Governance & Leadership 

Since 2017, Dr. Andy Smith has been the President and CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, leading over 12,000 staff, physicians, researchers and learners and an annual budget of more than $1.4 billion. Prior to his current role, Dr. Smith served as Sunnybrook’s Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Executive.

With a long-established career as a surgeon and a recognized leader in the management of colorectal cancer, Dr. Smith is intensely passionate about improving healthcare. He has been involved for many years in quality improvement initiatives in Ontario and is deeply interested in healthcare leadership, innovation, and the evolution of the healthcare system in Canada. Dr. Smith serves as the Immediate Past Chair for the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network (TAHSN) and is on the Board of Directors for ORNGE, Public Health Ontario (PHO), HealthCareCAN, and Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP).

Dr. Smith completed medical school, including a Master of Science, and General Surgery residency at the University of Toronto. He also completed a Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr. Smith is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto and has served as the Bernard & Ryna Langer Chair, Division of General Surgery at the University of Toronto.

Sunnybrook is recognized as one of Canada’s largest academic health sciences centres and is home to the first trauma centre in Canada. Each year, Sunnybrook conducts more than $100 million in research, provides educational opportunities for 4,000 students and cares for over 1.2 million patients. The organization provides a broad range of tertiary regional programs and services including specialties in cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, high-risk obstetrics and gynaecology, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions, trauma and critical care, rehabilitation, and community care. In addition, Sunnybrook is Canada’s largest facility caring for the country’s war veterans.

Dr. Cass is a dynamic and effective leader with more than 20 years of hospital executive experience, and a demonstrated commitment to quality and patient safety and large-scale change initiatives.

Before joining Sunnybrook’s leadership team, he served as Vice President, Medical at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto, where he helped support the organization’s integration with St. Michael’s Hospital and Providence health care to become what is now Unity Health Toronto. Dr. Cass has also been Deputy Chief Coroner for Ontario and Chair of the Patient Safety Review Committee, and he was the former Chief of Emergency Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital.

His clinical work has focused on a variety of fields. Dr. Cass was an emergency physician at St. Michael’s Hospital for 16 years, and practiced Addiction Medicine while at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. He has also provided medical care to Toronto’s homeless population through his past work with the Inner City Family Health Team.

Dr. Cass completed medical school and a Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto. He also completed the Royal College Residency Program in Emergency Medicine. He is an Associate Professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. His research works have been widely published, including in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and the New England Journal of Medicine.

Ru Taggar is a highly successful clinical and health systems executive driven to provide leadership across regulated health professions to ensure patients receive outstanding person-centered care.

She has spent the bulk of her career helping to advance Sunnybrook’s vision to invent the future of health care. Before joining Sunnybrook’s leadership team, she held various senior roles at the hospital including Director, Quality and Patient Safety and Director, Medical Affairs and Business Development. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre since 2011.

Prior to joining Sunnybrook, Ru worked as a consultant for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the College of Nurses of Ontario, and was Manager of the Emergency Department at Markham Stouffville Hospital. She also spent ten years as a clinical nurse at North York General Hospital.

Ru has a proven track record leading front-line workers while collaborating across disciplines and with internal and external partners to address health system challenges, whether health human resources or reducing patient wait times for care such as hip and knee joint replacement surgeries.

She completed a Master of Science in Nursing from D’Youville University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). Ru also holds an Advanced Health Leaders Program certificate from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and an Adjunct Clinical appointment at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.

Kristen is a highly accomplished executive leader with a distinguished track record in human resources and strategic leadership support spanning both the private and public sectors, and a passion for championing excellence, equity, and innovation.

Prior to joining Sunnybrook’s leadership team, she was Chief Human Resources Officer, People Services at Women’s College Hospital, where she provided strategic direction and ensured HR practices were aligned with the organization’s dedication to women’s health care, research, and equity in employment and patient care. Kristen has also served in human resources management roles at Toronto East General Hospital (now Michael Garron Hospital) and Shoppers Drug Mart.

Throughout her career, Kristen’s comprehensive expertise in human resources, workforce optimization, and leadership development has been instrumental in driving the success of the organizations she has been associated with. She is committed to cultivating health care environments that prioritize patient care, staff development, and organizational sustainability. Kristen’s leadership approach, characterized by emotional intelligence and forward-thinking, has earned her widespread respect within the health care industry.

