Board of Directors

UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE FOUNDATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who work together to guide the vision and values of the Heart Institute Foundation.

Elizabeth Roscoe

Rubicon Strategy
Senior Vice President

Chair, UOHIF

Elizabeth Roscoe Senior Vice President,…

Senior Vice President, Rubicon Strategy

Elizabeth is chair of the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation.

Elizabeth is a seasoned public affairs practitioner providing strategic counsel, issue management, communications advice to clients and organizations nationally and internationally in the private sector and the public sector including the Government of Canada. Her expertise in public affairs is within regulated industries; finance, investment; telecom, broadcasting and internet. In addition to her volunteer role with the Heart Institute Foundation, Elizabeth is a board member of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, Futurpreneur Canada, and is a governor of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and she has served as a board member of the United Way of Ottawa.

Paul LaBarge C.M.

UOHI

Chair

Paul LaBarge C.M. UOHI, Chair…

UOHI, Chair

Mr. Paul LaBarge is a founding partner of LaBarge Weinstein Professional Corporation and an active participant in the local high technology sector for the last 25 years.

Practicing primarily as a tax (including tax litigation) and corporate lawyer, his practice has included anti-dumping trade enquiries and NAFTA disputes as well as financings of all types of enterprises from pulp and paper mills to satellites, major technology acquisitions, and corporate acquisitions and divestitures. Mr. LaBarge concentrates his practice in taxation, mergers and acquisitions, and trade law. Mr. LaBarge has been and continues to be heavily involved in the community. He serves on a number of charitable boards. A strong supporter of lifelong learning, he completed an LLM in 2009 and has recently co-authored a book on personal financial management.

Dr. Robert Cushman

OHIRC

Chair

Dr. Robert Cushman OHIRC, Chair…

OHIRC, Chair

Dr. Cushman is currently the Acting Medical Officer of Health for Renfrew County where he has been overseeing the response to the COVID-19.

Previously he was the Senior Medical Advisor at Health Canada as well as the Director General, Biologics & Genetic Therapies from 2012 to 2015.He was the Chief Executive Officer of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network from 2005 to January 2011. In that role, he focused on reducing surgical and diagnostic wait times, funding and promoting ‘aging at home’ projects, expanding addiction treatment programs, and completing groundwork for a regional hospital laboratory system. Earlier Dr. Cushman was the Medical Officer of Health for the City of Ottawa, where he was instrumental in bringing in smoke-free legislation. Dr. Cushman has worked as a primary care physician in a variety of healthcare settings, including the emergency room of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Somerset West Community Health Centre in Ottawa, and along the James and Hudson Bay coasts serving Cree and Inuit populations. Early on in his career, he worked at a large African mission hospital for three years. Dr. Cushman received his undergraduate degree in economics at Harvard University before studying medicine at McMaster University. He also earned an MSc in epidemiology from McMaster and an executive MBA from the University of Ottawa.

Matt Davies, CPA, CMA, CISM, CCISO, C.DIR

Hedgelake Digital Inc.

President

Matt Davies, CPA, CMA, CISM,…

President, Hedgelake Digital

Matt is the President of Hedgelake Digital which is a boutique consulting firm that provides strategic advisory services focused on digital transformation and cybersecurity. Matt has authored articles, delivered webinars, and served as a panel member speaking on strategy, digital disruption, current and emerging technologies, and cybersecurity. In 2020, Matt was the recipient of the CCISO Award, which recognizes an individual's outstanding work in information security, at the CISO Forum Canada.

Matt is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and has completed Executive Education Programs at the Tuck School of Business and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He has also completed the NACD's Cyber-Risk Oversight program earning the CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight issued by the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.

Matt currently serves on the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation and the Hydro Ottawa boards.

James Annis

BMO Nesbitt Burns

Investment Advisor

James Annis Investment Advisor, BMO…

Investment Advisor, BMO Nesbitt Burns

James is an investment professional with a 16-year track record providing comprehensive portfolio management to high net worth individuals, families and businesses in Canada.

After the sudden loss of his youngest son at just 20 months due to heart disease, James was motivated to give back to the community in the most meaningful way he could. James is currently Treasurer of the Board at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute as well as Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and co-Chair of the Joint Investment Advisor Committee.

Thierry Mesana, MD, PhD, FRCSC

UOHI

President, Chief Executive Officer

Thierry Mesana, MD, PhD, FRCSC…

President, Chief Executive Officer, UOHI

Dr. Mesana is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Recognized as one of the leading heart valve surgeons in the world, he received his medical degree in 1985, from the Université de la Méditerranée, in Marseilles and his PhD in biophysics and biomechanics in 1990.

