toronto.

Vivien has lectured locally, nationally and internationally on preventative medicine and implementation issues around vaccination. She currently is the Toronto Branch President of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, serving on their Board of Directors, linking female physicians, students and residents throughout the country.

BRENDA DEE • BOARD MEMBER

Brenda Dee is President of Brenda Dee & Associates Inc. Brenda is a seasoned Certified Executive Management Consultant (CMC). Equipped with strong business transformational and technology management experience combined with solid professional acumen, interpersonal skills and enthusiasm for directing change, Brenda has a reputation to provide lift to stagnant or stalled enterprise initiatives.

Growing up in rural Ontario, Brenda developed an early appreciation for the importance of serving her community and that has continued to be evident throughout her professional and personal life. She believes everyday should be about learning and making a difference.

Brenda travelled extensively throughout her corporate career reshaping the international telecom landscape through various mergers, acquisitions and outsourcing negotiations. Although she was constantly embroiled in business, the need to serve her community was never far from her mind. Continuing her parents’ legacy, Brenda felt the need to instil a sense of community in her two children Emily and Taylor and assumed a board position with Family Transition Place (FTP). Within a year, Brenda was invited to consider the Chair role and served in that capacity for an additional 6 years. FTP provides emergency shelter, counselling support and second stage housing to abused women and their children across the Headwaters community.

Brenda continued to serve on other boards in the sports sector as well as provides governance advisory where boards may be floundering. When Brenda embraces a challenge, she is all in. Creativity has no limits and she will stop at nothing to ensure expectations are met. Brenda often refers to her role as one of a commercial matchmaker which she quite enjoys.

Serving not-for-profits continues to be of interest to Brenda providing, there is room to make a difference, the organization leads with integrity and her board colleagues are open minded progressive leaders. Never lose sight of a good sense of humor!

MARK GIRARD • TREASURER

Mark Girard is a Chartered Accountant and Chief Financial Officer of Cedarpoint Investments Inc., a private equity and alternative investments management firm based in Toronto, Ontario. Mark is also CFO of Tanurb, a commercial real estate partnership with assets in the US and Canada.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Windsor (1980), and earned his CA designation in 1983. Mark has spent 8 years in public practice with Deloitte LLP, and has extensive audit and tax experience in real estate, investments, foodservice, franchising and non-profit organizations.

Since leaving Deloitte in 1988 to pursue a career in industry, Mark has held CFO roles at Pizza Pizza Limited, Stephenson’s Rent-All, Retirement Life Communities and Cedarpoint Investments Inc and Tanurb.

Mark is an avid photographer and golfer.

SUSAN HODKINSON • SECRETARY

Susan Hodkinson is the Chief Operating Officer at Crowe Soberman, where she has management responsibility for the operations of the firm, including finance, information technology, human resources, facilities and marketing. Susan also heads the firm’s
HR Consulting Group. In this capacity, Susan provides advice on all aspects of Human Resources, and demonstrates how strong HR practices can assist small to medium sized business owners to manage, grow and secure their businesses.

Susan is a frequent writer, speaker and facilitator on a variety of HR, operational and general business topics. Her background includes over twenty years of senior management experience in professional services firms, as well as five years acting as Senior Vice President, Operations, for ClubLink Corporation, Canada’s largest owner, operator and developer of private and resort golf courses.

Susan is very active in community activities, and is particularly committed to groups that focus on creating opportunities for women to work together to achieve greater levels of business and personal success. Included in Susan’s community activities are the Board of Directors of the McMichael Canadian Art Foundation, an agency of the government of Ontario under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. She is the Chair of the Toronto Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, Toronto and sits on the National Board of this organization.

Susan is also Chair of the Board of Directors for Nightwood Theatre, the oldest professional women’s theatre company in Canada. Nightwood Theatre forges creative alliances among women artists from diverse backgrounds while advocating for women, providing a training ground for emerging talent and engaging artists in play development and theatre production. Susan is also an Honorary Chair of One Walk to Conquer Cancer.

Susan is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. She has completed Executive Education at Queen’s University, Chicago Booth University, McGill University and the Anderson School of Business at UCLA.

CATHERINE HUNTER • BOARD MEMBER

Catherine Hunter is a partner at EY Canada and is the National Leader of their Technology Strategy and Transformation practice, serving clients in Consumer Health and Life Sciences. Catherine began her career in the hospital sector and transitioned to consulting, where she has primarily focused for the past 25 years. Throughout her career, Catherine has worked with diverse private and public sector clients to develop and deliver health-focused strategies and transformations and served extensively as a business and technology advisor in clinical, academic and business settings. She is often called upon to speak at sessions with health and life sciences organizations and has recently spoken on topics such as Generative AI and consumer health experiences. 