Kristen holds a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in Leadership and Education, from Athabasca University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Communications. She also holds a post-graduate diploma in Human Resources Management. Kristen is accredited by the Canadian Human Resources Association as a ,Canadian Human Resources Executive.

Michele has more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience as a financial executive within Ontario hospitals. Her expertise in financial management and strategic planning has been pivotal in enhancing fiscal sustainability and operational efficiency in top-tier health care institutions.

Michele is passionate about building and supporting strong financial teams and fostering collaboration within the health-care system. Her dedication to excellence and positive outlook continue to advance Sunnybrook’s mission of delivering exceptional patient care and its vision of inventing the future of health care with innovative solutions.

Prior to joining Sunnybrook’s leadership team, Michele held the role of Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Operating Officer at Hamilton Health Sciences. Before that, she served as Interim Integrated Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer at William Osler Health Centre.

Michele holds a Master of Business Administration from York University; a Chartered Accountant Designation; a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor; and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph.

Lori is a Registered Physiotherapist with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in hospital, home and community care, and health system planning sectors. She has led strategic planning, clinical operations, and innovation initiatives at both system-wide and local levels. Lori has a record of propelling transformative change and is a strong advocate for patient-centred and community-based care.

Prior to joining Sunnybrook’s leadership team, Lori held the role of Senior Clinical Program Director, Seniors’ Health and Ambulatory Care at Unity Health Toronto. Before that, she spearheaded the development of Markham Stouffville Hospital’s inaugural Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and she supported health system integration efforts as Director, Health System and Sub-region Planning and Integration at the Central East Local Health Integration Network.

Lori brings the multiple perspectives of a clinician, health-care administrator, and BIPOC community leader to her work. Her cross-sectoral experiences fuel her ambitions of strengthening and amplifying Sunnybrook’s community connections.

Lori holds a Master of Science degree from McMaster University; a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario. She is a designated Certified Healthcare Executive and Project Management Professional. Lori also holds certificates from the Advanced Health Leaders Program and the Advanced Community Health Leaders Program at the Rotman School of Management. Finally, Lori is an Adjunct Lecturer with the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, and School of Rehabilitation Sciences.

Sunnybrook’s philanthropic community of donors and volunteers is essential to advancing the Hospital’s vision to invent the future of health care through life-saving innovation, research and care. As CEO and President of the Sunnybrook Foundation, Kelly works with the Hospital’s leadership team to align fundraising strategies with Sunnybrook’s priority initiatives; she builds connection between the community and the hospital to facilitate donor investment; and she leads the Foundation team in its mission to grow financial support for Sunnybrook.

Kelly has an extensive background in academia and health-care fundraising and is recognized for her transformational leadership and success developing strong collaborative teams. As Vice-President, University Advancement, Western University, she played a lead role in the “Be Extraordinary” campaign, which surpassed its goal. Prior to Western University, Kelly was the President and CEO of West Park Healthcare Centre Foundation in Toronto.

Kelly holds a Master of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo.

Shelley has a wealth of experience and leadership in health-care communications, with a demonstrated proficiency in overseeing both internal and external communications functions. Her strategic advice has been instrumental in guiding CEOs and executive teams through major decisions in the hospital and health system landscapes.

In her role as Vice President, Shelley is responsible for overseeing all strategic internal and external communications and continuing to elevate Sunnybrook’s brand in partnership with the Sunnybrook Foundation, while also deepening engagement with a variety of stakeholders. Her deep knowledge of the health-care sector and expertise in communications are integral to Sunnybrook’s success at achieving its vision of inventing the future of health care.

Shelley’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment is evident in her collaborative leadership style and her active involvement in mentorship roles.

Prior to joining Sunnybrook, Shelley enjoyed a remarkable 17-year tenure at Michael Garron Hospital, where she held various senior roles including in communications, clinical programs and operational readiness for the hospital’s major redevelopment project.

Shelley is an adjunct lecturer in the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation program at the University of Toronto. Shelley holds a Master of Health Administration from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Health Science from Western University.

Darren is an experienced executive in the health-care sector who is passionate about using data to drive improvement opportunities. In his current role, he leads teams that focus on quality improvement, patient safety, and organizational performance measurement. All have the shared goal of continuous improvement for patients, families, and clinical teams.

