Our Team

Ivano is a seasoned Executive leader with over 30 years of experience in the utility industry. As the former President and CEO of Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation, he played a crucial role in strategic planning and supporting energy and communication services in the region. Ivano brings to the Board his extensive background in business development and strategic planning.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Science from Western University, a Masters of Engineering from Out, MBA from Queen’s University and a graduate of the Directors College at McMaster University DeGroote School of Business.

Dedicated to community and industry advancement, Ivano serves on several Boards.

Dr. Nicole Welch holds a BSc. Degree in biology from McMaster University, Hamilton, MSc. in Nursing from McGill University, Montreal and recently completed a PhD at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Applied Psychology and Human Development.

After graduating from nursing Nicole worked as a Registered Nurse at the former Brampton Memorial Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She began her career at Toronto Public Health in August 2001 as a Public Health Nurse (PHN). Nicole has held positions as a PHN, Coordinator, Supervisor, Manager, Associate Director and Director of Community Health and Well-Being, and the Chief Nursing Officer at Toronto Public Health. In 2024 Nicole joined Toronto Children’s Services as a District Director and in 2025 joined the City of Toronto Seniors Services and Long-term Care team as the General Manager.

Nicole is passionate about issues related to health equity and to supporting and empowering all staff to provide high quality service within healthy workplaces and communities. Nicole has mentored numerous staff, and students throughout the years. She enjoys providing education, training, coaching and mentorship to staff, students and rising leaders and has participated in the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) Nursing Leadership program, McGill University Black Student Mentorship program and many more.

Additionally, she is a mother to two young men and an avid walker, hiker, and traveler.

Heidi has always held a passion for healthcare. She went to school at Canadore College for her Food and Nutrition Administration Diploma and furthered her education at the University of Southern New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science and Hospitality Administration.  In 2019, she completed her Supply Chain Management Certificate at George Brown College, and recently completed her Long-Term Care Administrators certificate.    She has held her membership with the Canadian Society of Nutrition Managers for over 20 years.

Heidi has spent her entire career in the senior living industry in both long-term care facilities, designated assisted living facilities and retirement homes in both Alberta and Ontario.

Heidi has wanted to give back to the community in which she resides, specifically to not-for-profit services with healthcare.  Heidi grew up in the northern Durham region in the Blackstock area, returning to the area 9 years ago after living in different communities around Ontario for a few years.  She currently resides in Bowmanville with her daughter and husband.

Elizabeth is a seasoned HR leader and has over 20 years in the public and private sector. She has extensive experience as a strategic business partner, as well as program, project and change management. While working at the City of Toronto she partnered with social services to deliver programs that would support the City’s Workforce Development Strategy. Elizabeth also collaborated with a range of stakeholders to promote implementation of diversity hiring strategies to enhance diverse representation and foster a culture of inclusiveness. Following her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Management, Elizabeth pursued a post-graduate diploma in Human Resources and CHRL and is a certified change management practitioner. She currently lives in Ajax with her husband and two sons.

Marvin Yorke, BA(hon), CPA CGA, FCCA, is an experienced Assurance and Accounting Advisory professional with a demonstrated history of serving organizations in multiple industry sectors. Throughout his 18-year + career, he has had the opportunity to gain exposure to multiple international jurisdictions through positions held with PwC, Deloitte and KPMG. Marvin is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants Association of Ontario and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the UK. Marvin is passionate about developing his team members and currently serves as a mentor to aspiring CPAs.

Marvin approaches his work with a practical mindset recognizing that every organization has its unique set of strategic objectives and operational challenges. He is a firm believer in giving back to the local community and regularly participants in charitable initiatives. Born and raised in St. Lucia, Marvin moved to Toronto in 2011 and currently lives in Oshawa Ontario with his wife and three girls.

As Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Privacy Officer, and Corporate Secretary of Équité Association, Danielle Wilkinson brings over 15 years of expertise within the insurance sector including privacy, corporate governance, and regulatory experience.

Danielle’s extensive background includes In-House counsel for Intact Insurance and Aviva Canada, where she held roles such as Senior Litigation Counsel and Corporate Strategy Analyst. She has authored over 40 reported decisions, papers, and delivered numerous speaking engagements as Accident Benefits Counsel. Additionally, Danielle has contributed to education as a Professor at Durham College, teaching in the Paralegal Program.

Eleanor has been a positive influence in the field of education for over 20 years. She began her career in education as a language teacher (A.L.T.) with the J.E.T. Program and has supported the transition of internationally trained teachers in Canada through a program jointly funded by the Ontario College of Teachers and United Way of Toronto.

