Board of Directors

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. 

Robert J. Falconi

RJ Falconi joined TSSA's Board in January 2019. He was appointed as Chair in May 2019 and is a member of the Board’s Audit, Finance and Risk Committee (ARFC). He is currently Managing Director of RayleeValleyGroup, which provides guidance and advice in various areas of law, public policy, government and stakeholder relations, corporate governance and compliance.

Mr. Falconi was formerly Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Government Affairs Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at CSA Group (Canadian Standards Association) for 17 years.  There he was responsible for corporate governance, policy and administration of CSA’s Board of Directors; oversight for CSA’s government relations activities on international trade; and lobbying and compliance matters.  He also interacted with governmental regulatory authorities and domestic and international law enforcement agencies to resolve regulatory, compliance and intellectual property infringement issues.

Previously, Mr. Falconi was Vice‐President, General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for Parsons Corporation, a global multi‐disciplinary engineering firm, and was Legal Counsel for the Consumer Banking Division of Citibank Canada. He has also served as Secretary General to the Certification Industry Against Counterfeiting (CIAC), an INTERPOL-coordinated network committed to stopping the worldwide proliferation of counterfeit products that may endanger public health and safety.

Mr. Falconi has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, holds a Bachelor of Laws (Juris Doctor) from Osgoode Hall Law School, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1985. In October 2012, he was certified by the Institute of Corporate Directors at Rotman School of Business as an Institute‐Certified Director (ICD.D). 

Mr. Falconi is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian, American and International Bar Associations, the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), and the US‐based National Association of Corporate Directors. He serves on the national board for Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Inc., and the board of Tarion Warranty Corporation.    

Douglas Harrison

Douglas Harrison joined TSSA’s Board in September 2013. He is a member of the Board's Governance and Human Resources Committee (GHRC) and is Chair of the 20/20 Committee. He served as Vice Chair of the Board from September 2015 to May 2019 and was a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee (AFRC) from September 2013 to April 2017.

Mr. Harrison was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of VersaCold Logistics Services, Canada's largest supplier of temperature-sensitive supply chain solutions. Prior to VersaCold he led a number of well-known organizations, including Day & Ross Transportation Group (a subsidiary of McCain Foods) and Acklands-Grainger, a leading industrial and safety supply company.  He also served as 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, supply chain conferences, and various business conferences. He has been honoured by the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation with their Award of Excellence and by the Supply Chain Management Association of Canada as a Fellow.

Mr. Harrison currently sits on the Board of Superior Plus and is a member of their Audit and Safety and Environment Committee, as well as Board Chair of the Canadian Commercial Corporation. 

Debbie Heiser 

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. 

Robert P. Sicard

Robert Sicard joined TSSA's Board in January 2019, and is a member of its Governance and Human Resources Committee. Mr. Sicard is a business executive with over 40 years of experience in the oil industry. Most recently he was the Vice President of Corporate Development for MacEwen Petroleum Inc., with major responsibilities including mergers and acquisitions across Ontario. 

He served as the first President and Chief Executive Officer of UPI Inc., UPI Holdings Inc. and UPI Energy LP based in Guelph, Ontario.  UPI became the first energy provider in Canada to utilize modern, above-ground storage and dispensing technology in the construction of retail gasoline outlets and was renowned for bringing environmentally friendlier energy products to the Ontario market.  Under Mr. Sicard’s leadership, UPI gained wide recognition as an industry innovator and leader. 

From 1988 to 1992, Mr. Sicard also served as General Manager followed by EVP at MacEwen Petroleum Inc.  Prior to this role, he held a variety of posts over 15 years with BP Oil Limited, a company later acquired by Petro-Canada. As Manager of Wholesale Development for Petro-Canada, Mr. Sicard introduced nation-wide unmanned commercial fueling outlets (Petro-Pass) during the mid-eighties and, together with two fellow officers, helped make Petro Partners the largest independent heating oil company in Ontario. 

Mr. Sicard is bilingual (English and French) and holds an MBA from the University of Toronto, a diploma in Business Management from Humber College, and a diploma in Manufacturing Management from St. Lawrence College of Applied Arts and Technology.  He also holds a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) designation from the Ontario Institute of Agrologists. 

He has served on the Board of Governors at Renison University College, and as the Chair of the Advancement Committee for the College. Mr. Sicard currently serves as Vice-Chair for the Environmental Management and Assessment Program Advisory Committee at Algonquin College.

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.