Prior to joining Sunnybrook in 2014, Darren held various positions at Rouge Valley Health System. He also spent more than 10 years at the Canadian Institute for Health Information, where he developed an expertise in health-system measurement.

Darren is known for being a credible relationship builder among a diverse group of stakeholders, as well as for his solutions-focused and team-oriented approach to translating complex data into actionable information.

Darren has a Master of Business Administration with a focus on health services management from McMaster University and a Bachelor of Science from Western University.

Dr. Hynynen is an experienced academic, clinical researcher, and leader in innovative image-guided therapeutics that advance the future of health care.

In addition to his role as Vice President, Research and Innovation, Dr. Hynynen leads the Centre for Research in Image-Guided Therapeutics at Sunnybrook Research Institute.

Dr. Hynynen is a Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto and a Cross-Appointed Professor at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering. He holds a Canada Research Chair in Imaging Systems and Image-Guided Therapy.

Dr. Hynynen previously held faculty positions at the University of Arizona and Harvard Medical School, where he founded and directed the Focused Ultrasound Laboratory. He has published more than 350 peer-reviewed papers on basic and clinical research and been extensively involved in commercializing ultrasound technology.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Hynynen has received numerous awards, including from the National Institutes of Health, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Society of Thermal Medicine, and the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound.

Dr. Hynynen received his Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, where he also completed his postdoctoral training in biomedical ultrasound. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and the Acoustical Society of America.

Law is a passionate educator who has received widespread recognition for his commitment to teaching excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. Over the past 25 years, he has received numerous teaching awards including the Canadian Association of General Surgery Resident Teaching Award, the Bruce Tovee Surgical Teaching Award, the Robert Mustard Mentorship Award, and the David McCready Clinical Teaching Award. He has also served a term as an Examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Dr. Law is also an experienced health care leader who has held senior leadership roles including Chief of the Odette Cancer Program at Sunnybrook. In addition, he has held the role of Regional Vice President, Ontario Health; Regional Lead, Surgical Oncology, Cancer Care Ontario; and co-founder of the Susan Leslie Clinic for Neuroendocrine Tumours.

Dr. Law is a Full Professor at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and was the inaugural holder of the university’s Sherif and Mary Lou Hanna Research Chair in Surgical Oncology. He has also served as an Affiliate Scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute, and as an Adjunct Scientist for the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences. In addition, Dr. Law has completed a term as a Career Scientist, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care of Ontario. He has authored or collaborated on more than 200 scientific publications.

Dr. Law completed medical school at the University of Toronto and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada Residency Program in General Surgery at McMaster University. Dr. Law also completed the Advanced Health Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto; and a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Rob is an accomplished Chief Information Officer (CIO) whose career has spanned more than 25 years in the field of Information Technology in health care. As Vice President of Digital Health and CIO at Sunnybrook, he has been leading the strategic development and execution of key digital transformation initiatives, most notably the implementation of a cutting-edge Hospital Information System (HIS). Rob is fostering a collaborative IT culture, managing cybersecurity, and ensuring compliance with health–care regulations, all while focusing on the long-term digital strategy for the hospital.

Rob has a strong track record of success and consistently inspires others to explore new frontiers in their roles. Rob was Vice President, Information Technology and Management, Chief Information Officer and Chief Privacy Office at Grey Bruce Health Service and the Georgian Bay Information Network. In this role, Rob oversaw a multi-disciplinary team of leaders through transformational change including advancing both the hospital and the regional priorities. Before that, Rob held IT leadership roles at Michael Garron Hospital and the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network.

Rob has extensive experience leading transformational initiatives from design to execution. He is a pragmatic leader with a strong understanding of Information Technology, Health Records, Clinical Informatics, and Business Intelligence. Rob earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from York University and has a postgraduate Advance Training Designation in Networking Technologies from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University).

Kunal has held progressive leadership roles at Sunnybrook since joining the organization in 2014, taking on additional levels of responsibility in the areas of corporate strategy and corporate planning.

Kunal is known for establishing strong teams in the departments he leads and an ability to expand Sunnybrook’s capacity for addressing key priorities, including strategic planning and alignment across the care programs.

During his time at Sunnybrook, Kunal has also been instrumental in the development of the North Toronto Ontario Health Team and provided ongoing leadership on many of Sunnybrook’s capital projects, most notably the Garry Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre.

