CROHN - Key Persons


Adrianna Czornyj

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Vice - Chair of the Board
  • Partner at Persistence Capital Partners
Adrianna is a partner at Persistence Capital Partners (PCP), a private equity firm that focuses exclusively on investments in the Canadian healthcare industry. As partner, Adrianna is responsible for all aspects of the investment process, from sourcing, evaluating and executing on investment opportunities to managing existing investments. Adrianna has over 15 years' experience in mergers and acquisition (M&A), audit, consulting, valuation and private equity. Before joining PCP, Adrianna was a Partner in Deloitte's M&A transaction services practice, where she led the National Private Healthcare M&A Practice. Adrianna holds the CPA-CA and CBV designations and has an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Angie Specic

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Angie Specic joined Crohn's and Colitis Canada in January 2016. An accomplished marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Angie brings extensive capabilities in brand strategy, advertising, communications and digital engagement. Known for her innovative thinking, customer focus and effective execution, Angie is passionate about the opportunity to use her skills to help the many people affected by Crohn's and colitis in Canada. Angie previously worked at Allstream, AT&T Canada (where she led the company-wide rebranding effort) and Unitel in various marketing leadership roles. In 2015, Angie started her own firm Amplifi Marketing Services specializing in strategic communications management. Angie recently completed her Master's in Digital Transformation from the DeGroote School of Business, as well as the Ivey Executive Leadership and Strategic Marketing programs. Angie is a member of the board of directors of HealthPartners.

Brian Lim

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, Development & Community Engagement
Brian joined Crohn's and Colitis Canada as VP Development and Community Engagement in September 2021. A seasoned professional with more than 14 years of experience, Brian has led the strategy and execution of numerous aspects of non profit fundraising, including business development, sponsorship, major gift solicitation, volunteer support, and event planning. Most recently, Brian served as the Director, Corporate Engagement at the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, leading organizational efforts in sponsorship and cause marketing, corporate philanthropy, workplace giving, and donor cultivation. His work includes raising major corporate donations for the $75 million Acts of Greatness campaign, along with the A&W Burgers to Beat MS cause marketing campaign, a two-time winner of the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada Award.

Carol-Lynne Quintin

Job Titles:
  • Manager, Community Engagement Operations

Catherine Riley

Job Titles:
  • Director

Cindy Weiss

Job Titles:
  • Development Coordinator, Central Ontario

Dan Tanenbaum

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
Dan Tanenbaum comes from a long family history of giving and is proud to be a part of a large philanthropic family. His passion for philanthropy is demonstrated in his personal as well as his professional life, and when Dan's twin boys were recently diagnosed with Crohn's disease, he became focused on helping Crohn's and Colitis Canada. Dan was the founder of the first electronic 50/50 raffle software program with his company Bump Worldwide Inc. After building, growing and, in turn, selling the company Dan then became the Chief Innovation Officer at Ascend Fundraising Solutions, which has helped more than 500 Not-for-Profit organizations raise hundreds of millions of dollars by offering various fundraising technology platforms. As the CIO, Dan's role has been to create new and innovative ways for the charitable industry to raise money through new technologies. His latest ‘Round-up' program allows charities to empower their supporters to become monthly donors via their everyday activities.

Darren A. Kerr

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Orthopaedic Surgeon
Darren Kerr is a joint replacement Orthopaedic Surgeon in Saint John, NB, whose practice focuses on adult reconstructive surgery and trauma. He received his medical degree from Dalhousie University before completing his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Queen's University. He then completed additional training at Queen's and Harvard University before starting his surgical practice in 2001. He is currently the Clinical and Academic Head of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University (Saint John, NB campus). He is heavily involved in medical education - teaching and training Dalhousie University Orthopaedic Surgery residents, Family and Emergency Medicine residents, and undergraduate medical students. Darren's involvement with Crohn's and Colitis Canada is a result of having a son, and more recently a niece, with ulcerative colitis. He resides in Rothesay, NB with his wife and is an avid sports participant.