With a longstanding history in Canada’s digital health community and through work with diverse clients and technology vendors, Catherine has always enjoyed the opportunity to develop and enable strategies through technology while working closely with the people and teams whose working lives and customer experiences can be improved. Her recent client engagements speak to the evolving nature of health in Canada, working with clients that include a financial services institution and government and pharmaceutical companies, all seeking to serve health needs in varying capacities.

Before joining EY in 2020, Catherine led the Health consulting practice at PwC Canada. She has also held roles with Canada Health Infoway, focusing on delivering connected electronic health solutions across Canada. She has also been self-employed as a consultant for several years.

Catherine holds an MBA (Health Services Management) from McMaster University and a BScH (Life Sciences) from Queen’s University. She has a keen interest in volunteering and governance. She is currently the Chair of the Board for Technation Health (an association comprised of technology vendors serving Canada’s health sector) and is a member of Digital Health Canada. 

JOANNE KORTEN • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JoAnne Korten, a dynamic and demonstrated leader in philanthropic giving, governance and nurturing strong and mutually rewarding partnerships specializing in the health, education, and research sectors. JoAnne is adept at developing high-valued relationships to secure the mission-oriented work that has enabled Women’s Brain Health Initiative to build our capacity to meet the growing demand for us to reach more and teach more. An effective communicator, skilled negotiator and analytical thinker, JoAnne develops long and short-term strategies for organizations and their partners that puts them into action and stimulates inclusive collaboration that helps to meet the needs of diverse communities.

JoAnne’s vast experience in helping hundreds of Canadian philanthropists and families to identify charities and organizations that align best with their interest, their beliefs, and their values uniquely places JoAnne with the expertise that enhances relationships within the not-for-profit and corporate sector.

JoAnne is a bridge-builder respected for her transparency, dedication, trustworthiness and receptive nature while working with others who want to contribute, influence, and selflessly help to make a difference in this world we all share.

MARK LASH • BOARD MEMBER

Mark Lash is one of Canada’s most prominent, well-loved and respected jewelry designers, whose name is synonymous with innovative design, quality workmanship and personalized customer service. Established almost thirty years ago, Mark Lash Fine Jewelry currently has two locations, a flagship showroom and factory in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and a retail store in mid-town Toronto.

Mark’s keen eye, incredible talent and determination drove his passion into the successful business it is today. The world is Mark’s canvas and through his extensive travels he continues to be inspired by the world of art, architecture, fashion and entertainment. With a flare for selecting and designing stunning pieces of jewelry that are versatile and timeless, Mark Lash designs, current or traditional are inspired by eras past and current trends today.

Mark Lash has gained international notoriety by dressing many celebrities at red carpet events. His jewelry has been worn by Cee Lo Green, Freda Pinto, Shania Twain, Naya Rivera and Celine Dion to name a few. Mark’s celebrity following includes Cheryl Hines, Cameron Manheim, Julia Ormon, Eva La Rue, Taylor Hicks, William Shatner, Martin Sheen, Connor Cruise and Dianna Agron. People magazine featured Mark’s jewelry on Melody Scott Thomas and In Style magazine sported Rachel Bilson’s Mark Lash designed engagement ring.

Mark is contributing editor to Revive magazine and has made guest appearances on Entertainment Tonight Canada, eTalk, CTV and Breakfast Television, and has been interviewed on XM Sirius Radio, and Just.Jared.com. Mark is a genuine philanthropist, generously donating exclusive pieces for auction in support of a wide variety of charities, and supporting The Blue Jay care Foundation, Children’s Wish Foundation, The Hospital for Sick Kids Foundation, Music Counts, The Aids Project of Los Angeles and Elton John’s Fashion Cares.

NANCY LAUGHTON • BOARD MEMBER

Nancy Laughton was a Managing Director in the Vancouver office of LHH Knightsbridge, the Canadian division of Lee Hecht Harrison, a global human resources consulting firm. Prior to the merger of Knightsbridge and LHH, Nancy spent her first nine years with Knightsbridge as Managing Director, Western Region, responsible for managing and growing the offices in Western Canada. Before assuming this role, Nancy was Senior Principal with KPMG where she led the Career Transition and Human Resources practices. Her background includes over 25 years consulting in the areas of career management, training and development, general human resources, and executive search. She coaches and advises individuals, primarily at the Executive level, in the areas of career transition, retirement lifestyle planning, and independent business. Nancy graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and was a Certified Management Consultant until her retirement in 2018. She was an active member of the BC Human Resources Management Association for which she chaired many committees and conferences. Nancy currently sits on the Board of The Vancouver Club, and is on the Global Board of Directors of the International Women's Forum. 