Kunal has a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University.

Carol Annett has a track record of accomplishments in the health care and social service sectors in various clinical, leadership and consulting roles. She was recently CEO of VHA Home HealthCare, a large not for profit home care provider in Ontario. Carol worked in acute and long term care facilities, community-based organizations, and children’s mental health.

Active in her local community as a volunteer, Carol is a mentor for students in Schulich’s MBA Program, a Peer Surveyor for Accreditation Canada, and has served on various governance boards. She is currently a Director on the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Board and publicly appointed as a member of the Home and Community Care and Support Services Board. Previous board experience includes the Ontario Community Support Association, AC Nursing and Health Services and Canadian Feed the Children.

Carol holds a Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Business Administration from York University’s Schulich School of Business.

Pooneh Baghai has 26 years of experience serving a range of global, North American and European financial institutions, wealth and asset managers.

Her work has focused on transformation, growth and strategy, M&A, execution-oriented operational and productivity programs, as well as organization and governance. In addition, she directs the operations of McKinsey Global Asset Management & Wealth Management practice and serves as an elected member of McKinsey’s Shareholder’s Council (global) where she is the Chair of the Client Committee.

Pooneh holds an Honors BA degree in Economics from the University of Toronto, an Honors MA degree in Economics from the University of Toronto, and an MSc degree in Management with Distinction from the London School of Economics.

Mr. Clark is a corporate director and brings more than 30 years of experience in the accounting, finance and professional services industries. From 2005 to 2012, he was CEO and Senior Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (professional services).

Mr. Clark currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Air Canada, Loblaw Companies Limited and Atkins Realis, formerly SNC Limited where he chairs the Audit, Finance and Risk Committees. In addition to these public company directorships, Mr. Clark has served as a director of many not-for profit organizations including the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Olympic Foundation, Own The Podium, the Stratford Festival, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Junior Achievement, The Conference Board of Canada and the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation. He is a former Board member of Brookfield Office Properties Inc., IGM Financial Inc., Hydro One Limited, Hydro One Inc and a trustee of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. He is an Emeritus member of the Stephen J. R. Smith School of Business advisory Board at Queen’s University.

Mr. Clark graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and from the University of Toronto with an MBA. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and the former National Academic Director for the Institute of Corporate Director’s course entitled “Audit Committee Effectiveness”.

Andrew Duncan is RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust’s Chief Investment Officer. He joined RioCan as an Assistant Vice President of Development in May of 2013. Prior to joining RioCan, Andrew held development roles at Lowe’s Home Improvement Canada and Stantec. Andrew oversees RioCan’s investment transactions and development pipeline to optimize their property portfolio for future growth opportunities. He brings a balanced knowledge of construction, planning, and financial analysis that allows him to responsibly manage RioCan’s developments, while leveraging expertise in all asset classes and deal structures to maximize returns.

Andrew is a member of the Board of Governors for the University of Guelph since 2019 and serves on the Board of Trustees and Physical and Digital Infrastructure Committee. He is also a member of the BILD Board of Directors since 2019, serving on the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee.

Andrew is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario and holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Guelph.

Andrew joined Sunnybrook Hospital Capital Projects Building Committee in 2021 as a Community Representative and became a member of the Board in June 2023.

Donna Duncan is an experienced public sector board member and executive, with extensive experience in health care and academics. Donna is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, the largest association representing long-term care providers in Canada. Prior to taking on this role, Donna served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of The Ontario Caregiver Organization where she led the organization’s start-up operations, building a foundation for new leadership and a provincial board to lead the development of services and supports for Ontario’s family caregivers.

Donna has deep understanding of Ontario’s hospital and community mental health services. She served as President and CEO of the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, Toronto’s largest children’s mental health treatment, research and teaching centre and a University of Toronto community affiliate. Donna led Hincks-Dellcrest through transformational change and extensive programmatic and quality improvements, culminating in Hincks-Dellcrest’s integration with The Hospital for Sick Children in 2017. Earlier in her career, Donna played a key role in securing the approvals for the transformational redevelopment of The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Queen Street campus.

Donna also has extensive experience within government, having worked with federal and provincial ministers.