Dawna MacIvor

Job Titles:
  • Coordinator, Development and Community Engagement, Maritimes

Deanna L. Gibson

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
  • Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia
Dr. Deanna Gibson is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia on the Okanagan Campus. She is a translational scientist who studies how the gut microbiome develops in response to the environmental cues, like dietary patterns, and how this drives immunometabolic responses. She has shown dietary lipids and patterns of diet are major predictors of which types of microbes and bacterial metabolites produced in the mammalian gut. For example, early life is an important time for microbial colonization and she has shown maternal dietary patterns alter the breast milk fungal and bacterial communities which is passed on from mother to offspring. She has found that host behaviours, such as exercise, predict microbiome diversity associated with metabolite production in the human gut; diet, the lived environment as well as food pesticides associated with agricultural practices are also important factors that drive the gut microbiome. One focus of Dr. Gibson's research has been how to improve diets for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, including a clinical trial on the Mediterranean diet pattern in people with Ulcerative Colitis. One of her major areas in her research lab is to figure out how to alter the course of the microbiome through novel therapeutics. One example is via improving the bioavailability of probiotics to improve the disease-associated microbiome that stimulates unbalanced inflammation. To this end, she has bioengineered live biotherapeutic products to treat intestinal inflammatory conditions including IBD and metabolic comorbidities as well as on the gut-brain axis. She is passionately involved in finding the cure for IBD and is currently the Co-Chair for the Crohn's and Colitis Canada Scientific and Medical Advisory Council, a member of the Crohn's and Colitis Canada COVID-19 & IBD Task Force, a member of the steering committee of Mentoring in IBD, as well as a member of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology WomenCAN. She was the recipient of an NSERC research scholar award, a UBC Killam research award and the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology 2018 Young Investigator Award. She has been the recipient of grant funding from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research, NSERC and Crohn's and Colitis Canada.

Dr. Alan Lomax

Job Titles:
  • Researcher - Scientist / Queens University

Dr. Amol Deshplande

Job Titles:
  • Physician

Dr. Anthony Otley

Job Titles:
  • Gastroenterologist
  • IWK Health Centre / Dalhousie University

Dr. Christine Chambers

Job Titles:
  • Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Dean Tripp

Job Titles:
  • Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Hughie Fraser

Job Titles:
  • Gastroenterologist
  • South Shore Regional Hospital / Dalhousie University

Dr. Irina Nistor

Job Titles:
  • Lecturer / University of Toronto

Dr. Kaley Wilson

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Research Committee
  • Member of the Board
  • Director of Business Development at Quark Venture
Dr. Kaley Wilson is currently the Director of Business Development at Quark Venture, a Vancouver based venture capital group that invests globally in health science. Investing out of the $500M USD Global Health Sciences Fund, Dr. Wilson works closely with Quark's Investment Committee to identify and diligence potential investment opportunities. Dr. Wilson is also currently the interim CEO of Sitka, a biotherapeutics company with a breakthrough nanoparticle platform technology to deliver compounds to difficult to penetrate tissues. Sitka's lead asset, STK-01, is Phase 1 ready and is being developed for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Dr. Wilson joined Sitka in March 2020 to raise a Series A financing to take Sitka's lead asset into the clinic. From January 2018 until September 2019, Dr. Wilson was also the interim CEO of ARTMS Products Inc. a global leader in the development of disruptive medical isotope production technologies. Prior to joining Quark Venture, Dr. Wilson was the Associate Director, Partnerships, at the Centre for Drug Research and Development. Dr. Wilson is also an Advisor and Mentor for Ontario Bioscience's Capital Access Advisory Program (CAPP), a member of GlycoNet's Commercialization Committee, Nanomedicines Innovation Network's (NMIN) Research Management Committee, a Director on the Board of Sitka, Canary Medical and Microbion and an Observer on the Boards PHEMI and ARTMS. Dr. Wilson obtained her PhD from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, in 2007.

Dr. Keith Sharkey

Job Titles:
  • Researcher - Scientist / University of Calgary

Dr. Mona Sawhney

Job Titles:
  • Nurse Practitioner

Dr. Noelle Rohatinsky

Job Titles:
  • Associate Professor
  • Registered Nurse

Dr. Peter Habashi

Job Titles:
  • Nurse Practitioner

Dr. Sara Ahola Kohut

Job Titles:
  • Clinical Psychologist / Sick Kids Hospital / University of Toronto

Emily Hesketh

Job Titles:
  • Development Coordinator, Southern Alberta

Faiza Salleh

Job Titles:
  • Development Coordinator, Northern Alberta

Janis C. Byrne K.

