Board of Directors

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.

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.

Michael brings more than 25 years of management experience related to all aspects of patent licensing, portfolio development and patent prosecution.

Prior to joining WiLAN, Michael was Vice-President, Licensing and Intellectual Property at MOSAID Technologies where he led the effort to license the company’s patent portfolio to many of the world’s best known electronics companies and drove success in their patent licensing programs. Michael also previously held the role of Patent Portfolio Account Manager with Semiconductor Insights, a leader in technical and patent analyses of integrated circuits and electronic systems.

Michael has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo and also holds an Executive MBA from Queen’s University.

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.

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 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 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.

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.