Donna has a deep commitment to volunteerism and governance. In addition to her service on the Board of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Donna sits on the board of the Canadian Long-Term Care Association (CALTC) and the Global Ageing Network. In the past, Donna sat on the Boards of The Ontario Caregiver Organization, Children’s Mental Health Ontario, and the Kids Brain Health Network, she also chaired the board of Seneca College and the provincial College Employer Council.

Donna joined the Board of Directors of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on June 12, 2017. She is the Chair of the Quality & Patient Experience Committee of the Board. Donna also serves as a Director on the Governance & Nominating Committee and the Veterans Advisory Committee of the Board.

Dr. Andrea Gershon is a Respiratory Physician and Senior Scientist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and University of Toronto. Her award winning research and knowledge translation program uses ‘Big Data’ to learn from the real-world experiences of people living with lung disease with a focus on marginalized communities.

Dr. Gershon has published over 230 peer-reviewed articles. She has been an invited speaker at international meetings, universities, and medical centres worldwide. Her work is used by government and non-profit organizations to inform local and international guidelines and policy.

Dr. Gershon enjoys working with junior faculty, postgraduate fellows, residents, graduate and other students at all levels of training. She enjoys supporting these upcoming leaders, researchers and clinicians who are the future of discovery and innovation to improve respiratory health worldwide.

Anushka is a results-oriented leader with substantial experience in global Real Estate operations and transformation, establishing innovation programs, embedding sustainability strategies across the real estate lifecycle from investments to operations and advancing operational capabilities. She has a foundation in Management Consulting, shaping and executing corporate strategies, implementing strategic and business planning processes, managing and leading business transformations and complex strategic initiatives involving multiple business functions for real estate, retail, professional services and the financial services industries. She has a strong interest in advancing the sustainability agenda to achieve higher levels of performance and value. With over 20 years of experience, she has a track record of achieving results contributing to the performance, profitability and overall sustainability of organizations across industries.

She is known for her ability to execute through people, relate and influence at all levels of the organization and strong communication skills.

Anushka holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business, Western University and an Honours Applied Studies Co-op degree from the University of Waterloo. She currently serves as a Board member at Sunnybrook Hospital and an Executive in Residence at the Ivey School of Business.

Colin is Managing Director and Head of Alternative Investments, providing strategic guidance and oversight to a $39 billion portfolio of real estate, mortgage, private debt and infrastructure investments. In this role he oversees all acquisitions, divestitures, product development and portfolio management activities. He was previously responsible for the Canadian and International Real Estate strategies including fund design and structuring, implementation and oversight of acquired assets.

Colin joined TD Asset Management in October 2015, initially working with TD Asset Management’s senior executive team on corporate strategy. Colin was formerly the General Manager of Global Strategy at Aimia (formerly Groupe Aeroplan), a Management Consultant at McKinsey & Company and an Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley. Colin’s work in the Investment Banking Division at Morgan Stanley involved, among other duties, advising Mark Carney (then Governor of the Bank of Canada) on Canada’s financial stability during the financial crisis.

Colin serves as Chair of the Alternative Investments Committee. Colin holds a B.A. and a B. Comm., both with Distinction from Queen’s University, an MBA with Distinction from Harvard University and an ARCT with Honours from the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2020, Colin was named one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 a Trustee Emeritus of Queen’s University and a Recipient of the Queen’s University Toronto Branch Award.

He is also the Chair of the Toronto Investment Board as well as a Member of the Board of Directors of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Black Opportunity Fund and the Advisory Committee of OneEleven. Colin is an Emeritus Trustee of Queen’s University. He was formerly Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

Laura Mattila is Executive Director of the Ontario Medical Association’s (OMA) Physician Health Program. Prior to joining the OMA, Laura held healthcare leadership positions at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and SickKids Hospital in Toronto as well as Sault Area Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Laura has held volunteer executive board of director positions in the non-profit sector in the areas of community health & supportive housing, mental health, and women’s employment. Laura completed a Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto with a specialization in Sociology of Health & Mental Health, and a Master of Business Administration from Carleton University with a specialization in Management & Change.

Linda Mantia is the former SEVP and Chief Operating Officer at Manulife Financial. Previously, she was the EVP of Digital, Payments and Cards at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Chair of Moneris Solutions. Earlier in her career Linda worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co. and as a corporate securities lawyer at Davies, Ward, Phillips & Vineberg LLP. Linda has been celebrated as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, by the Women’s Executive Network in 2013 and also in 2014 recognized as a trendsetter and trailblazer.

