Current Members
Elected Community Members
Jeffrey Beaton
Jeffrey Beaton is from Whitby and is a member of the Governance Committee and the Board representative on the Lakeridge Health Foundation.
Jeffrey works for the City of Pickering in Park Operations.
He lends his time to many local organizations, including the Town of Whitby, where he is the Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACC). He also supports the Durham Region Transit Advisory Committee, and the Durham Youth Justice Committee through the Boys and Girls Club of Durham.
Jeffrey graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an undergraduate degree in biology and the University of Guelph with a graduate degree in Landscape Architecture. He is a licensed Landscape Architect.
Shashi Bhatia
Shashi Bhatia is from Pickering and is a member of the Governance Committee.
Shashi is a leader and a community builder, who is committed to promoting tolerance, understanding, and inclusiveness for all. A founding Chair of the Indo-Canadian Cultural Association of Durham (ICCAD), she is a driving force behind the highly successful “Roots and Drum” concerts in support of the Durham West Arts Centre and a member of a multi-faith community of Durham Region.
She is a member of the Pickering Rotary Club, (past Co-Chair) member of the Durham Regional Police Service and community advisory Committee, and a Durham Ambassador (Influencer) with the Canadian Armed Forces. In addition, Shashi is a Director on the Board of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, and a member of the Ajax-Pickering Advisory Board for Carea Community Health Centre. She is also a member of Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan’s fundraising Committee that raises funds for Ajax Pickering Hospital and various charities in Durham Region, as well as an associate member of Canadian Legion 606, Pickering. Shashi has co-founded various cultural and heritage organizations in Durham Region and created the Durham Advisory Committee, which brings together various multifaith and multicultural organizations under one banner.
Shashi has served on many provincial and federal quasi-judicial boards and tribunals, including the Immigration and Refugee Board, the Consent and Capacity Board, and the Social Benefits Tribunal.
She appeared as a trail blazer in the East Magazine of Durham Region. She is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions and commendation for her service to the community, including a leadership award from Toronto Police Service, a Lifetime Achievement Award (Pickering), and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Barb Brady
Barb Brady lives in Port Perry and is the Vice Chair of the Governance Committee.
She was appointed as a Trustee on the Lakeridge Health Board from 2016-2019 as the representative of the Lakeridge Volunteers and served on the Quality Committee as a Co-Vice Chair.
In 2019, Barb was elected as a Trustee to a second three-year term. Her current commitments on the Board include: Board appointed Co-Chair of the North Durham Community Advisory Council, Board liaison with the Lakeridge Health Long-Term Care Home Capitol project, and Vice Chair of the Governance Committee. She has also served on the Selection Committee and the Nominations Committee.
In her career as a Registered Nurse specializing in Emergency Care Barb brings many years of experience in the health care field to her role as a Trustee.
Barb enjoys supporting her community and has held a leadership role in many of her volunteer roles. She served as President of the Auxiliary to Lakeridge Health Port Perry, Chair of the Lakeridge Health Volunteer Council, and as the Director of Business on the Board of the Hospital Auxiliaries Association of Ontario. She was also a member on the Board for Personal Attendant Care, a Board member of the Canterbury Common Residence Association, and served as Vice President of a local Electoral District Association.
In her role as a volunteer, Barb has received a Provincial Award for Volunteer Leadership and is a two-time recipient of the Auxiliary Volunteers “Above and Beyond Award” for her contribution to volunteering.
Cordelia Clarke Julien, Vice Chair of the Board
Cordelia Clarke Julien is from Pickering, her home for over 20 years, and is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Governance Committee.
As a self-professed change agent, Cordelia has held several executive roles in the Ontario Public Service focused on change and transformation including, but not limited to, leading teams as a senior executive in the Ministries of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Labour, Training and Skills Development; Finance Revenue; and the Office of the Premier and Cabinet Office. She is currently the Assistant Deputy Minister of the COVID Agri-Food Secretariat in the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
As a former publicist with an extensive policy and change management background, Cordelia has put her communications, policy, and strategic planning skills to work for not-for-profit organizations in her community, including as a past Director of the United Way of Ajax, Pickering, and Uxbridge prior to amalgamation, as well as providing supports to organizations promoting mental wellness.