Job Titles:
  • Corporate Director
  • Member of the Board
Janis Byrne is an experienced corporate director and recently retired as Executive Vice President - Legal, with Pennecon Limited, a leading provider of integrated solutions in the heavy civil, industrial, services & maintenance, and marine sectors across Canada. Janis has served on numerous boards, with more than 25 years' experience on non-profit and for-profit boards. She is Director and Chair of the People and Culture Committee and member of the Governance Committee, Atlantic Lottery Corporation; as well as Director and Chair of the Regulatory Committee and member of the Governance and Human Resources Committee of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation. She is also a Director and Chair of the ESG Committee, Canadian Manganese Company Inc. She is a past Chair of the St. John's Board of Trade, and a past President of the Canadian Bar Association (NL Branch). Janis is a graduate of Memorial University, and holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor as well as a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Ottawa. She received the Institute of Corporate Directors Designation in 2017 and an ESG certification from Competent Boards Canada in 2022.

Jess Messias

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
Jess Messias, MSc, Pht. is a physiotherapist and director of Dynamix, a fitness club and physiotherapy clinic in Montreal where he provides honest, empathetic care to help others build and sustain a healthy lifestyle and achieve their wellness-related goals. Jess was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 22, just prior to a move to Melbourne, Australia. Following a year of visits to unbelievable gastroenterology teams in Montreal and Melbourne, he was put on a biologic treatment and has fortunately been in good health ever since. Supporting his community has always been important to Jess; he has served in volunteer roles for local Montreal organizations including Federation Community Jewish Appeal, Israel Cancer Research Fund, West Island College Alumni Foundation, and Beth Tikvah Congregation. Since 2015, Jess has supported Montreal's Generation C initiatives, chairing fundraising events focused on 18-to-30-year-olds: Slashing Crohn's & Colitis, a two-day hockey tournament; and Bottoms Up, a casual gala event. Jess is returning to McGill University in the fall 2023 for an MBA program at the Desautels Faculty of Management.

Jodene Baker

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
  • Director of Impact Innovation and Evaluation at United Way Winnipeg
Jodene Baker is the Director of Impact Innovation and Evaluation at United Way Winnipeg, where she develops compelling ways to share the impact of donor dollars in the community and also leads the organizational Data Strategy and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy. Jodene obtained her PhD in Social Psychology from McGill University in 2005 and worked in the post-secondary education sector for 15 years prior to joining United Way Winnipeg. Jodene lives in Winnipeg with her spouse and two children. She is personally affected by ulcerative colitis and is passionate about growing awareness of IBD.

John Van de Pol

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
John Van de Pol recently retired as Senior Vice-President and CFO of Painted Pony Energy. Prior to joining Painted Pony Energy, John served as President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Rock Energy for nearly three years following his service as Vice-President and CFO. That was preceded by a number of senior executive roles held in various organizations including Taqa North, Northrock Resources, and Sceptre Resources. John is a member of the Financial Executives International (Canada) and the Institute of Corporate Directors and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting) from the University of Calgary, with a C.A. designation. He and his wife reside in Calgary and are active participants in many Crohn's and Colitis Canada events, including our annual Gutsy Walk.

Josephine Cavarra

Job Titles:
  • Senior Director, Community Engagement

Kate Lee

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, Research & Patient Programs
Kate Lee joined Crohn's and Colitis Canada in April 2017. Before joining our organization, Kate held the role of Vice-President of Research and Career Development at The Arthritis Society. Areas of focus during her tenure at The Society were operational efficiency, patient engagement in research and developing a knowledge translation and exchange program. Prior to joining The Arthritis Society, Kate held the roles of Director of Research and Managing Director at the Canadian Arthritis Network - a Network of Centre of Excellence funded by the tri-council funding agencies of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. Kate holds a PhD in biology from McGill University and an MBA from Rotman School of Management University of Toronto. When not at work, Kate enjoys gardening and researching restaurants to try in the Greater Toronto Area. She also has an amateur appreciation of art and loves attending art fairs. Kate is driven by her passion to make a difference in health and working with the IBD community to help the many people affected by Crohn's or colitis.

Kate Zahnow

Job Titles:
  • Development Coordinator, Toronto

Katherine Digby

Job Titles:
  • Director, Major Gifts and Corporate Engagement, Quebec
  • Regional Director, Quebec & Atlantic Provinces

Keith Persaud

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Treasurer of the Board
Keith Persaud has worked for over 20 years in the financial and capital markets sectors. He has guided organizations to implement effectiveness and growth strategies through structural and system changes, revenue improvements and targeted cost management. Some of the functions he was responsible for include Finance, Human Resources, Technology, Risk Management, Strategy and Project Management. Keith is a CPA, CA and is recently retired. His last position was the Chief Administrative Officer at the Capital Markets Authority Implementation Organization. Prior to that he was the Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration at the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, and has held senior roles at capital markets firms. Keith holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto.