Linda currently serves as a board member of Ceridian HCM Holding Inc., McKesson Corporation, MindBeacon Holdings Inc., Granular Insurance Company and is an advisor to Verily Life Sciences (an Alphabet company). In the community, in addition to Sunnybrook, Linda is Chair of the Ministers’ Task Force on Digital and Data Strategy for the Ontario Government, a Governor at Crescent School and a director of the Canada Walk of Fame.

Linda joined the Board of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in June 2017. She serves as a Director on the Common Research & Development Committee and the Governance & Nominating Committee. Linda is the Vice-Chair of the Education & Human Resources Committee and is Chair of the Common Marketing & Communications Committee. Linda also serves as a Director on the Sunnybrook Research Institute Board and the Sunnybrook Research Academy Board.

Maneesh Mehta co-founded The Black Box Institute in 2008, following a 19-year career at one of the largest global professional services organizations. The Black Box Institute (TBBI) is a boutique advisory firm and think-tank that provides advice to senior management and boards of organizations that are facing complex organizational, business, transactional or leadership challenges. Under his leadership, TBBI draws on problem-solving techniques that incorporate a blend of traditional strategy and financial advisory capabilities with the creative design thinking essential in the 21st Century.

Maneesh’s expertise covers a range of functional areas, including strategy, growth, market entry, and business operations. Maneesh has extensive experience in strategic analysis, market assessment, financial analysis and modeling, demand forecasting and governance.

He has also published numerous articles including ‘Growth by Design: How Good Design Drives Company Growth’ (Ivey Business Journal, Jan/Feb 2006) and Future Signals: How Successful Growing Companies Stay on Course (Ivey Business Journal, Nov/Dec 2005).

Maneesh has completed the ICD DEP program and sits on the boards of several not for profit organizations, including Ornge (where he is Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee). In addition, he has served on the boards of Markham Stouffville Hospital, the CLHIN, and Holy Trinity School, where he served as Chair of the Board.

Maneesh has earned MASc and BASc degrees from the University of Waterloo. He has also completed executive training programs at IMD and Harvard.

Maneesh joined the Board of Directors of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on June 8, 2020. He serves as a Director on the Quality & the Patient Experience Committee and on the Education & Human Resources Committee of the Board.

Cliff is a tax litigation/controversy lawyer at Aird & Berlis LLP. He is also a current member and past chair of the Sunnybrook Foundation.

Dr. Lisa Robinson began her service as Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine (Temerty Medicine) and the Vice Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions at the University of Toronto (U of T) on July 1, 2024.

She is a Professor in the departments of paediatrics, biochemistry, and the Institute of Medical Science at U of T. She is also a Staff Physician and former Head of the Division of Nephrology at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and a Senior Scientist in the Program in Cell Biology at the SickKids Research Institute. Her research integrates molecular biology, cell biology, advanced microscopic techniques, and biochemical approaches to advance the understanding and treatment of kidney disease. Dr. Robinson holds a Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 1 in Vascular Inflammation and Kidney Injury.

After earning her M.D. at Temerty Medicine, Dr. Robinson completed training in paediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario in London, Ontario and paediatric nephrology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina where she was also an Assistant Professor.

In addition to her focus on research and innovation, Dr. Robinson has a deep commitment to education and mentorship. She is the founder and former director of Kids Science, a SickKids Research Institute program that provides opportunities for middle- and high-school students to improve their understanding of science and technology, and to make positive educational and career choices. In 2014, she launched the Student Advancement Research (StAR) Program, a SickKids summer research program for high school students.

Dr. Robinson has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as Councillor of the Society for Pediatric Research, member of the Innovation and Discovery Task Force of the American Society of Nephrology, the President of the Canadian Association of Paediatric Nephrologists and President of the American Pediatric Society. Prior to her appointment as Dean, Dr. Robinson held the position of Vice Dean, Strategy and Operations at Temerty Medicine. She has also received numerous awards and honours, including being named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology.