DOMINIKA MALYCHA • BOARD MEMBER

Dominika Malycha is Senior Vice President and Team Lead in Aon’s Risk Management practice. In this role, she is responsible for mentoring her team in all aspects of client service, including client liaison and technical support to enhance client engagement; conducting regular SWOT analysis of the clients’ business to understand emerging risks and the impact to clients’ bottom line; analyzing market trends and conditions; developing effective marketing strategies; benchmarking performance; and evaluating insurance proposals, including alternative risk solutions and providing recommendations. She also facilitates access to innovative Aon products, services, and capabilities; evoking thought leadership allowing clients to make better decisions. Before joining Aon in 2011, she was an Assistant Vice President at Marsh Canada Limited. 

Dominika’s expertise includes risk managed and large, global clients focusing on real estate, healthcare, and not-for-profit risk profiles. She recently completed the Aon Enterprise Client Leadership Program and was recognized as a top learner among the many participants from across the globe.  Key competencies developed were turning challenges into opportunities and questioning the status quo, which are at the core of all interactions with external and internal stakeholders.

Dominika earned a B. Comm in business management and enterprise development major and an e-business minor from Ryerson University. Her professional designations include the CIP (Chartered Insurance Professional), CRM (Canadian Risk Management), FCIP (Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional), and RIBO (Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario).

Dominika is an active Hospice Whitby – Roger Anderson House Fundraising Committee member, driving various initiatives to bring awareness and drive interest in partnering on this vital initiative.

LYNN POSLUNS • FOUNDER • PRESIDENT • BOARD CHAIR

Lynn Posluns is Founder, President & Board Chair of the Women’s Brain Health Initiative, the global foundation raising money for research and education to combat women’s aging brain disorders. While serving as Founder and Chair of Women of Baycrest, Lynn recognized the need to raise awareness and funds beyond Toronto to help women stay brain healthy longer. Lynn’s passion and commitment for the cause now continues on a worldwide basis supporting worthy institutions that want to combat this impending crisis.

Since graduating from the University of Toronto with an undergraduate degree in Commerce & Finance, and a Masters degree in Business Administration, Lynn has held a number of positions within the Retail and Fashion industries, including President of Fairweather and Managing Partner of Canadian clothing designer Joeffer Caoc. Lynn is currently Managing Director of Cedarpoint Investments Inc., a private equity and alternative investments firm based in Toronto.

Lynn’s other community involvements have included Director, Baycrest Centre Foundation, Director, Toronto Fashion Incubator, Trusteeship Council, Koffler Centre of the Arts and Founding Member, Invest in Research Program, Princess Margaret Hospital. Fundraising campaigns include Baycrest, University of Western Ontario, Toronto Fashion Incubator, Princess Margaret Hospital, Israel Cancer Research Fund, and United Jewish Appeal, raising millions of dollars for these and other worthy causes.

In 2010, Lynn won the Baycrest Award for Foundation Leadership, and in 2012 received an ICRF Women of Action award for Philanthropy. Lynn also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding leadership at Baycrest and her vision for launching the Women’s Brain Health Initiative. Lynn was the recipient of WXN’s prestigious “Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women” Award, which celebrates the professional achievements of women across the country in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors in 2012. In 2015, Lynn received the Top 10 High Achieving Women award for Social Impact from the Rotman School of Management; in 2017, she was recognized with a Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary International, and in 2018, Lynn was the recipient of the Kurt and Edith Rothschild Humanitarian Award. Recognized as a visionary who could affect change, Lynn was awarded an honorary doctorate by York University in 2019. In December 2021, Lynn was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada, an honour bestowed on people who make extraordinary contributions to the nation for her contribution to research on cognitive health and aging through the founding of Women's Brain Health Initiative. In 2023, Lynn received the Queen Elizabeth 11 Platinum Jubilee pin for her service, and in 2024, Lynn was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence.

ELLEN RACHLIN • SECRETARY (UNITED STATES)

Ellen Rachlin is a partner at Blue Leaf Ventures, a firm that invests in and advises start-up companies. 

She spent her career in finance, most recently as a managing director at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management where she led investment due diligence and risk management teams, and managed governance processes. Prior to joining JPM in 2012, she worked for a decade at Mariner Investment Group as the lead portfolio manager for their fund of funds products. In that role, Ellen oversaw the investment and risk management processes and served on the firm’s Investment Committee. Previously, Ellen worked in a variety of different capacities at Wall Street firms, including Citibank, where she traded fixed income arbitrage, and SG Warburg, where she managed fixed income sales into the Americas. 

