Chair, Board of Directors
Member, Executive Committee
Vice-President of Business Development, Procom
President, NIAD Systems
Mark Galloway has over 19 years of experience selling IT services and is the Vice-President of Business Development at Procom - a $1 billion Canadian contract staffing services firm – and is responsible for its Toronto operations as well as its national clients.
Mark is also the President of NIAD Systems, a software company that provides solutions to the equity capital markets groups within investment brokerage firms to help manage the new issue (IPO) sales process.
Mark has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and an MBA from York University.
Mark has had a relationship with Ovarian Cancer Canada for the past 12 years as his mother and aunt have both lost the battle to ovarian cancer, and another aunt is a survivor.
Past Chair, Board of Directors
Member, Human Resources & Compensation Committee
Executive Lead, Health System Accountability, Department of Health and Wellness, Province of Nova Scotia
Theresa Marie is a senior executive who has worked in policy, health planning and program management in areas of public health, acute care and cancer care at the provincial and federal levels. She has a strong track record of creating, implementing and managing new programs and strategies to effect positive change to health outcomes.
An accomplished leader in change management, public and patient engagement process design and facilitation, Theresa Marie has led large scale efforts in national cancer control, tobacco strategy development and psychosocial health management. She was the founder and original executive officer of Cancer Care Nova Scotia, a nationally regarded cancer control program encompassing surveillance, care delivery standards, prevention and screening. Under Theresa Marie's leadership Cancer Care Nova Scotia became known as an innovative leader in policy and programming, particularly in the areas of patient support, screening and research.
Theresa Marie is an avid community volunteer and focuses on the healthy development of children and youth. She has been awarded the Pinnacle Award for her extensive community voluntarism and impact by the Association of Junior Leagues International, an international volunteer organization. She also recently received the Excellence in Leadership award from The Board of Cancer Care Nova Scotia and national recognition for Leadership in Cancer Control from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. She holds a Masters of Education from Dalhousie and a Masters of Health Services Administration from the University of Alberta.
Theresa Marie is the former Chair of the Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies and has been active on many national committees and Boards and has chaired the Integration of Primary Care and Cancer Care as well as has been an adviser to the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project.
Vice-Chair, Board of Directors and Member
Co-Founder Maybe* Solutions
As an ovarian cancer survivor, Erin is proud to work with Ovarian Cancer Canada to support any woman or family touched by this disease.
Professionally, Erin specializes in communications and fundraising, and has worked with internationally respected charities, businesses, and marketing agencies.
Approached in 2008 by a North American branding firm to launch the firm internationally, Erin opened the UK office of Octopus Strategies in January 2009. The firm was immediately engaged by Sentebale, HRH Prince Harry’s charity, to develop the charity’s fundraising and communications plans. Working with charities, social enterprises, and NFPs, in 2010 Octopus Strategies UK was named as “One of the top 100 Companies to Watch in London.” In 2012 Octopus Strategies merged with Junxion Strategy, creating an international marketing consultancy with offices in Vancouver, London, and Delhi.
In April 2014, Erin successfully negotiated her exit from Junxion Strategy and joined Maybe* Solutions as Co-Founder and CXO. A conversational commerce platform that connects the online, offline, and social customer journey, the Maybe* platform uses AI, chatbot, and sentiment analysis to allow any organisation to benchmark their performance, see insights in real-time, generate social proof, and deliver a connected conversational experience. Maybe* Solutions has donated both their time and expertise to support the efforts of Ovarian Cancer Canada.
Erin is currently working on her first novel and enjoys spending time with her young family.
Treasurer, Executive Committee, Audit & Risk Committee
Partner, Consumer and Industrial Markets, KPMG
Dave Power is a Partner in KPMG’s Audit practice in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with a focus on industrial markets and automotive. He has over 14 years of audit experience, primarily with public companies, having worked mostly in Toronto with two years in London, United Kingdom on secondment to KPMG’s International Standards Group. In addition to his technical and client service abilities, Dave is known for his significant interest in and commitment to people management and development, having been a People Leader for four years, a leader in the development and mentorship of people. At KPMG, Dave also oversees the firm’s program to support its employees through the professional examination process.
To support his communities, Dave is the incoming Chair of the board of directors of ACCESS Community Capital Fund, a not-for-profit focusing on micro-lending to support individuals, including those new to Canada, grow self-sustaining businesses and careers.