As Dean, Dr. Robinson oversees Temerty Medicine, which is consistently recognized as one of the world’s top centres for clinical medical education and research. It is home to nearly 6,000 undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners and more than 10,000 faculty and staff. As Vice-Provost Relations with Health Care Institutions, Dr. Robinson supports the Toronto Academic Health Science Network, composed of U of T’s fully affiliated and associate affiliated hospitals. U of T’s bonds extend to another 20 community-affiliated hospitals and healthcare sites in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

David Simmonds is SVP & Global Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer at Great West Lifeco and Canada Life.

A member of the Executive Management Committee, David leads a team responsible for global communications, reputation and brand management, corporate impact, and Environment, Social and Governance issues (ESG). David also provides strategic partnership and advisory guidance to the CEO’s agenda, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

A respected business leader, David brings deep experience to Lifeco, from senior roles across consulting, public policy, media, and healthcare, including time as senior vice president at McKesson Corporation. At McKesson, David drove global initiatives across marketing, communications, public policy, and corporate strategy in both Canada and the United States, including leadership of the program coordination office for the development of the company’s multi-year growth initiative.

David is a member of Western University’s Board of Governors, is Past President of the Canadian Club Toronto, a Governor of the Stratford Festival, and an Advisory Board Member at Catalyst Canada.

David has been named one of the “Top 100 Black Canadians” by the Diversity Advancement Network, recipient of the Black Business and Professional Association’s “Harry Jerome Leadership Award”, Canada’s highest achievement in African Canadian excellence, and has been awarded Western University’s Alumni Award of Merit.

David holds a BA (Hons.), MA, and completed the executive development program at The Wharton School.

Dr. Simron Singh is an Associate Professor of Medicine, at the University of Toronto and cofounder of the Susan Leslie Clinic for Neuroendocrine Cancers at the Odette Cancer Centre Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. In addition, he is a principal investigator and associate scientist with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and Sunnybrook Research Institute. He completed his B. Sc as well as MD at University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. He completed postgraduate training in Internal Medicine at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and Medical Oncology at the University of Toronto. After completing his clinical training, Dr. Singh completed his Master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard University in Boston, MA, USA. In 2013, Dr. Singh joined Cancer Care Ontario/Ontario Health (CCO/OH) as the Provincial Head, Person-Centred Care Strategy, responsible for the development and execution of CCO corporate strategic priority around person-centred care. He’s had numerous other board and administrative roles both at the national and international level.

Dr. Singh is the symposium chair for the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society as well as the co-chair of the Commonwealth Neuroendocrine Tumour Group. He is the Canadian Clinical Trial group NET disease site group co-chair, as well as on the European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society advisory board. He currently is the co-chair of the Neuroendocrine Advisory Committee at Cancer Care Ontario which has been able to bring PRRT and Ga-68 imaging to Ontario.

Dr. Singh is an internationally recognized clinical and research leader in the field of neuroendocrine cancers. He is a leader in health services research and system level quality improvement and measurement. Dr. Singh has been published in numerous high impact journals such as Lancet, Lancet Oncology, JAMA Oncology and the Journal of Clinical Oncology as lead or senior author. He has been the primary author of numerous guidelines to improve the care of NET patients. He holds a number of peer reviewed grants as well as clinical trial leadership positions. Dr. Singh has numerous international speaking invitations as well as leads a number of research and quality initiatives to improve the ongoing care of patients with cancer.

Since 2017, Dr. Andy Smith has been the President and CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, leading over 12,000 staff, physicians, researchers and learners and an annual budget of more than $1.4 billion. Prior to his current role, Dr. Smith served as Sunnybrook’s Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Executive.

With a long-established career as a surgeon and a recognized leader in the management of colorectal cancer, Dr. Smith is intensely passionate about improving healthcare. He has been involved for many years in quality improvement initiatives in Ontario and is deeply interested in healthcare leadership, innovation, and the evolution of the healthcare system in Canada. Dr. Smith serves as the Immediate Past Chair for the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network (TAHSN) and is on the Board of Directors for ORNGE, Public Health Ontario (PHO), HealthCareCAN, and Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP).

Dr. Smith completed medical school, including a Master of Science, and General Surgery residency at the University of Toronto. He also completed a Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr. Smith is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto and has served as the Bernard & Ryna Langer Chair, Division of General Surgery at the University of Toronto.

