Aric Bhargava (Chair)
Managing Partner, Birli & Associates
Aric is a respected risk and regulatory compliance professional and Managing Partner with Birli & Associates. He obtained his Institute of Corporate Directors Not for Profit (ICD.NFP) from the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management, as well as Regulatory Compliance and Legal Risk Management from Osgoode Hall Professional Development. He holds an Honours BA and GDip in Immigration & Citizenship Law from Queen’s University, Faculty of Law. Aric is also an Aux Sergeant with Peel Regional Police – Aux Bureau. With 20 years of experience in the financial sector holding senior level risk, regulatory compliance and corporate governance roles with Green and Spiegel LLP, Visa Canada, JPMorgan Chase, and Manulife.
Before joining the Board in 2014, Aric’s family used the services of RMHC Toronto. He served on the RMHC Toronto Family Room Sub-Committee and most recently as Vice-Chair. Aric has been a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Mission Committee, Development Committee, and led the Strategy Development sub-Committee with RMHC Toronto.
“As a father, RMHC Toronto is important to me. This is a charity I believe in, and I can attest to how well it works for families during their time of need. In our experience, RMHC Toronto was an incredible source of support when we needed it the most. Working alongside the other Board Members, I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back and be involved within the community in such a personal and meaningful way. RMHC Toronto transitioned my family from desperation to inspiration and now, as an RMHC Toronto Board Member and Chair, this is where my passion and purpose intersect.”
Angela Clayton (Vice-Chair)
President, Project Delivery, Infrastructure Ontario
With over 20 years of experience in the Infrastructure sector, Angela has extensive experience working in both the public and private sectors in the areas of strategic planning, risk management, and program management. She is currently the President, Project Delivery, with Infrastructure Ontario where she is responsible for overseeing the strategy, planning, and implementation of infrastructure projects across Ontario. Angela is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and several professional designations, including Project Management Professional, Facilities Management Administrator, and Real Property Administrator.
She is a passionate advocate for women in the infrastructure sector and actively seeks ways to make meaningful contributions to her community through her involvement in industry associations and volunteer efforts.
Angela accepted the role of Vice-Chair in March 2024.
“Through my work, I’ve come to appreciate how our environment can impact all aspects of our health. RHMC Toronto is a truly magical place providing families with a safe and comfortable home away from home when they need it most. I am honoured and humbled to play a small part in helping RMHC Toronto realize its vision.”
Michelle Chaisson (Corporate Secretary)
Freelance Commercial Lawyer/Entrepreneur
Michelle is a senior commercial lawyer operating a freelance legal practice. Michelle formerly held positions of Assistant General Counsel, Senior Legal Counsel, and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Governors at Ryerson University, where she provided legal and strategic advice in the areas of corporate/commercial law, information technology, procurement, access to information, privacy, copyright and governance. Prior to joining Ryerson in 2014, she practised law for seven years with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, primarily working on infrastructure/P3 projects.
Michelle has a master’s degree in environmental studies from York University and earned her law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School. Before joining the Board in 2017, she served on the RMHC Toronto Young Professionals Committee and on the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board.
“I feel privileged to be involved with an organization that has a unique mission to keep families close during the most difficult time of their lives. As a mother of two young children, I have such compassion for children who are struggling through serious illness and welcome the opportunity to do something to support these children and their families.”
Clara Shin (Treasurer)
Senior Manager, Ernst & Young
Clara is a finance professional with over 12 years of assurance experience, known for her strategic mindset, resourcefulness, and proactive leadership style. Recognized for delivering exceptional results and accomplishing mandates, Clara has successfully led high-performing, cross-functional teams in major global audit engagements. She is passionate about nurturing and empowering her teams to unlock their full potential, fostering development and mentorship.
Clara possesses a collaborative management approach that excels in building consensus among diverse stakeholders. Her expertise spans complex accounting, mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, audit, and governance and controls within the financial services industry.
Currently, Clara serves as a senior manager in EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services group. In this role, she provides strategic guidance to senior management, enabling them to create long-term value for their businesses. She specializes in identifying opportunities and risks in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies.
Beyond her professional achievements, Clara also chairs the RMHC Toronto Finance and Audit Committee, a role she has held since 2020.