Member, Executive Committee
Chair, Research Committee
Corinne Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research;
Senior Scientist - Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute;
Professor - Cellular & Molecular Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Ottawa
Dr. Vanderhyden obtained her Ph.D. in Reproductive Physiology at the University of Western Ontario and then did postdoctoral studies at The Jackson Laboratory in Maine, where she learned to climb mountains, both literally and scientifically. Since 1991, she has been a Professor at the University of Ottawa, and is also a Senior Scientist in the Cancer Therapeutics Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Her research focuses on the cellular and molecular processes associated with ovarian tumorigenesis, the generation of models of ovarian cancer, and the testing of novel therapeutics.
Dr. Vanderhyden has been involved with Ovarian Cancer Canada since her appointment in 2000 as the inaugural Corinne Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research at the University of Ottawa, the first Chair in ovarian cancer in Canada. She has acted with enormous leadership to change the landscape in Canada around both research and awareness about this disease. In 2002, she organized the first Canadian Conference on Ovarian Cancer Research, which brought together clinicians and scientists working on ovarian cancer for the first time. This conference has continued every two years with attendance now including trainees and international speakers, and has facilitated much collaborative research across the country.
As Chair of the Ovarian Cancer Canada Research Committee, Dr. Vanderhyden has galvanized a diverse group around a dynamic research funding program that has supported a national ovarian cancer tissue bank, pilot projects in early detection, and trainee scholarships. She has also made concerted efforts to promote awareness of the Chair position and ovarian cancer, frequently speaking at educational and fundraising events across Canada.
A strong advocate for science education, Dr. Vanderhyden established two successful outreach programs in her spare time. In Let’s Talk Science, 350 volunteers make science fun for students in local schools. Science Travels sends graduate students to the far north to deliver science workshops in First Nations and Inuit communities.
Member, Fundraising Committee
Brand Manager at SAIL Outdoors
Catherine Asselin has over ten years of experience in the field of Marketing and Communications. A graduate of HEC Montreal, she has worked in advertising agencies and for eight years at the Cirque du Soleil. Having presented a wide variety of events, campaigns and shows, Catherine brings a strong understanding of audiences in Canada and Quebec. She is now Brand Manager at SAIL, elevating company profile in Ontario and Quebec.
Catherine has always been actively involved in important causes. She has participated in the Canada World Youth program, volunteering in Nicaragua and Saskatchewan, and also fundraised for Breakfast Club. More recently, Catherine participated in the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope as a volunteer. Seeing the courage of women living with this disease and learning about the hopes of participants inspired her to further her involvement within the organization.
Member, Fundraising Committee
Assistant Vice-President Operations, Sun Life Financial of Canada
Michel Brunet has over 15 years of experience leading various areas of Sun Life Financial’s Canadian operations. He currently leads the client service teams supporting Sun Life’s advisors as well as the Canadian group pension business.
Lazy at heart, Michel has spent most of those 15+ years finding ways to get better results with less effort and at lower cost. He will bring that same mentaility to his work with the board of Ovarian Cancer Canada.
Michel was spurned to action when he lost his mother and his aunt to ovarian cancer. He wants a better outcome for all the other wonderful women in his life.
Member
Director of Communications, Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance
Chair, Governance and Nominating Committee
Chartered Director - Occasional Consulting
Integrity Commissioner for the Town of Caledon
John started his career as a social worker but rapidly rose through the management ranks of local and provincial governments as well as not‐for‐profits achieving the most senior leadership positions in several organizations, including service as a Deputy Minister in Ontario and as CEO of a national health charity..
After completing his full‐time career he continued his leadership work by achieving the Chartered Director designation and opening his consulting practice aptly named with the insights and humour that John brings to all of his professional work – Occasional Consulting. His practice is located in Oakville, Ontario. Since 2008 he has focused his work around governance teaching and advice, executive mentoring and coaching and group facilitation, especially emphasizing his ability to help boards and teams to work effectively to identify and achieve common goals.
He is the Integrity Commissioner for the Town of Caledon and a member of the Board of Governors of Sheridan College; has served on numerous boards and committees and is a past Chair of the Board of Directors of Halton Healthcare Services which governs the operations of three general hospitals, providing leadership during a critical time while a brand new Oakville Hospital was under construction. He is also a past Director of OMERS Sponsors Corporation, the governing board of one of Canada’s largest pension plans.
Member
Professor of Ob-Gyn and of Oncology, McGill University
Walter H. Gotlieb is Professor of Ob-Gyn and of Oncology, and the Director of Surgical Oncology at McGill University. He became the Chief of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2019 and has been the Director of Gynecologic Oncology at the Jewish General Hospital since 2003. He obtained his medical degree summa cum laude at Université Libre de Bruxelles, in his native Belgium, where he went on to obtain board certification in Ob-Gyn.
