Board of Directors

Don Aronson

Donald Aronson served on TSSA’s Board from December 2010 to December 2015, and was re-appointed to the Board in December 2016. Currently he is also a member of the Safety and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

Mr. Aronson is President of Aronson & Associates Incorporated, a company specializing in strategic business and communications services since 1999. His career includes senior management positions with Algoma Steel Corporation and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation where he was responsible for corporate communications, province-wide community relations, corporate sponsorships and corporate advertising. He has garnered in-depth knowledge while working with senior level of business and government to develop brands, launch new products, plan corporate events, design curriculum and implement specialized public awareness programs. He has also been active on a number of regional boards, including; the Industrial Accident Prevention Association and United Way. Mr. Aronson also served as a director with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and is currently serving on the Membership Committee of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA).

Lynda Bowles 

Lynda Bowles joined TSSA's Board in September 2012. She was a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee (AFRC) from September 2012 to April 2017 and is currently a member of the Governance and Human Resources Committee. She is a retired audit partner from Deloitte LLP.

Ms. Bowles served as a partner for 23 years supervising field work, interacting with Audit Committees and Boards, preparing reports for management and Audit Committees and signing financial statements. Prior to becoming a Chartered Accountant, Ms. Bowles was a lecturer at the University of Guelph. Ms. Bowles has a Master of Science degree from the University of Guelph, is a CPA and was elected a FCPA in 1999. She has been active in the community serving on many Boards such as West Park Health Care Centre, The University of Guelph, the Toronto Zoological Society, Bloorview Children's Hospital, Women's College Ambulatory Care Centre, Branksome Hall Finance Committee and the Toronto United Way Finance Committee. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), MLSE Foundation and Cryptomills Technologies LTD.

She has been a judge for the Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, Co-chair of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Dinner for Toronto and was a judge for the Toronto Sun's contest for the top 10 women in Toronto. In addition, she was a Winner in 2011 of The International Alliance for Women 100 Award (Individual Women category). She was recognized in 2011 as one of the top 25 Women of Influence in Canada in the Professional Services Category, and was the first recipient of the Lynda Bowles Spirit Award Winner established by Deloitte & Touche in 2009 and was a winner of the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Business in 1999.

JoAnne C. Butler 

JoAnne Butler joined TSSA's Board in September 2013, and is currently the Chair of its Governance and Human Resources Committee.

Ms. Butler was Vice President, Market and Resource Development, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and prior to that was the Vice President, Electricity Resources at Ontario Power Authority (OPA). Previously, Ms. Butler held key senior strategic and operational executive positions with TransAlta, a Canadian investor-owned utility, including President of its Mexican assets. There she built an efficient, cost effective and compliant overhead operation, with a strong emphasis on corporate governance and financial controls, during the construction, start up and operation of 2 - 250 MW combined cycle gas fired power plants.

Ms. Butler also worked in the oil and gas exploration sector with Amoco Corporation for 21 years, leading support teams for construction and operations in Canada, Egypt, Tunisia and including a five-year international assignment in the United Arab Emirates. Ms. Butler’s board experience is equally extensive. She was chair of five Mexican service, asset and holding companies, chair and president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City and is Chair of the Finance and Quality Committee of Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences’ board.

Her more than 39 years of professional judgment and business acumen have also been a boon for other numerous volunteer boards she has served (Construction Owner’s Association of Alberta, Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada and Asociación Mexicana de Energía). She holds a B.Sc. Honours (Civil Engineering) from Queen’s University and a Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Directors College (a joint venture of McMaster University and The Conference Board of Canada).

Brian Chu 

Brian Chu joined TSSA's Board in October 2015, and is a member of its Safety and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

A founding partner of Toronto law firm Bogart Robertson& Chu LLP, Mr. Chu's practice includes acting for a number of large institutional insurance and bank lenders, as well as, lenders in the financial services industry such as mortgage funds and investment advisors. He also has extensive experience in the acquisition, disposition and financing of all commercial real estate asset classes, including retirement and nursing homes and cellular/broadcast towers.