“I believe proximity to healthcare services and quality care to sick children and their families are crucial especially during what is perhaps one of the most vulnerable times they will go through as a family. I deeply believe in the work that RMHC Toronto does and proud to be part of the positive impact this organization has in our great city.”
As a Chartered Public Accountant, Clara combines her financial expertise with her passion for making a difference, dedicated to driving meaningful change in the communities she serves.
Rocky Malfara
Vice President, GTS Financial Services, IBM Canada
Rocky is Vice President, GTS Financial Services for IBM Canada, where he leads an enterprise technology team supporting the design, build and run of the foundational systems for the Canadian financial services sector. He brings IBM industry-driven insights to enable clients to harness the value of cognitive computing and emerging technologies to address their specific market needs. Prior to his time at IBM, Rocky was Vice President, Business Optimization and Technology Practices at TD Bank where he led a team of professionals focused on optimizing the business performance of technology.
Rocky has over 20 years of leadership experience in finance, operations, sales, IT optimization and enterprise scale infrastructure and agile transformation. He holds a bachelor of Commerce from York University in addition to Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Management Accountant designations. Rocky joined the RMHC Toronto Development Committee in 2016 and the RMHC Toronto Board in 2017.
“As a father of a young child living in Toronto, I have a heightened awareness of how fortunate we are to have access to a world class health-care community. I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of the impact a seriously ill child has on parents and the entire family and how that impact is compounded when the care that’s needed isn’t locally available. It is a privilege to contribute to an organization that provides respite and a home away from home for seriously ill children and their families.”
Jim Fennell
Vice President, Foodservice and Convenience, Saputo Dairy Products Canada
Jim is Vice President, National Foodservice and Convenience at Saputo Dairy Products Canada. He has been involved in the Canadian dairy industry for over 30 years, working for several large organizations, with the last 15 years being at Saputo. In his current role, Jim is responsible for the National Foodservice and Convenience business, along with Industrial Sales and Co-Manufacturing in Canada.
Jim has been actively involved with children’s charities for over 25 years, including Ronald McDonald House Charities and The Friends of We Care. Participation in both organizations has included golf days, Board meetings and Home for Dinners, along with various annual fundraising events. Jim has always been passionate about supporting children and families in need. He joined the Board of Directors of RMHC Toronto in 2019 and is Co-Chair of the Development Committee.
“I have been involved with Ronald McDonald House Charities programs across Canada for over 25 years, and I look forward to the opportunity and challenge of serving on the RMHC Toronto Board. Making it possible for families to be close together when they need it most is so important, and I am honoured to help support this objective in our community at RMHC Toronto.”
Karen Kinnear
Vice-President, Clinical Operations, The Hospital for Sick Children
Karen is a strategic and values-driven health care executive with extensive experience leading transformational change in a complex academic hospital environment. She is a challenger of the status quo with a demonstrated ability to redesign models of care and uncover overlooked and under realized opportunities. She builds and empowers strong, skilled, and passionate teams across all levels of the organization.
Karen has been with The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) for over 30 years, beginning with her career as a staff nurse in the Cancer Centre in 1990. In 2001, she was appointed to a clinical director role and earned her MBA in 2004. She became Vice-President of Clinical Operations in 2014. In 2022, Karen was appointed Vice-President, Patient and Family Experience in addition to her clinical operations role. Her portfolio includes Ambulatory Services, Perioperative Services, Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology, Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Rehabilitation Services, Child Life, Creative Arts Therapy, Communication Disorders, Genetic Counselling and the Ontario, Nunavut and Manitoba Poison Centers hosted by SickKids. She also plays a key role as Co-Executive Sponsor, designing SickKids of the future, under Project Horizon, a major capital project spanning the next decade.
Karen joined the Board of Directors at RMHC Toronto in 2019 and is co-Chair of the Ronald MacDonald House Mission Committee.
Anthony Faiella
Senior VP, Business Development at AGinvest Properties Canada
Anthony is the Senior VP, Business Development at AGinvest Properties Canada. He has 30 years of experience in the investment industry with much of it spent in institutional equities at Merrill Lynch Canada. He is a licensed portfolio manager, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a member of the CFA Institute. He earned an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and a CPA from the State of Illinois.