Cordelia has a Master of Arts in Political Science and International Relations with specialization in Public Administration and a Double Major Honours Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Political Science. In addition to her role as a part-time Professor in the Master’s in Public and International Affairs (MPIA) program at York University, she is also a certified project manager, change management specialist, and public relations practitioner.
Sharon Cochran (EdD), Chair of the Board
Dr. Sharon Cochran is from Whitby and is Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Sharon brings with her extensive experience in the post-secondary system and community corporate boards. She consults in the post-secondary system. She was formerly the Director of Faculty Bargaining Services for the Canadian Association of University Business Officers, which provides support in labour negotiations to Canadian Universities.
Sharon is a former Vice President of Special Projects and Vice President of Administration and Finance for the University of Northern British Columbia, Associate Vice President of Human Resources for the University of Saskatchewan, and Director of Academic Relations for Simon Fraser University.
She serves on the Boards of the Abilities Centre (Vice-Chair) and Kinark Child & Family Services.
Her education includes a Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of British Columbia and she has achieved the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Thelson Desamour, Secretary
Thelson Desamour is from Pickering and is a member of the Governance Committee.
Thelson is a litigation lawyer specializing in commercial and insurance disputes. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in 2006.
He is counsel with Fenchurch General Insurance Company. Previously, he served as in-house counsel at a national insurance company, as well as a mediator with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.
Thelson volunteers with the Advocates Society, serves on the Board of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, and has been published in Lawyers Weekly.
Thelson graduated from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law.
Carion Fenn
Carion Fenn is from Ajax and is the Chair of the Quality Committee.
Carion has received several recognitions for her community service, including the Ontario Volunteer Service Award, the Ajax Civic Award, and the Accessibility Community Award from the Town of Ajax.
Carion is the recipient of the Rogers TV Resiliency Award 2021 for her resiliency, dedication, and hard work displayed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a winner for Canadian International Black Women Event’s (CIBWE) Canada 100 Black Women to Watch 2020 and has been selected for the following: Women of Influence, “Meet A Role Model” 2020; 2020 Black History Month Panel speaker identified as someone who personifying black excellence.
She was also honored to be selected as one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 2018 by the Honorable Jean Augustine and her co-authors, and one of the 35 Courageous Women by The Denise House.
She is a past Accessibility Advisor to the Town of Ajax Council and Vice-Chair on the Accessibility Advisory Committee, as well as a former volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
Carion is a TV show host at Rogers TV Durham. She is also the Founder and President of the Carion Fenn Foundation, a registered charity established to provide support, education, and resources for rare and chronic diseases.
Ben Gray
Ben Gray is from Port Perry and is a member of the Resources Committee.
Ben began his legal career at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Ottawa over 20 years ago and he has held successively more senior in-house roles since leaving private practice in 2001.
In 2011, Ben was a finalist for the ZSA General Counsel of the Year Award for Litigation Management. He is also the Executive Representative on the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA), and Chair of the Association’s Legal Affairs Committee. Ben has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 15 years and currently is Vice President and General Counsel of Teva Canada Limited.
Ben has served as a Board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham and continues to support various community charities, including the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation, the local hospice, and the Annual Walk for Dog Guides.
Shane Hardy
Shane Hardy is from Ajax and a member of the Resources Committee.
Shane is a Member at the law firm of Cozen O’Connor LLP where he serves as Chair of the firm’s Canadian Intellectual Property practice.
Shane specializes in brand management and trademark law and is frequently called upon to assist with the protection and enforcement of all types of intellectual property. Shane is a strategic advisor to clients in many industries with a focus on consumer facing businesses. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2002.
Shane received his Hons B.A. from Wilfrid Laurier University and his LL.B. from Dalhousie University Law School.
Tom McCulloch, Treasurer
Tom McCulloch lives in Pickering and is Chair of the Resources Committee.