Mr. Chu has extensive board experience in energy, post-secondary education, arts and culture sectors. He holds positions as the Vice Chair of the Toronto Hydro Corporation and is Chair of the Ontario Science Centre. Mr. Chu chairs the Toronto Hydro Corporation Human Resources and Environment Committee and formerly chaired its Audit Committee and Corporate Governance Committee at various times. These roles included dealing with capital market financings, business unit dispositions, corporate reorganization, strategic assessment and planning, governance, code of conduct/whistle-blower situations and CEO recruitment.

He was formerly Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Ontario Science Centre, Chair the Board of Laidlaw Foundation, Chair of the Board of Governors of Ontario College of Arts and Design (OCAD), Vice-Chair of Centennial College and a director and Vice-Chairman of The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto. Mr. Chu is included in The Best Lawyers in Canada for real estate law, the global publication Who’s Who Legal for real estate law and is profiled in Canadian Who’s Who distributed by U of T Press. Believing in paying it forward, Mr. Chu has also served as a panelist on numerous occasions in his role as a director for the Maytree Foundation and Canadian Board Diversity Council educational programs.

Douglas Harrison

Douglas Harrison joined TSSA’s Board in September 2013. He assumed the Vice Chair role in September 2015 and is a member of the Board's Governance and Human Resources Committee, and Chair of the AFRC TSSA 20/20 subcommittee. He was a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee from September 2013 to April 2017.

Mr. Harrison is President and Chief Executive Officer of VersaCold Logistics Services, Canada's largest supplier of temperature-sensitive supply chain solutions. Prior to VersaCold, Mr. Harrison led a number of well-known organizations, including Day & Ross Transportation Group (a subsidiary of McCain Foods); Acklands-Grainger, (a leading industrial and safety supply company), and was Vice President and Managing Director, Canada and Europe for Ryder Integrated Logistics.

Mr. Harrison holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh), is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), and holds designations from the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT) and the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD).  A "Top 40 Under 40" alumni, Mr. Harrison is a regular presenter at the Queen's School of Business (strategy, leadership and change management). He currently sits on the Board of Superior Plus and is a member of their Audit and Safety and Environment Committee.  Mr. Harrison is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Commercial Corporation.

Debbie Heiser 

Deborah Heiser joined TSSA's Board in April 2017, and is a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee. Ms. Heiser is an information technology executive with over 25 years of experience.

In her current role as Vice President Canadian Services Delivery, Optiv Security Inc., a market-leading provider of end-to-end cyber security solutions, she works with CIOs and security executives to help assess, develop, guide and improve information security management programs, while ensuring alignment with business goals and objectives.

Ms. Heiser brings broad experience in leading and transforming technology teams and programs in large, complex environments. She started her career as a chartered professional accountant and developed extensive finance and risk experience. Ms. Heiser's strong business acumen allows her to partner with clients and internal teams in developing solutions that are business-aligned and balance risk, cost and capability. Prior to joining Optiv, she held IT and finance executive leadership roles in Canada and the US. Ms. Heiser served as interim CIO for the Royal Canadian Mint and Vice President of Enterprise Systems for Rogers Communications. She spent 20 years with PepsiCo, Inc. in the roles of treasurer, controller and CIO for Pepsi Canada and Vice President of Technology Services for Pepsi Beverages North America, based in New York.

Ms. Heiser is a strong advocate for diversity and was a member of Pepsi's Diversity Advisory Board and executive sponsor for Pepsi's Women's Network. She also served on the governance committee for Rogers Women's Network. Ms. Heiser holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Dalhousie University and a CPA designation.

Aman Hundal 

Aman Hundal joined TSSA's Board in September 2016, and is a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.