In 1991, Dr. Mesana was, at the time, the youngest cardiac surgeon in France to receive a full professorship. He then became the Chair of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at La Timone University Hospital, the largest hospital in Marseilles, where he greatly expanded their cardiac surgery program, doubling its size in a 10-year period.

Dr. Mesana was appointed Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in 2001. Under his leadership, the Institute’s surgical program became a leading Canadian and International program and his valve repair program has become recognized as one of the best in the world. His emphasis on repairing failing heart valves helped to establish this approach as a gold standard for treatment. During his tenure at the Institute, he marked the milestone of the organization’s 500th heart transplant.

Dr. Mesana has fostered an international collaboration with the Qingdao Hospital to build the “Qingdao-Ottawa Heart Institute” which will be the first Chinese hospital officially affiliated and co-branded to a Canadian institution.

He is member of numerous national and international societies such as, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the European Society for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. He has received several national and international awards, has authored and co-authored over 300 scientific publications, and has given over 100 lectures as Guest Visiting Professor in Canada, the United-States, Europe, Japan and China.

Lianne Laing

Executive Director

Heart Institute Foundation

Lianne Laing

Ken Jennings

Jennings Real Estate Corporation

Co-founder

Ken Jennings Co-founder, Jennings Real…

Co-founder, Jennings Real Estate Corporation

Ken is a principal and co-founder of Jennings Real Estate, a real estate owner, manager and developer. Ken is also a licensed lawyer, having previously practised corporate law with Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.

Ken has a civil engineering degree from McGill University and a graduate degree in Law from Dalhousie University.

Colin Zappia

Sutton Group - Ottawa Realty

Broker/Realtor

Colin Zappia Driven. Dedicated. Experienced.…

Driven. Dedicated. Experienced. Professional. Trustworthy. Fun. These characteristics, and more, are what you’ll experience while working with me. My goal as your Realtor® is to build a strong and long-term relationship with you. I want you to be confident in referring me to friends and family so I will be sure to exceed your expectations every time we work together. There’s nothing more satisfying than happy clients. I actively give back to our community. I lost my father Tony at the age of 60 to a heart attack and have been working closely with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute for several years now. For every home that I sell, I donate money to the cause. I was recently appointed as the chair of the Wilbert Keon Memorial Golf Tournament, one of the Foundation’s biggest fundraising events. In 2022, we raised just over $190,000 and my goal is to exceed this amount in 2023. In 2019, I co-founded and produced the 24 Hours of Golf event which raised $50,000 for the UOHIF. Further to this, I am the Vice President of Project North (www.projectnorth.ca), an organization committed to enhancing and improving the lives of children in Canada’s north. I am proud to say that through this important initiative we’ve been able to deliver over $1.1M dollars of new hockey equipment to communities across Nunavut and northern Canada. In addition to a successful career in real estate, I’ve been working with Rogers TV in Ottawa for almost 20 years now. Over the years, I’ve interviewed some of the biggest names in hockey: Scotty Bowman, Daniel Alfredsson, Brian Kilrea, Brian Burke, and several other OHL and NHLers. I am front and centre for the Ottawa 67’s broadcasts, have called the action for the Canadian Little League and the Ontario Little League baseball championships and host the Sens Skills Competition. Prior to life as a realtor, I was an account manager with United Way Ottawa for three years and spent over 7 years as a buyer in the high-tech sector. I live in Riverside South with my girlfriend Christy-Ann and my two step kids – Lily (14) and Brendan (12).

Krista Kealey

Ottawa International Airport

VP of Communications and Public Affairs

Krista Kealey VP of Communications…

VP of Communications and Public Affairs, Ottawa International Airport

Krista Kealey joined the Ottawa International Airport Authority in 2002 and is their Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs. Among her responsibilities are media, government and community relations, issues management, special events, and all digital and social media.

Professionally, Krista is Past Chair of Airport Council International-North America’s Marketing and Communications Steering Committee, and a member of several business organizations. She is also very involved in her community, presently serving on the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation’s Board of Directors. Professional and community involvement earned her the distinction of being named to Ottawa’s Top Forty Under 40.

Krista is a graduate of Carleton University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree.