He has been active in the commercial real estate industry in Canada for over 35 years. Tom has recently retired as the head of Real Estate Investments at the Canada Post Corporation Pension Plan. The Plan has assets in excess of $28 billion and Tom had been building Canada Post’s Pension Investment real estate portfolio for the past several years. The portfolio has $3.8 billion in commercial real estate assets throughout Canada, the U.S., and Western Europe.
Tom is currently the Chair of the BentallGreenOak Prime Canadian Property Fund Advisory Board. Previously, Tom worked in the investment divisions of Crown Life and Aetna Life, and at Real Fund REIT and Morguard REIT, both publicly traded entities.
Tom is a graduate of Sir George Williams University (now Concordia) with a BComm degree in Finance.
Ijade Maxwell Rodrigues
Ijade Maxwell Rodrigues is from Brooklin and a member of the Quality Committee.
Ijade is the Chief of Government and Community Relations at York University, one of Canada’s largest and most diverse universities. Ijade has over two decades of experience in the areas of: strategic planning, community engagement, issues management, reputation building, finance, human resources, communications strategy, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. In 2018, Ijade received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education in recognition for her service to the organization.
Ijade is active in the community, recently serving on the Board of Directors for Carea Community Health Centre as the Chair. She also has served on the Brooklin Community Connections Board and as a volunteer writer for the local Brooklin Town Crier newspaper.
Alok Sethi
Alok Sethi lives in Brooklin and is a member of the Governance Committee.
Alok is a seasoned banking professional with over 20 years of progressive experience. He is currently a Director at BMO Capital Markets where he partners with all lines of businesses to provide thoughtful leadership and expertise in the development, client-linkage, governance, risk mitigation and implementation of strategic initiatives within its Global Capital Markets business.
Alok brings significant experience in financial management, risk management, strategy development, and policy and governance oversight.
He has been an active fundraiser for numerous charities, including Kids Help Phone and the Canadian Cancer Society, and has been named the recipient of various awareness awards.
Alok graduated with an MBA from Brunel University (UK) and a BCom from McMaster University. He holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation.
Nancy Shaw
Nancy Shaw is from Oshawa and a member of the Quality Committee.
Nancy is the CEO for the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. She was the former Executive Assistant to the late Honourable Jim Flaherty, MP, Minister of Finance for Canada.
Born and raised in Durham, Nancy has always maintained a close connection to the community. She was an active member of ProAction Cops & Kids, Tribute to our Troops and the Abilities Centre. She is the past President of the Foundation Board for Parkwood National Historic Estate in Oshawa and is a Director on the Police Appreciation Dinner and Awards Committee. Most recently, she became the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Ontario Regiment.
Nancy is a proud graduate of Durham College, as a Registered Nurses Assistant. Most recently, she received the “Alumni of Distinction” award from Durham College.
Bill Sims
Bill Sims is from Bowmanville and is Vice Chair of the Resources Committee. He is the president and owner of Durham Medical, located in central Oshawa and has been President of Durham Mental Health Services Board of Directors since 2009.
His experiences with both have given him a working knowledge of the community health care and mental health care systems and exposed him to the accreditation, governance and strategic planning processes. Bill graduated from McMaster University with a Mechanical Engineering Degree.
He started his work career with Johnson Controls, a large multi-national company involved in commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. This gave him experience in large building construction, maintenance, and operations while providing him with a solid business foundation to run and grow Durham Medical.
Bill and his wife believe in a strong community and contribute to many community organizations, including Grandview Children’s Treatment Centre, Community Foundation, Parkwood Foundation, Bowmanville Hospital Foundation, and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
Jeff Somerville
Jeff Somerville is from Whitby and is a member of the Resources Committee.
Jeff is an international sales and marketing professional with more than 25 years of experience in biotechnology, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. He has held senior executive positions in the U.S., Canada, and internationally.
Jeff is active in the community, having coached hockey, sailing, and baseball and served as Chair of the Ontario Operating Room Nurses Advisory Committee, Commodore of the Stony Lake Yacht Club, and member of the Alpha-1 Foundation Advisory Committee.
