Our Board of Directors
Chris Merchant – Chair
Danielle Cowen
Lisa Butler
Shannon O’Neill – Treasurer/Secretary
Kim Wilson
Tanuj Dalal
Alicia Wood – Vice Chair
Danielle Foster
Rachelle Marek Sparrow
(On leave)
Chair:
Chris Merchant began his career with Linamar Corporation in October 1999. He has held the position of Vice President, Global Finance since October 2011. He is responsible for the overall finance function of all operational and support service business units within the organization. His role supports financial reporting, strategic planning, strategy execution, talent recruitment and development as well as compliance. He has been at the forefront of the continued growth of Linamar Corporation, having a key role in a variety of acquisition, innovation and growth initiatives.
Mr. Merchant obtained his Honours Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Laurentian University and holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.
Vice Chair:
Alicia Wood is a registered pharmacist and currently the Lead, Specialty Pharmacy Operational Excellence at McKesson Specialty Health, one of the largest pharmaceutical provider networks in Canada. In this role, Alicia works with both internal and external stakeholders to improve operational efficiencies, create solutions for complex patient needs and reduce access barriers to specialty medications. Alicia is as passionate leader within the healthcare industry and is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration from McMaster University.
Treasurer/Secretary:
Shannon O’Neill is a senior manager at RLB LLP Chartered Professional Accountants and received her CPA, CA designation in 2019. She works mainly with small to medium sized companies who are looking to grow their businesses and spends most of her time specializing in assurance and tax planning. She first joined the GCHC as part of the Young Professionals on Board program in 2019.
Directors:
Danielle Foster is the Senior Operations Lead at Hospice Wellington. She has a passion for streamlining administrative processes to further the mission of organizations that she believes in. To bolster her leadership skills, Danielle completed her Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law degree through York University.
Kim Wilson has training in social work and gerontology and currently works as an Associate Professor in Adult Development & Aging at the University of Guelph. Prior to joining U of G, Kim was the Executive Director of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health.
Rachelle Marek Sparrow is a Registered Nurse with extensive knowledge and experience in community health, sexual and reproductive health, as well as trauma informed care. Currently, she works as a Public Health Nurse with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health in the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program. To further build and hone her leadership skills, Rachelle is pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Sciences at Western University.
Tanuj Dalal is a dedicated professional with a passion for improving the quality of primary care services. As a Quality Improvement Specialist in primary care, he has been actively involved in driving positive changes and implementing initiatives to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of primary care programs. He brings a wealth of expertise in quality improvement methodologies, enabling primary care to identify areas for enhancement and design evidence-based interventions. His keen eye for detail and analytical skills have proven invaluable in assessing organizational performance and aligning initiatives with strategic priorities and goals. Through his work, he actively incorporates initiatives that address health disparities, eliminate barriers to care, and foster inclusivity within the healthcare system.
Lisa Butler is a Human Resources executive with over 20 years of experience in the profession. She is the Global Chief Human Resources Officer for Viamo. Viamo is a global digital enterprise that provides remote communities in the world access to information to improve businesses, governance, health and education.
She spent a large part of her career in a number of senior HR roles for Manulife in both Hong Kong and Canada focused on building positive business culture and improving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion across the organization. Lisa has her MA in Political Science from The University of Guelph.
Danielle Cowen is an executive leader with over 20 years of experience in communications, marketing, and public relations. Currently the Executive Lead, Communications at the Ontario Caregiver Organization; a registered charity funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, Danielle leverages her expertise in communications planning, reputation management, media relations and change management to make a positive impact. An award-winning communications strategist, Danielle has a Masters degree in Communication Management from McMaster University.
The Board meets the first Wednesday of each month 6:30-8:30 pm. Contact bbaker@guelphchc.ca for information.