Anthony is an Executive-in-Residence at the Schulich School of Business, where he oversees the student run investment fund. He sits on an advisory board at Schulich and chairs a committee of investment professionals that work with students to guide and mentor them as they manage an actual investment portfolio.
“It is a real privilege to be part of an organization that does so much to help families during their most difficult times. It is an extraordinary group that assists the families and provide them with a home away from home. I am very proud and honoured to help support this group and contribute in any way I can. As a father with two daughters, I can’t imagine a more vulnerable time for a family. RMHC Toronto helps keep families together while providing the care they need, when they need it most. I think that’s pretty special.”
Marcia Finlayson
Owner/Operator, McDonald’s Restaurants – York Region
Marcia is the proud Owner/Operator of seven McDonald’s Restaurants in York Region with over 400 employees and serving over four million guests per year. Marcia’s tenure with the McDonald’s brand spans over 45 years and started when she joined McDonald’s while attending high school. Marcia resumed her career with McDonald’s after graduating from Western University where she held progressive positions in a variety of functions within McDonald’s Corporate organization including Marketing, Supply Chain and Communications.
In 2008, Marcia realized her long-term goal of becoming a McDonald’s Owner/Operator and founded Finlayson Hospitality Partners operating three locations and growing to the current seven restaurants. Marcia’s organization has been recognized frequently for its operational accomplishments and commitment to the community including, Markham Board of Trade, Seneca College, Stouffville Chamber of Commerce, Portraits of Giving Award and the proudest accomplishments for her team was being recognized with the Ronald McDonald House Charities, International McTLC Award of Excellence.
“The mission of the Ronald McDonald House has been important to me and my husband Todd since 1986 when we volunteered as Weekend Managers at the London Ronald McDonald House. As Owner/Operators, we worked to bring the Ronald McDonald Family Room to Markham-Stouffville Hospital. Together with our local community business leaders called the “Fab 15” we have raised over $1,000,000, hosted many Home for Dinner events and continue to elevate the mission.
“As parents of two and grandparents to three, Todd and I believe that Family is medicine and are honoured to serve.”
Andrew Turnbull
Senior Vice President and Head, Global Wealth Transformation & Growth Strategy, Scotiabank
Prior to joining CIBC, Andrew was with Oliver Wyman, a management consulting firm, based in New York and Toronto. Andrew is a diversity and inclusion champion. In 2018, he was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. Andrew holds a BA Honours (Economics) from Queen’s University, is a CFA charterholder and serves on the Board of Governors of Havergal College.
Andrew lives in Toronto with his wife and three children. He was inspired to volunteer at RMHC Toronto after his family benefitted from the world-class facilities of SickKids and he sought to expand the hospital’s reach and positive impact through RMHC Toronto’s mission.
Daniel Morgenstern
Staff Oncologist, The Hospital for Sick Children
Dr. Morgenstern is a Staff Oncologist at The Hospital for Sick Children and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. He originally qualified in the UK, but moved to Canada in 2016 to become Director of the New Agent and Innovative Therapy (NAIT) and Therapeutic mIBG Programs, and co-lead of the neuroblastoma service at SickKids. Dr Morgenstern’s clinical activities are focussed on neuroblastoma and solid tumour patients participating in early phase clinical trials. His research interests are in early phase trials and, in particular, the development of precision medicine approaches for paediatric solid tumours.
He lives in Toronto with his wife, Rheba, and two children.
“Many of the patients I care for at SickKids, particularly those accessing experimental therapies, come from elsewhere in Ontario, or even elsewhere in Canada. Having RMHC Toronto available to support these families while they are staying in Toronto is absolutely vital and I look forward to understanding more about RMHC Toronto and working to improve what we are able to offer to these (and other) families.”
Josef Hrebik
Consulting Lead, Technology, Media & Entertainment, Telecommunications, and Business Growth Strategy, Monitor Deloitte
Josef is Deloitte Canada’s Strategy Consulting Leader in the Technology, Media & Entertainment, and Telecommunications practice. He has over 12 years of consulting experience gained from his time at Deloitte and Accenture. He focuses on clients in North America and has previously consulted with Corus, Rogers, Bell, CBC, NBC Universal, ABC/Disney, Amazon, Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Netflix. His functional specialties include Corporate and Business Unit Strategy, Market Entry Strategy, Growth, Business Case Design, Opportunity Assessments, Advertising (Digital and Traditional) and Marketing. Josef is also an advisor with Digital Canaries Studio, a film studio and production company in Hamilton, Ontario.