He has a BSc from Wilfred Laurier University and completed numerous executive programs, including at the Tuck, Ashridge, and Melbourne business schools.
Marek Ulanicki
Marek Ulanicki is from Whitby and is a member of the Quality Committee.
Marek is Managing Director and Deputy, Wholesale Credit in Group Risk Management at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). He began his career in 1986 with RBC in Toronto where he worked in Business Banking, Corporate Banking and Financial Institutions and Trade. In 1997, he transferred to New York to join the relationship management team covering insurance companies, returning to Toronto in 1999 to work at RBC Dominion Securities. In 2000, he joined Group Risk Management as Director in the Global Markets and Non-Bank Financial Institutions team. In 2011, he was appointed Managing Director and, in 2016, was also made Deputy.
Marek is a member of the Capital Market’s New Business Committee, Derivatives Portfolio Review Committee, Non-Bank Financial Institutions Industry Operating Committee, and the Financial Markets Infrastructure Industry Operating Committee.
Marek is a member of the Board of Directors of Lakeridge Health Foundation. He is a former member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Central East Community Care Access Centre Foundation and a former member of the Board of Directors of Durham Access to Care, a not-for-profit organization.
Marek has a BA Honours (Economics) and MBA, both from Queen's University.
Appointed Members
Cynthia Davis
Cynthia Davis joined Lakeridge Health as President and CEO in January 2021.
Cynthia is a registered nurse by profession and has over three decades of health care experience. She brings a mix of leadership skills and operational experience acquired through her progressive leadership roles in Ontario and Newfoundland. Her career began as a frontline nurse in a variety of settings in Canada and the US. Upon returning to Canada, Cynthia began work at St. Michael’s Hospital where she had the opportunity to work as a Manager in the Surgical and Cardiac programs during a time of change for the organization. She joined St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener Waterloo and led the development of a new tertiary level Cardiac program.
Upon return to her home province, she joined Western Health, one of four leading integrated health authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador responsible for the delivery of integrated health services to a diverse population across the entire continuum of care. She served eight years as the Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer, before being appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. Cynthia has a passion for patient-centred care, which she fosters through engagement and partnerships. Through her PhD studies she is focusing her efforts on advancing the transformation and integration of health services to support vulnerable populations, such as care of older adults.
Cynthia is a graduate of Western Regional School of Nursing diploma program. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) from Dalhousie University, and a Master of Science from the University of Toronto. She is a member of many provincial and national health care engagement groups and a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Colleen Wilkinson
Colleen is currently Interim Chief Nursing Executive at Lakeridge Health and Clinical Lead of the COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution. Colleen is a Registered Nurse with 23 years of experience in a variety of direct care, teaching, and leadership roles. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Nursing in 2003. She joined Lakeridge Health in 2011 and is committed to advancing evidence-based practice in Nursing and Allied Health Care.
Dr. Tony Stone
Dr. Tony Stone is a family physician who has delivered care to patients at Lakeridge Health since 1992. His activities have included emergency medicine, inpatient care, palliative care, and low risk obstetrics. His community practice is located in Bowmanville.
Dr. Stone is active in the community and has taken on numerous health care leadership roles, including posts as President of the Durham Medical Society and President of the Medical Staff Association of Lakeridge Health. Prior to the formation of Lakeridge Health, Dr. Stone also served as Chief of Staff at Memorial Hospital Bowmanville.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Stone has served as Co-Chair of the Durham Region COVID-19 Steering Committee, the Durham Region COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Executive Table, the COVID-19 Response Partners Group, and is a member of the Durham Ontario Health Team Steering Committee.
Dr. Stone is a graduate of the University of Toronto, completing a Bachelor of Science (honours) in human biology in 1986 and then medical school in 1990. Dr Stone received his certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in 1992.
Dr. Stone and his family have resided in Durham Region since 1970.