For over twenty five years, Mr. Hundal has worked in both private as well as public sector. Within the Federal Government he has worked with, Industry Canada, Public Works (PWGSC), and recently retired from Canada Revenue Agency, as a senior Business Continuity Analyst.

In the private sector, Mr. Hundal was an Information Systems Professor at Algonquin College, and senior consultant with ADGA group, Synerlogic Consulting, and Anderson (Accenture) Consulting. On voluntary basis, he has worked as Chair, Communications, and Public Relations for the Ottawa Sikh Community, which represents 10,000, Sikh residents in the Ottawa Region, and as a Treasurer at Katimavik Elementary School. Mr. Hundal has also volunteered to be a facilitator between the Union (PIPSC) and Canada Revenue Agency, management for dispute resolution.

He holds a diploma in Computer Science, and Bachelors in Public Administration & Political Science.

Norm Inkster, O.C. 

Norman Inkster was appointed by TSSA's Board of Directors as TSSA's first Chief Safety and Risk Officer (CSRO) and served as CSRO until February 2012. Mr. Inkster joined TSSA's Board in September 2012. Prior to his appointment as the Board Chair in September 2015, he served as the Board Vice Chair from September 2013 to September 2015.

Mr. Inkster is a recognized expert in national and international law enforcement. With a distinguished 36-year career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada's largest law enforcement agency, Mr. Inkster rose through the ranks to become Commissioner, the highest ranking officer responsible for all aspects of the organization's 21,000 employees and budget. Retiring from the RCMP in 1994, Mr. Inkster joined KPMG Forensic, appointed to manage KPMG Forensic for Canada and subsequently became the Global Managing Partner.

In 2003, he became a partner with the international law firm of Gowling, Lafleur Henderson LLP. Mr. Inkster advised the Secretary of Public Safety of Mexico by serving on an International Council of Experts, and was an External Advisor to the Departmental Audit Committee of Public Works Canada for a term of eight years serving as Vice Chair and Chair. Mr. Inkster is currently a member of the Departmental Advisory Committee of Public Safety Canada. He has been a Board member of several companies both in Canada and the USA, and currently, a member of the Board of a private company in Canada. Mr. Inkster is an Officer of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour.

Michael Lees

Mike Lees joined TSSA's Board in September 2013, and is Chair of its Audit, Finance and Risk Committee (AFRC), and member of the AFRC TSSA 20/20 Subcommittee.

Mr. Lees retired in 2013 as the President of Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Energy, Inc. (B&W NE), and Babcock & Wilcox Canada Ltd. (B&W). He joined B&W Canada as a Stress Analyst in the Nuclear Equipment department in 1980, and went on to hold a variety of leadership positions in Nuclear Engineering, Project Management and Sales Management prior to being appointed President of the Canadian operation in 2007.

In 2012, Mr. Lees assumed the additional role of President for the parent company (B&W NE), leading Canadian and Global commercial nuclear business for Babcock and Wilcox. A graduate of the University of Waterloo (B.Sc., Honours Applied Physics), Mr. Lees also holds an Executive MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, and a Chartered Director (ICD.D) designation from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. He has held various board positions at companies affiliated with Babcock & Wilcox.

In addition, Mr. Lees has served on several not-for-profit organizations, including the Canadian Nuclear Association and the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. In 2007, Mr. Lees was awarded the Ian McRae Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Canadian Nuclear Industry, and the following year, named the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Science Outstanding Alumni.

Elaine Pitcher 

Elaine Pitcher joined TSSA's Board in May 2015, and is the Chair of its Safety and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

Ms Pitcher has practiced law specializing in corporate and commercial matters, and advanced estate planning and administration for the past thirty years.  Active in her community, Ms. Pitcher has served as the Chair of the Northeast Local Health Integration Network, following ten years as a Board member of the Sault Area Hospital, five of those in the capacity of Board Chair. Prior to that, she has held the position of Vice Chair of the Ontario Council of Regents, and Chair of Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology and has served on numerous other boards and agencies.