Catarina Silva

CEDEC

Senior Director of Communications and Marketing

CATARINA SILVA Senior Director of…

Senior Director of Communications and Marketing, CEDEC

As a senior leader with over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications and my areas of expertise include organisational communications, brand marketing and strategy planning. With a diverse background of industries in both public and private sectors I have achieved demonstrable success in global markets within B2B and B2C companies. I am an advocate and mentor for women and female entrepreneurs and am passionate about improving communities.

I hold a B.A. (Honours in Law) from Carleton University and an M.A. in Communications from the University of Ottawa.

Deneen Perrin

Royal Canadian Mint

Senior Program Manager, Policy & Stakeholder Relations

Deneen Perrin Senior Program Manager,…

Senior Program Manager, Policy & Stakeholder Relations at the Royal Canadian Mint

Deneen is currently the Senior Program Manager, Policy & Stakeholder Relations at the Royal Canadian Mint. Previously, Perrin held various positions in communications for the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, where she built an impressive 25 career with the Fairmont brand. Prior to her departure from the hospitality industry, Perrin occupied the role of Director, Media, Marketing, and Partnerships at Ottawa’s premier hotel.

Recognized as a resilient and adaptable communications executive, with proven specialty in crisis communication and a strong business acumen spanning leadership, decision-making, guest relations, change management, and more; Perrin is adaptable to all industries.

As an integral part of our community, Perrin has held various Board of Directors positions, including the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Algonquin College Foundation and the Rideau BIA, and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern Ontario. Winner of the 2011 Tourism Volunteer of the Year Award.

Erin Zipes

Shopify

Vice President, Assistant General Counsel

Erin Zipes Vice President, Assistant…

Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Shopify

Erin Zipes is currently Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Shopify. Erin has over 15 years of experience as a corporate/securities lawyer. She was previously Assistant General Counsel of Nordion, and started her legal career at Stikeman Elliott after obtaining her law degree at McGill University and Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University. She is also a cofounder of Backbone Angels, a collective of angel investors focused on women and non-binary founders.

A proud Ottawa native, Erin returned to Ottawa in 2010 with her husband and two children.

Leslie Mise

Mark Motors Group

General Manager

Leslie Mise General Manager at…

General Manager at Mark Motors Group

Born and raised in Ottawa, Leslie has actively served his community for the past three decades. He began his fundraising efforts with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in 2017 after being diagnosed with two aortic aneurysms and having been in the care of Dr. Paul Hendry and the team at the Aortic Clinic. His firsthand experience as a patient ignited his desire to get involved and refocus his energy on giving back to a place that had done so much for him. He first joined as a committee member for the Fuller Keon Golf Classic and in 2018, he became Chair. Prior to this, he served for three years with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and co-chaired the “Do It For Dad” Father’s Day event for two years. In his spare time, Leslie enjoys alpine skiing, golfing, and enjoying time with his family.

Muneeba Omar

Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Director at the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario

Muneeba Omar Director at the…

Director at the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario

Muneeba is currently the Director of Inclusive Growth at the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario. She has extensive experience in policy development and stakeholder engagement, as well as the design and delivery of business-facing programs. Previously, Muneeba served in a variety of progressively senior roles in different federal government departments including Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Treasury Board Secretariat, the Privy Council Office and the Department of Finance. Muneeba joined the Government of Canada in 2008 through the Recruitment of Policy Leaders program, an initiative aimed at recruiting exceptional candidates into the public service. She is also a graduate of the Accelerated Economist Training Program, a two-year leadership development program, during which she worked on a variety of social, economic, and international policy issues. Muneeba holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Carleton University Muneeba served on the board of the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization and has been involved in the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign in a variety of roles. She resides in Ottawa with her husband and two children.

Nick Panterias

Institutional Property Advisors: a division of Marcus and Millichap (NYSE:MMI)

Senior Managing Director Investments

Nick Panterias Senior Managing Director…

Senior Managing Director Investments for Institutional Property Advisors

Nick Pantieras, is Senior Managing Director Investments for Institutional Property Advisors: a division of Marcus and Millichap (NYSE:MMI). Prior, Nick was co-founder and President at Primecorp Commercial Realty Inc. with over thirty years of success in investment brokerage and management of commercial real estate. Marcus and Millichap acquired the brokerage operations of Primecorp in 2018. Nick is a co-owner of Primecorp Property Management Inc. Nick is a graduate of Queen’s University Executive MBA Program, and holds the professional designation of Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA). Nick has completed Executive Education programs at Harvard Business School, and the Wharton School-UPenn. He is a past recipient of the Ottawa Business Journal’s top 40 under 40 Business Person Award. Nick sits on the national executive of the Canadian Order of AHEPA, a global Hellenic philanthropic organization. Locally, he has served as AHEPA Chapter President and is also a Co-Chair of the Hellenic Community of Ottawa Gold Plate Dinner, a premier annual community building, networking, and fundraising event. He also served as table captain for ORCF Champions of Cancer breakfast. Nick is a co-founder and past Chair of Leaders at Heart, and a very grateful alumnus, receiving excellent care at the Heart Institute since 2003. Nick also served on the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation board for six years.