Having spent two years at the National Institutes of Health, he then performed a three-year fellowship in Gyn-oncology at the UCLA. He was then recruited by Tel Aviv University & Tel Hashomer Hospital, where he co-founded and built up the Department of Gynecologic-Oncology from 1994 to 2003. In 2003, he was recruited by McGill University. Over his professional career, he obtained a license to practice in Belgium, Israel, California, and Quebec.
Together with his team, they have pioneered and driven “robotic” surgery in gynecologic cancer in Canada. He has lectured around the world, and has proctored robotic surgery 25 times in Canada, China, India, and Israel. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, he is involved in scientific research in ovarian and endometrial cancer as a Project Director at the Lady Davis Research Institute.
Dr. Gotlieb has just completed his mandate as President of the Gynecologic Oncology Society of Canada and as Secretary Treasurer of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. He has also completed an executive course in health care management and delivery at the Harvard Business School and is developing international relationships to further augmented reality in surgery. Dr. Gotlieb is well-published with over two hundred scientific publications and is the recipient of several national and international awards in the area of cancer research.
Member
CEO, Futurpreneur Canada
Karen Greve Young became CEO of Futurpreneur Canada in 2018. This non-profit organization is Canada’s only national organization dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs. Futurpreneur’s unique model combines funding, mentorship and start-up programs to fuel the success of thousands of diverse young entrepreneurs in every Canadian province and territory.
A compelling spokesperson and executive strategist, Karen has a proven track record in optimizing organizations to achieve inclusive economic and social impact. She is adept at inspiring, managing, and influencing others; and her practical experience and expertise builds on exceptional academic and business foundations.
Prior to her CEO role with Futurpreneur, Karen was Vice-President, Corporate Development and Partnerships with MaRS Discovery District, the world’s largest innovation hub, from 2011-2018. She was also the Founding Executive Director of the ICR Global Foundation, a US-based foundation supporting the UK’s Institute of Cancer Research from 2008-2010. Karen’s professional expertise and academic pursuits have taken her across the globe; she has previously held finance, management and strategy roles in San Francisco, New York and London, UK, at organizations including Bain & Company and Gap Inc. Along the way, she co-authored a book with her mother about their shared experience through her mother’s ovarian cancer journey.
Karen holds an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and a BA in Economics from Harvard University, both with honours.
Member
Founding Partner, Roundtable Capital Partners
Member, Fund Raising Committee
Former Registered Nurse, Celgene Canada Inc.
Laura’s career had spanned 34 years as a health care professional from her role as a registered nurse in critical care to launching and developing new business indications in bio-pharmaceuticals. Laura has recently retired from Celgene Canada Inc., and was an original team member that established the Canadian division in 2007.
While working with Celgene and Johnson & Johnson, Laura has held multiple roles in business development, with assignments including new business development, transfusion medicine, HIV and oncology.
Laura is a graduate of the Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing RN Program, completing on the job training & development in business, communication, and negotiation skills. Recently Laura completed the Institute of Corporate Directors programs in Governance Essentials for Directors of Not-For-Profit Organizations and Boardroom Financial Essentials.
Laura has participated in community and education forums in the area of patient advocacy and has strong interest in this area and the health related organizations.
Other interests include skiing, golfing, fitness and enjoying time with family & friends. Married to her husband Gordon she has three adult children.
Member, Audit & Risk Committee
Member, Fund Raising Committee
COO, Canadian Museum of Human Rights
Susanne is a chartered accountant with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Manitoba.
After articling with Price Waterhouse, Susanne started her career with Shelter Canadian Properties Limited, a national property management and real estate development company with its head office in Winnipeg. She held a senior management position with Datamark Systems Inc., a national printing company before joining the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as Chief Financial Officer and Project Manager early in 2007.
Susanne was one of the first two employees hired by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights when, in September 2008, she was appointed the Chief Financial Officer of the first new national museum to be created in 40 years.
She is active in the community having held senior volunteer board positions both locally and nationally with the Arthritis Society, the Canadian Arthritis Network and the Manitoba Highland Dancers’ Association.
Susanne is a member of the senior management team of the Museum and her responsibilities include overseeing the construction of the very first new national museum to be built outside of the National Capital Region.
On the personal side, Susanne and her husband Bill have a daughter Reagan and son Sean, both independent young adults who make their parents very proud!