Josef resides in uptown Toronto with his beautiful wife, Suzana, and their three young daughters, Isabella, Adrijana and Natalia. He enjoys playing and watching sports, especially soccer, football, hockey, and golf.
“As a father of three, I recognize the importance of family, familiarity and togetherness in the healing and recovery process of children going through difficult times. As I continue progressing my career with my team, colleagues, and clients at Deloitte I am excited to lend this experience to help RMHC Toronto achieve their long-term goals and vision.”
Rashid Wasti
Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer, George Weston Limited
In this role he is focused on helping all the businesses in the Weston Group of companies develop their current and future senior talent, culture, diversity and management team effectiveness. The Weston Group is Canada’s largest private employer with over 200,000 employees and $60 billion in revenues, consisting of well-known consumer businesses such as Loblaw, Shoppers Drug Mart, Joe Fresh, President’s Choice Financial as well as Choice Properties which is Canada’s largest REIT.
He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Economics from Cambridge University in England, and an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University. He has also been the Chair of the Equity-Diversity-Inclusion Council at Ivey since it was created in 2020.
“Like many, I have spent my share of time in the hospitals around University Avenue over the last 20 years – SickKids, Toronto General, Princess Margaret and Women’s College. I happened to live minutes away, so the stress around the health and treatment of my family was never compounded by long commutes or the uncertainty, expense and inconvenience of needing to find a place to stay. The mission of RMHC Toronto hits home when one reflects on how much harder things would be for children and families coming for treatment from much further away. This is why I am so thrilled and grateful to have the opportunity to support the very important work of RMHC Toronto to help children at a difficult and vulnerable time in their lives.”
Victor Rocca
RMHC Toronto Board Member
Victor is the former Senior Vice President, ParaMed Home Health Care, a leading provider of home care and wellness solutions across Canada since 1974. Victor has a breadth of experience delivering impactful business results in leadership roles in Operations, Finance, and Real Estate Development for national organizations including Canadian Tire and McDonald’s Canada, where he was introduced to RMHC.
Victor believes in the power of strategic planning to drive results and has a strong reputation of enabling and empowering his teams. Acknowledged as a respected business partner and communicator, Victor has an exceptional ability to engage diverse groups and guide stakeholders through transformational change while making a positive impact on the business and its people. He has led the vision, strategy, and execution of several large-scale change initiatives. Victor also takes great pride in being purposeful, accountable, and challenging of the status quo.
Victor is a Chartered Accountant and holds a BBA (Hons) from Brock University. He previously served as Treasurer and Executive Board member of Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario.
“I believe RMHC Toronto plays an important role in helping families when they need it the most. As a husband and father with young children of my own, I truly feel for the parents and siblings going through this difficult time. RMHC Toronto is a safe haven for these families – to come together, support one another and find comfort and understanding. I am so proud to be part of RMHC Toronto and look forward to continuing to support the efforts to bring people together around the common goal of helping each other.”
Maureen Shaughnessy Kitts
Member, Institute of Corporate Directors
Maureen Shaughnessy Kitts’ risk and reputation management expertise has capped a career that has confronted the highest level of corporate communications challenges, managing global brand reputation—a background without parallel in Canada. Her experience includes responsibility for McDonald’s Canada’s multi-platform communications functions in both Canada and Russia, as well as for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Her current practice focuses on enabling corporations and boards to align risk tolerance with potential brand threats, while also offering pro bono counsel to a number of not-for-profit organizations.
As part of her distinctive competence, Maureen’s wise and thoughtful counsel analyses issues, asks relevant questions, and considers shareholder, stakeholder, and public policy perspectives to identify and address underlying issues that pose threats to brand reputation. Her expertise includes multinational crisis preparedness, risk and reputation management, government affairs, governance, and corporate social responsibility.
Maureen’s keen understanding of current trends—the need to develop a culture of public accountability across enterprises, the increasing demands by policymakers and the public for board transparency and governance—combined with her sensitivity to the differing needs and agendas of multiple stakeholders, assists corporations in identifying and neutralizing global challenges and threats to their strategic plans and brand reputation.