Eleanor has developed her leadership skills in the various roles including Vice Principal, Principal, Education Officer, and currently as a Superintendent of Education with the Halton District School Board. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration and undergraduate degrees in Biochemistry and Kinesiology. A passionate advocate for youth and community, Eleanor was a founding member and two-term Chair of the Durham Black Educators’ Network (DBEN) and a founding member of the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABSE). She currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Black Opportunity Fund Inc.

An experienced speaker, Eleanor has been a panelist and presenter at 20 different conferences and events since 2012 and has appeared on multiple media news.

Diana’s curiosity and compassion for understanding the challenges behind changing lifestyle behaviors to support better health and wellness, especially for older adults, has inspired her to continue her educational pursuits through Creighton University School of Medicine. Her dedication led her to earn a Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness, a testament to her expertise and qualifications in the field of health coaching and creating content for group programming.

With 12 years of experience at Ontario Health atHome, Diana has served as the Self-Management Program Central East Program Coordinator. Her role involves creating content for new lifestyle behavior change workshops for adults with chronic health conditions and supporting one-on-one health coaching sessions in collaboration with the province-wide Self-Management Program. Her leadership role in developing partnerships throughout the Durham region and her support for the successful delivery of these free workshops demonstrate her influence and impact in the field.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Diana’s first degree as a Specialist in Fine Art Studio from the University of Toronto continues to influence her passion for the arts and appreciation for creative thinking.

Accomplished executive leader with over 25 years of experience and proven success directing large-scale divisions, and organizations with an emphasis on spearheading enterprise-wide service digitization, modernization, operational strategies and outcomes across government and non-profit sectors including Toronto Community Housing and the City of Toronto.

Adept at leading high-impact cross-functional teams, cultivating community partnerships, and driving innovation in service delivery. Recognized for professional passion, architecting purpose-driven organizational trust-based cultures built on psychological safety, clear goals, diversity, and aligned with strategic alliances.

Expertise in operational transformation backed by a track record of measurable results and visionary leadership.

Syed Sarwar is a dedicated healthcare leader currently serving as the National Director of Quality, Risk, Patient Safety & Experience at Bayshore Healthcare. In this role, Syed oversees a comprehensive Quality and Risk program within a Pan Canadian multi-divisional organization that includes homecare, specialty infusion nursing, virtual care, Alternate Health Facility Care, residential care, and pharmacy and supplies services.

Previously, Syed has successfully led corporate-wide Quality and Integrated Risk Management Frameworks across two large multi-site hospital networks. He has been instrumental in establishing a High Reliability Culture of Safety and promoting Person and Family Centered Care through the implementation of a comprehensive Patient Experience Program. Syed’s career began as a Personal Support Worker and Recreational Therapist, and he has since advanced through various leadership roles.

Syed holds a Bachelor in Kinesiology & Rehab Sciences, a Master’s in Healthcare Quality, Risk and Safety, an Advanced Certificate in Healthcare Law from Osgoode Hall, and a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma. His professional experience includes serving as an Accreditation Canada Surveyor and ISO 9001 auditor, as well as a Board Member for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

In his spare time, Syed enjoys traveling with his family, playing basketball, and watching comedy movies.

As a longtime resident of Ajax, Michael brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to the Durham Community Health Centre’s Board of Directors. With over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, Michael is currently responsible for executing strategies to support and scale Manulife’s retirement and investment platforms and products, catering to the diverse needs of customers across Canada. His role involves collaborating with the largest investment firms in Canada, the U.S., and Asia, to align and enhance global partnerships

Michael holds a Bachelor of Applied Ares in Public Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University. He is a Chartered Investment Manager, accredited by the Canadian Securities Institute and a certified Responsible Investment Professional through the Responsible Investment Association.

His educational background and professional accomplishments underscore his dedication to fostering sustainable and responsible investment practices.

In addition to his professional endeavours, Michael is actively involved in community service. He serves on the board of the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre, where he contributes to initiatives aimed at improving the lives of individuals living with diabetes. Michael is also a board member of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), where he supports empowering young people from under-resourced communities through entrepreneurship education

Stephanie Chow is the Director of Finance at The International Group, Inc., where she oversees financial operations for the company’s consolidated entities in Canada and the U.S. With over 15 years of experience in financial reporting, governance, and internal controls, Stephanie brings a wealth of expertise to her role.

Prior to joining The International Group, Inc., Stephanie was an assurance manager at PwC, where she served as a trusted financial advisor to clients in the manufacturing, travel, and healthcare industries.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Ontario Tech University and is a proud member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.