Member, Fund Raising Committee
Member, Governance & Nominating Committee
Director, Woodstone Residence Treatment Centre
Dr. Verna Magee-Shepherd’s extensive post-secondary experience spanned the university, college and institute sectors. Her roles included undergraduate teaching and positions as Associate Dean, Dean, Vice President and Acting President (BCIT) and President (UCW). She is an ongoing consultant to Vancouver’s Looking Glass Foundation.
Earlier professional roles included teaching and administration in tertiary care hospitals in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. Verna was a Clinical Assistant Professor in UBC’s Department of Health Care and Epidemiology and a member of the Canadian Medical Association’s Conjoint Accreditation Committee.
Verna completed her doctoral degree in Education Leadership and Policy at UBC in 2003. She holds an M.Sc. in Medical Science from the University of Calgary and a baccalaureate degree in Human Nutrition from UBC. She has completed executive programs in public sector leadership.
Active in the YWCA of Vancouver for over fifteen years, Verna was previously Chair of the YWCA Board of Directors and Chair of the Vancouver Women of Distinction Event. She is a Vancouver Marriage Commissioner and a Stem Cell Courier for patients requiring transplant at VGH and BC Children’s Hospital.
Member, Fundraising Committee
Lawyer, Partner, Aylward, Chislett & Whitten
A partner at Aylward, Chislett & Whitten law firm, Marina’s primary practice consists of personal injury, disability insurance, wills and estates, and real estate. Her experience includes appearing before the Federal Court of Canada, Provincial and Federal adjudicative tribunals and all levels of court in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Marina was appointed Master and Taxing Officer of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in May 2015. In September 2008, she was appointed Queen’s Counsel.
Marina has served as president of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and has chaired or served as a member of numerous law society committees including Insurance, Education, Discipline, and Complaints Authorization Committees, among others. She has also served as a board member and volunteer for various community organizations.
Marina has a Bachelor of Laws Degree from University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Marina’s mom, Louise, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in July, 2013 and died in September, 2014. She had previously survived breast cancer on two occasions, largely due to early detection. Marina is hopeful that early detection techniques will soon improve outcomes for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Ovarian Cancer Canada’s mission to overcome this terrible disease.
Marina joined Ovarian Cancer Canada as a Board Member in October 2016.
Member – Human Resources & Compensation Committee
Former Principal - Health & Group Benefits Practice of Mercer Human Resources Consulting;
Founding member – Benefits of Caring
Emeritus – Board of Directors
Partner, KPMG
Tammy has been a director of Ovarian Cancer Canada for over 15 years and is also a director of Women’s College Hospital and Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Tammy is a CPA, CA and a Partner in KPMG’s Audit practice in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). She has over 20 years of audit experience, primarily with public companies. In addition to her technical and client service abilities, Tammy is known for her significant interest and contributions within HR from coaching and mentoring throughout her career to taking leadership roles in the development of others and in diversity inclusion within KPMG. She is a band member of the Shawanaga First Nation. As a member of the Diversity and Inclusion executive committee, Tammy has represented the aboriginal community and continues to develop connections and seek opportunities to support and include these communities in our activities.
Tammy has served in leadership positions at KPMG in the areas of recruiting, training and human resources throughout her career. She is currently the HR and Resources Partner for the GTA Audit practice, is a member of the GTA audit leadership team and is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion partner executive committee.
Retired Nurse
Member, Patient Family Advisory Committee (Saskatchewan)
Member, Provincial Gynecological Oncology Program (Saskatchewan)
Coordinator, Saskatchewan Ovarian Cancer Survivor Group; Ovarian cancer survivor - 14 years
Anne Chase is a 14 year survivor of ovarian cancer. Following Anne’s diagnosis and successful surgery in 1998, she became an advocate of raising awareness of this deadly disease and its easily ignored symptoms. She has spoken to hundreds of people about Listening to the Whispers of ovarian cancer and to medical professionals through the Survivors Teaching Students program. In addition, she formed a support group called SOCS – Saskatchewan Ovarian Cancer Survivors; has participated in and chaired the Walk in Regina; and is the first Saskatchewan representative on the board of Ovarian Cancer Canada. Anne is a member of SCAN and the Saskatchewan Patient and Family Advisory Committee. Anne lives in Regina, has two children and four grandchildren.
Listen to the Whispers presentation
A presentation designed to raise awareness of the often ignored symptoms of ovarian cancer, combined with Anne’s personal story of her diagnosis and recovery.
Past Chair, Emeritus – Board of Directors
Former Vice-Chairman, Royal Bank, Oakville, ON
Emeritus – Board of Directors,
Vice-president of the Association des CMDP and Chief of emergency health services at the CSSSTR, Coordinating physician for Trois-Rivières