Dr. Randy Wax
Dr. Randy Wax is President of the Medical Staff Association at Lakeridge Health.His roles at Lakeridge Health include attending physician in the Critical Care Unit and Physician Lead for the Critical Care Response Team at Lakeridge Health’s Oshawa Hospital. He also serves as the Regional Director for Clinical Education/Medical Director of Academic Affairs jointly with Queen’s University and Lakeridge Health. Dr. Wax is the Critical Care Physician Lead for the Central East Subregion of Ontario Health-East.
Dr. Wax supports clinical care throughout Ontario as a Transport Medicine/EMS Physician with Ornge and a Virtual Critical Care Physician using telemedicine in conjunction with Health Sciences North. He brings to the Board a broad regional and provincial perspective through his diverse leadership experience in different sectors of the health care system.
Dr. Wax completed medical school and Internal Medicine residency at the University of Toronto and a fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed a Master of Education Degree in Higher Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto. Dr. Wax is a graduate of the Advanced Health Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Management. His academic faculty appointments include Associate Professor at Queen’s University and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to medical education, critical care, and disaster medicine from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, Queen’s University, University of Toronto, and the Canadian Association for Medical Education.
Dr. Megha Suri
Dr. Megha Suri is an Endocrine and General Surgeon at Lakeridge Health and has been in practice since 2017. Dr. Suri completed medical school at the University of Western Ontario in 2008 and General Surgery residency at the University of Toronto in 2015. During her residency, Dr. Suri obtained a Master of Science degree through the Surgeon Scientist Program at the University of Toronto. Dr. Suri went on to complete a fellowship in Endocrine Surgery at Johns Hopkins University in 2016 and has subsequently helped to increase accessibility and establish excellence in the practice of thyroid and endocrine surgery at Lakeridge Health’s Port Perry Hospital and in the Durham Region.
Dr. Suri is a member of the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee at Lakeridge Health and has a keen interest in promoting equity for women through their advancement in leadership roles.
Dr. Suri has received numerous awards for both her research and teaching of medical trainees.
Janice Wye-Baker
Janice Wye-Baker is from Whitby and was appointed to the Lakeridge Health Board of Trustees in 2019, representing the Auxiliaries/Volunteer Associations for Lakeridge Health. Janice is a member of the Quality Committee.
Janice is a former teacher who moved to Durham Region in 1999. She taught Social Sciences at Henry Street High School in Whitby for 14 years and served as the Department Head for the last eight years of her career.
Janice joined the Association of Volunteers Bowmanville Hospital four years ago. She has been president of the Association since October 2018. Previous to that, she spent three years as Vice President. Janice is also Chair of Lakeridge Health Volunteer Council. Previous volunteer commitments include serving on the Board of the Kincardine Big Brothers Big Sisters Association while also delivering the sexual assault awareness program to little brothers and sisters and helping at the Whitby Humane Society and Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary.
Janice has a Bachelor of Arts in Consumer Nutrition and Family Studies from Ryerson University and her Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary.
Peter Hobb
Peter Hobb is from Bowmanville and a member of the Resources Committee.
Peter was a partner of Baker Tilly KDN LLP, a public accounting firm, for thirty-four years retiring in 2017. He was also President of Baker Tilly KDN Consulting Inc. from its inception in 2006 until his retirement. He continues to work on a part time basis as an associate with the firm.
Peter is very active in his community. He is a former member of the Bowmanville Lions Club, served on the Board of Directors of the Bowmanville Chamber of Commerce (now Clarington Board of Trade), and coached minor league hockey and soccer teams. He is currently doing a second term of service with the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation, serving as its Treasurer. During his first tenure with the Foundation, he chaired its Planned Giving Committee, which was responsible for developing a planned giving program, which launched in 2011. He also chaired its Leadership Committee, which had the task of revamping the Foundation’s governance model in anticipation of the new Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations Act taking effect.
Peter has been published in CPA Magazine (Pivot), Baker Tilly, and other local publications, writing on a wide range of business and financial topics. He has also presented on a variety of business and financial topics to small and medium sized business owners and advisors to these businesses.
Peter is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Ontario. He graduated with a Business Degree from Ryerson University.