A proponent of strong governance, Ms. Pitcher has been a panel participant at the Ontario Hospital Association Health Achieve Conference, and provides both advice and facilitation on governance best practices and strategic planning to non-profit organizations. She has been the recipient of many awards including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Ontario Leading Women Building Communities award, The Harry Hamilton Award given by the Algoma District Law Association and the Dr. William Hutchinson award for community service in the health sector. 

Ms. Pitcher is a graduate of Queen’s University where she received both an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in finance, followed by her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B).

Connie Roveto 

Connie Roveto joined TSSA's Board in September 2013, and is currently a member of its Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.She was a member of the Governance and Human Resources Committee from September 2013 to April 2017.

Ms. Roveto is President of Cirenity Management, providing consulting services in strategy, product and service development. Prior to this Ms. Roveto enjoyed over twenty years senior executive leadership experience in financial services and investment industries. She is currently Chair of the Independent Review Committee for Sentry Mutual Funds. 

Ms. Roveto has served as director of a number of private and public boards including Chair of the Board of Management of the Canada Revenue Agency, Lead Director of Consonus Technologies Inc., and director/trustee of Women's World Banking and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and The Learning Partnership. From 2013-2017, she also served as a member of the Audit Committee of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions of Canada (OSFI).

She holds a B.A. and B Ed. from the University of Toronto, and was one of the first candidates to complete the Directors Education Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors and to receive the designation of ICD.D.

Wendy Tilford

Wendy Tilford joined TSSA's Board on March 9, 2016, and is a member of the Safety and Regulatory Affairs Committee and AFRC TSSA 20/20 Subcommittee.

Ms. Tilford was the former Deputy Minister, Ontario Government at the Ministries of Government and Consumer Services, Economic Development and Trade, Research and Innovation, and a member of the Executive Development Committee and Public Service Commission. She was also a former Board member of the Ontario Capital Growth Corporation and the Toronto Financial Services Alliance.

Prior to joining the Ontario Public Service in 2010, Ms. Tilford held senior executive positions in large complex organizations, start-ups and mid-size companies including Bell Canada, Norigen Communications and Canadian Standards Group. Ms. Tilford was recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2014 by the Women's Executive Network. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the CSA Group.

Helle Tosine 

Helle Tosine joined TSSA's Board on October 31, 2014, and is a member of the Governance and Human Resources Committee.

Since 2008, Ms. Tosine, as a certified management consultant (CMC), has been providing strategic planning, governance, organizational effectiveness and performance measurement advice to not-for-profit and regulatory public sector clients in Ontario, at the federal level, and internationally.

In 2016, she joined the firm, Optimus|SBR Management Consulting. Prior to her consulting career, Ms. Tosine spent seven years as Assistant Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Labour where she was responsible for policy and program development, and delivery of Ontario health and safety and employment rights compliance initiatives. She was awarded the Ontario Amethyst Award for Outstanding Achievement (2009) and was recognized internationally by the International Labour Organization (ILO) by being asked to chair the first North American IALI conference, and to co-author a handbook on performance measurement for the International Association of Labour Inspectorates (IALI/ILO).

Born in England, Ms. Tosine attended the Universities of McMaster and York, achieving an MSc in Analytical Chemistry. Moving from her first employer, Environment Canada where she was a research chemist, to the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Ms. Tosine held various director positions leading research and technology development, regulatory and policy development. Her important accomplishments included establishing the first dioxin analytical laboratory in Canada, leading policy development and implementation of the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights. She was awarded the Canadian Institute of Chemistry Award for Innovative Contribution (1995) in the field of environmental chemistry.

Ms. Tosine is the immediate past President of the Council of the Royal Canadian Institute for Science, a not-for-profit, 165-year-old organization with a mission of bringing science to the public. In 2013, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Governor General in recognition of her significant contribution to Canada.