Board Experience:
Maureen has sat on many boards, including United Way of Toronto, YWCA Toronto (where she served as Vice-Chair), Ronald McDonald House Toronto, Camp Oochigeas, and the Canadian Physiology Foundation.
Present and Past Roles:
- Member, Board of Directors, Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (PMCF), one of the world’s top five cancer research centres; Chair, Governance Committee; Member, Granting Committee; Member, Lottery Committee (since Sept 2016)
- Vice-Chair, YWCA Toronto
- Vice-Chair, Canadian Journalism Foundation
- Chair, CJF Awards Dinner
- Member, Board of Directors, Patrons for the Arts in the Vatican Museums
- Member, Marketing and Sponsorship Committee, Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto
- Director, Condominium Board, MTTC #871
Professional Affiliations:
- Canadian Public Relations Society (Fellow designation)
- Recipient of 2009 Life Award, recognizing excellence and exceptional accomplishment throughout her career
- Member, Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD)
Committees
Development & Marketing Committee
- Aric Bhargava (Ex-Officio)
- Jim Fennell
- Marcia Finlayson
- Maureen Shaughnessy Kitts (Interim Chair)
- Janis Duncan
- Sherry Jong
- Dayl Marks
- Carolyn Saunders
- Louise Smith (Staff)
- Allison Urowitz (Staff Lead)
- Kritika Kuppuswami (Staff)
Finance and Audit Committee
- Aric Bhargava (Ex-Officio)
- Anthony Faiella
- Rocky Malfara
- Victor Rocca
- Clara Shin (Chair)
- Geoff Behm
- David Gluck
- Rosie Sardo
- Louise Smith (Staff)
- Kenneth Wong (Staff Lead)
- Kritika Kuppuswami (Staff)
Governance and Nominating Committee
- Aric Bhargava (Ex-Officio)
- Michelle Chaisson (Chair)
- Josef Hrebik
- Rashid Wasti
- Erica Zarkovich
- Louise Smith (Staff Lead)
- Kritika Kuppuswami (Staff)
Investment Committee
- Aric Bhargava (Ex-Officio)
- Anthony Faiella (Chair)
- Glen Campbell
- Leanne Carravaggio
- John Di Re
- George Ganas
- Dimi Ntantoulis
- Marina Pomerantz
- Louise Smith (Staff)
- Kenneth Wong (Staff Lead)
- Kritika Kuppuswami (Staff)
Human Recourses and Compensation Committee
- Aric Bhargava (Ex-Officio)
- Michelle Chaisson (Chair)
- Josef Hrebik
- Rahid Wasti
- Louise Smith (Staff)
- Tamara Elsahyouni (Staff Lead)
- Kritika Kuppuswami (Staff)
Mission Committee
- Aric Bhargava (Ex-Officio)
- Karen Kinnear (Co-Chair)
- Daniel Morgenstern
- Aviva Althschuler
- David Brownstone
- Rose Cook
- Pam Hubley
- Natalie Kennedy
- Jessica Prince
- Janet Proctor
- Louise Smith (Staff)
- Katie Doering (Staff Lead)
- Kritika Kuppuswami (Staff)
Young Professionals Committee (YPC)
- Jaclyn Lebo (Co-Chair)
- Connor Rowland (Co-Chair)
- Akshanta Ajay
- Denisa Balana
- Stuart Chaimberg
- Caroline Dicosmo
- Jessica Faiella
- Rebecca Hoffer
- Kimberly Hofmann
- Olivia Iaboni
- Jackie Karbi
- Jessa Leidl
- Thomas Lo
- Lois Macdonald
- Sarah MacNicol
- Erin Minuk
- Marisa Nagamatsu
- Vanessa Ricci
- Vivian Sadeh
- Simmi Sandhu
- Shannyn Seaward
- Aaron Yu
House Expansion Committee
- Aric Bhargava (Ex-Officio)
- Michelle Chaisson
- Angela Clayton (Chair)
- Joe Cooper
- Peter Goldthorpe
- Tara Piurko
- Louise Smith (Staff Lead)
- Jennifer Clinton (Staff)
- Kritika Kuppuswami (Staff)
- Kenneth Wong (Staff)