She has written several chapters for financial textbooks edited by Frank J. Fabozzi on economics and investment management, as well as other articles for finance journals, including The Journal of Investing. She graduated from Cornell University (AB) and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. She also serves on other boards including Thanks to Scandinavia and the Poetry Society of America where she is Treasurer. 

DR. ERNA SNELGROVE-CLARKE • BOARD MEMBER

Erna Snelgrove-Clarke is Vice-Dean & Director and Professor in the School of Nursing at Queen’s University. Erna is a strong advocate for advancing women’s health and a dedicated supporter of collaborating with interdisciplinary health care providers to implementing evidence to improve outcomes for maternal and newborn health. She has pursued this person-centred goal both in clinical and in research settings. Throughout her career, Dr. Snelgrove-Clarke has advocated for better patient outcomes, both through her academic appointments and in leadership roles at Dalhousie University.

Erna began her career by earning a Bachelor of Nursing degree at Memorial University in 1986; she transitioned to Dalhousie University where in 1997 she earned a Master of Nursing and doctoral degree from McGill University in 2010. Dr. Snelgrove-Clarke began her obstetrical career in 1986 and has continued this clinical career, since then, with the IWK Health Centre’s Birth and Antepartum Units in Halifax. Dr. Snelgrove-Clarke’s clinical career has spurred her desire to improve the lives of patients, especially women during pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum.

Erna is also no stranger to public service, having worked with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as well as the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, building a framework to improve patient outcomes. Her research and her person centred care and compassion in the clinic have led her to be honoured with many awards and commendations, including the Excellence in Nursing Research Award from the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia (2016); the CAPWHN Leadership Award (2017) and the CASN Preceptor and Mentorship Award (2017). She has been the recipient of 15 additional major awards and grants.

WILLIAM STEWART • BOARD MEMBER

Will Stewart is a senior strategic executive with over 20 years of experience who has driven project teams on complex files in a broad array of sectors for a wide variety of corporations, not-for-profits, start-ups, and member-driven associations. He specializes in using communications tactics, media relations, social media activism and public persuasion to change minds and influence political action.

Most recently, Will was a Senior Vice-President of Hill + Knowlton Strategies, where he led the National Public Affairs + Advocacy practice for Canada and was Chair of the Energy + Industrials Sector in addition to being part of the Canadian leadership team.  Will led a national team of practitioners focused on achieving real outcomes to further his clients' business interests where the media, politics, and the population intersect. 

Prior to joining H+K Strategies, Will served in a variety of executive roles within the newly legal medical and adult use cannabis market in Canada. Will was focused on developing, launching, and managing cannabis assets around the world where and how legal.  With teams and brands in multiple countries around the world from retail and health and beauty to cultivation and experiential culinary concepts, Will’s was focused on the promotion of these start-ups within the medical, recreational, and investor audiences.

A regular speaker and strategist on public policy, Will was previously Managing Principal of Navigator. He has provided strategic planning, research and communication advice to many of the leading firms, associations, and companies in Canada, as well as governments, trade associations and not-for-profit clients. Will was named by the Hill Times as one of the Top 100 Lobbyists in the country for seven straight years and has spent hundreds of hours in front of TV cameras and radio microphones and featured in written publications as a strategist and commentator.

Will served as Chief of Staff in several portfolios to Ontario ministers responsible for energy, social services, and children, as well as the Government Whip and House Leader. Will is a respected media commentator on politics, public policy and social media. In 2013, Will was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contributions to Canadian public policy.

SARAH WIDMEYER • BOARD MEMBER

Sarah Widmeyer is currently SVP, Head of Wealth Strategies at Richardson Wealth, and formerly was Managing Director, Head Wealth Advisory Services at CIBC, supporting the growth of CIBC’s Wealth Management businesses through the delivery of customized financial solutions to High Net Worth Clients.

Prior to CIBC, Sarah was Executive Director, National Office, Private Wealth Management and was responsible for the day to day operations, product, marketing, strategy and business management of our High and Ultra High Net Worth businesses at CIBC. Sarah was also Senior Vice President and Managing Director, BMO Nesbitt Burns, where she oversaw the fee based and managed account solutions group, financial planning, wealth advisory, high net worth offer, and global inter-business collaboration initiatives. Prior to BMO Nesbitt Burns, Sarah also worked at Spectrum United Mutual Funds as a Regional Wholesaler in addition to SunLife Assurance Company of Canada as a Sales Manager, Representative and Financial Planner.

Sarah is a graduate of the University of Toronto and received her CIMA designation from the Investment Management Consultants Association and The Wharton School, at University of Pennsylvania in 1999. She is actively involved in the community through the Juvenile Diabetes Association, the United Way and her daughters’ independent school, Kingsway College School. Sarah is married to a Financial Consultant and the busy mother of two very busy daughters.