Sunnybrook is recognized as one of Canada’s largest academic health sciences centres and is home to the first trauma centre in Canada. Each year, Sunnybrook conducts more than $150 million in research, provides educational opportunities for 4,000 students and cares for over 1.2 million patients. The organization provides a broad range of tertiary regional programs and services including specialties in cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, high-risk obstetrics and gynaecology, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions, trauma and critical care, rehabilitation, and community care. In addition, Sunnybrook is Canada’s largest facility caring for the country’s war veterans.

Kevin D. Strain is President & Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life and a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Kevin joined Sun Life in 2002 and has since held several senior roles, including Vice-President of Investor Relations for Sun Life’s Corporate Office, and Senior Vice-President of Sun Life’s Individual Insurance and Investments division in Canada.

In 2012, Kevin assumed the role of President, Sun Life Asia where he was responsible for Sun Life’s interests in Asia, including identifying opportunities for growth in the region and managing the company’s relationships with its partners.

In 2017, Kevin was appointed Chief Financial Officer, responsible for Sun Life’s worldwide Finance, Taxation, Capital and Investor Relations, Enterprise Services and Corporate Development business groups.

Kevin is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Waterloo in Canada. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Ru Taggar is the Executive Vice President, Chief Nursing and Health Professions Executive at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Ru provides professional leadership to nurses and other regulated health professionals across the organization, as well as executive leadership to the Tory Trauma Program, DAN Women and Babies Program, Schulich Heart Program and the Holland Bone and Joint Program.

Ru currently holds an Adjunct Clinical appointment at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.

Ru is a Registered Nurse with her Master’s in Nursing.

Ms. Taggar joined the Board of Directors of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in 2011 and serves as a Director on the Quality & The Patient Experience Committee of the Board, the Finance & Common Audit Committee, the Common Research & Development Committee and the Education & Human Resources Committee of the Board.

Iliana Oris Valiente is a Managing Director and the Canada Innovation Lead at Accenture, working with senior clients to support their transformation journeys and running strategic internal programs. As part of her role, Iliana oversees teams that bring together specialists in design, data science, emerging technologies, along with diverse industry experts to inspire change and bring actionable insights forward towards proof of concepts, pilots, and beyond. Iliana is heavily involved in leading work related blockchain uses, digital identity, and also oversees the ventures and R&D capabilities in the local market.

Prior to Accenture, Iliana cofounded Rubix by Deloitte, and was the Blockchain Strategy Leader at Deloitte Canada.

Iliana is a finance professional turned intra / entrepreneur, and her strengths include the ability to combine strategic thinking and an aptitude for working with numbers and concrete data. She speaks English, Russian, Spanish, and French, and is well-traveled with international work and life experience. Iliana is a Chartered Accountant, currently based in Toronto, after completing studies in Commerce at the University of Ottawa and Copenhagen Business School.

Galen G. Weston is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of George Weston Limited. George Weston represents a portfolio of businesses including Canada’s leading real estate investment trust, Choice Properties, as well as supermarket and pharmacy retailing, fashion, and financial services through its holdings in Loblaw Companies Limited where Galen is President and Chairman.

Galen is also Chairman of President’s Choice Bank, as well as a Director of Wittington Investments Limited.

Galen holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.

Galen joined the Board of Directors of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in 2019. He currently serves as a Director and Vice Chair of the Common Research and Development Committee of the Board. Galen also serves as a Director on the Sunnybrook Research Institute Board and the Sunnybrook Research Academy Board.

Poul, a respected figure in the world of investment management, retired in May 2022 after 13-years at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). During his time at CPPIB, he served as the Global Head of Capital Markets and Factor Investing, where he oversaw various departments including Global Capital Markets, Quantitative Equities, External Portfolio Management, Cash and Liquidity, and Strategic Tilting.

Before assuming this role, Poul held the position of Managing Director and Head of Thematic Investing and External Portfolio Management at CPPIB. His journey at CPPIB began in 2009, marking a significant phase in his career.

Prior to joining CPPIB, Poul accumulated a wealth of experience in senior management and investment roles at Nordea Investment Management across Denmark, Sweden, and the USA. Additionally, he served as the Chief Investment Officer for Andra AP-Fonden (AP2) in Sweden, showcasing his adeptness in navigating various facets of the investment landscape.

Poul’s academic background is grounded in Economics and Management, having earned undergraduate and master’s degrees from Aarhus University in Denmark. His blend of academic prowess and extensive professional experience has undoubtedly shaped him into a seasoned leader in the realm of global finance.