Gail Kaneb

Breakthrough Strategies

Retired

Gail Kaneb Breakthrough Strategies (Retired)…

Breakthrough Strategies (Retired)

Gail Kaneb is a catalyst for change, using a powerful combination of coaching, mentoring and facilitation. She developed her leadership and change management expertise while doubling the size of the family business in a shrinking market. Gail has been on the founding board of numerous non-profits in Eastern Ontario. She and her husband Tom chaired the $12 million campaign for the Cornwall Community Hospital. She chaired the board of Tostan, recognized as one of the most effective NGO’s in the world, a West-African non-profit that creates systemic change for women and girls, ending child marriage, female genital cutting and moving women into leadership positions.

Grant A. Jameson, LL.B., ICD.D

Norton Rose Fullbright Canada LLP

Senior Partner (Retired)

Grant A. Jameson, LL.B., ICD.D…

Senior Partner (Retired), Norton Rose Fullbright Canada LLP

Grant is a corporate director, consultant and retired lawyer. Grant practiced corporate and commercial law in Ottawa until his retirement as a Senior Partner from Norton Rose Fulbright where he was Ottawa Managing Partner and member of the Management Committee. Following his retirement, Grant was appointed Fairness Commissioner of Ontario for a two-year term from 2017 to 2019. Grant provides corporate governance consulting services through his company, Beattie House Associates. He is currently a member of the board of directors of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, the Ottawa Community Foundation and is President of the Audette Foundation.

Natalie Tommy

Nautical Lands Group of Companies

VP Marketing and Branding

Natalie Tommy VP Marketing and…

VP Marketing and Brandng, Nautical Lands Group of Companies

Natalie Tommy is VP Marketing and Branding for Nautical Lands Group of Companies, accountable for the overall branding for our Retirement Communities, Wellings Communities and construction wing, NLGC. In her primary role, she is responsible for overall brand strategy, media placement, budgeting, content and results on a National scale. As a resident centric company, NLG continues to strive to be the best in the Country within the seniors community sector. She has a reputation for being a creative problem solver who pays attention to the details. Natalie is looking forward to learning more about the goals of the Foundation and how she can best serve with passion and respect for our world class Heart Institute. Natalie holds a Bachelors of Commerce, Honors from University of Ottawa.

Paul Bodnoff

Executive Member, Alumni

Paul Bodnoff Executive Member, Alumni…

Executive Member, Alumni

After a two-year sabbatical from a 30 year career in Ottawa’s technology sector, it was my hope to get involved with an organization of passionate and diverse people that are committed to giving back to the great city we live in. Like many in Ottawa, our family has been a beneficiary of the spectacular care provided by the UOHI, which made my decision to put my experience and energy to work on the Patient Alumni Association Board of Directors an easy one.

My career gave me the chance to work in interesting places like the UK, Dubai, and the US which helped me better understand the cultural diversity that makes up our world. This gave me the opportunity to develop the broad set of skills that I was able to deploy as leader or member of senior leadership teams. My passion has ranged from taking on the challenges of building new companies from the spark of an idea to helping larger organizations align their strategic goals and executing on their vision.

I joined the Alumni Board in January of 2020, just prior to the explosion of the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to working with the other members of the Board and the entire Alumni community to seek new and innovative ways to provide meaningful and valuable programs and resources to patients and their families, friends, and caregivers.

Aruna Rajula

Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Manager

Aruna Rajula Department of Innovation,…

Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Aruna is currently a Manager at the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Previously, Aruna spent time at Natural Resources Canada and the Privy Council Office in progressively senior roles. She has considerable experience providing analysis and recommendations on complex, high-profile policy issues, working closely with stakeholders, leading teams, and mediating competing interests.

Aruna holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and a Masters in International Affairs from Carleton University.

Aruna has organized a number of charity events in the Ottawa area to benefit local and international non-profit organizations, which have raised more than $50,000. She lives in Ottawa with her husband and two young kids. Aruna is looking forward to supporting the vision of the Ottawa Heart Institute - putting patients first while advancing cardiovascular care and saving lives in our community.

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