Kelly Harbour

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, People
Kelly joined Crohn's and Colitis Canada in December 2019. She has held progressive roles in the organization, most recently as Director, Volunteer Engagement and Innovation. Living with a chronic illness herself, Kelly is driven to create an empowered work culture where employees and volunteers can thrive as we strive to find cures and improve the lives of all people living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. With over sixteen years in the non-profit sector, Kelly's work has focused on strategic improvements to programs and processes, informed by participatory research and community collaboration. Prior to joining Crohn's and Colitis Canada, Kelly held management positions at the Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship Centre and Volunteer Toronto. She also led anti-oppression, 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion training with Egale Canada. Kelly has a Masters in Non Profit Leadership and Philanthropy from Carleton University. In her downtime, Kelly enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking and cooking meals with produce from her garden.

Konstantine Malakos

Job Titles:
  • Development and Community Engagement, Montréal

Kyle Steward

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
  • Founder, and Lead Strategist at KRAS Sales Consulting Co
Kyle Steward is the Founder, and Lead Strategist at KRAS Sales Consulting Co., a management consultancy focused on helping start-ups, scale-ups, and enterprises create, implement, and measure sales and business development strategies. Kyle is accredited by the Canadian Professional Sales Association as a Certified Sales Leader (CSL), recognizing Canada's top sales leadership talent. Kyle recently earned a Master of Communication Management (MCM) degree from McMaster University and Syracuse University. Crohn's disease turned Kyle's life upside down, from a healthy 10-year-old to the intensive care unit in a matter of days. Kyle was eventually put on Remicade in 2001 and has been in relatively good health. Since his diagnosis, Kyle has supported Crohn's and Colitis Canada. In 2007, Kyle was the Ontario Youth Advisory Council (YAC) representative, in 2009, he was the recipient of the UCBeyond Crohn's Disease Scholarship, and in 2010, he served as the Halton Honorary Chair to the organization's Heel n' Wheel-a-Thon (now known as Gutsy Walk).

Lisa Larsen

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, Finance & Administration
Lisa Larsen joined Crohn's and Colitis Canada in August 2022. Lisa thrives on the dual demands of her portfolio as head of finance and administration: ensuring finance accountability and compliance while at the same time driving technological innovation and process improvements in support of the organization's strategic goals. Most recently at Make-A-Wish Canada as VP Finance, Lisa led the finance team at a critical time of transformation including the financial integration of systems and process following the amalgamation of 9 separate legal entities. She is adept at effectively communicating complex financial information as well as improving day-to-day functions. Prior to joining Make-A-Wish Canada, Lisa worked eight years in the public sector for the government agency Groupe Media TFO, a digital and distribution powerhouse of educational, French language content. During her tenure, she contributed to the organization's transformation from a slow-moving, traditional broadcasting company to a cutting-edge leader in content production. She also has experience in the corporate world, with eight years in various finance roles at Xerox Canada. Lisa is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA). As an added bonus, Lisa is also bilingual. Lisa dives deep and thinks big, always questioning how best to equip her colleagues to find creative solutions, make better decisions, and deliver efficiencies. Lisa is an avid reader and when she is not reading, she is trying to keep up with her two sons, who are active with their local hockey team and Scouts Canada. Lisa is a devout volunteer and volunteers as a member of Scouts Canada.

Lois Logie

Job Titles:
  • Program Manager

Lori Radke - CEO, President

Job Titles:
  • CEO
  • President
Lori joined Crohn's and Colitis Canada as President & CEO in May 2021. Lori's background includes twenty-five years of progressive leadership experience in business development, marketing, and partnership activation across the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently at Wilfrid Laurier University where she led the campus-wide development strategy and in executive roles at the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Lori served as the National Vice President of Development and Marketing at the MS Society of Canada, after joining the organization in 2014. She was also the Executive Director of the MS Scientific Research Foundation, where she worked closely with the foundation chair, board members, and others to lead cultivation and solicitation of the current $75 million Acts of Greatness campaign. In addition to her work at the MS Society of Canada, Lori's career involves leadership roles in corporate strategy, corporate partnerships, marketing and events at organizations such as Baycrest Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and IMG Canada. Lori resides in Stratford, Ontario and she is an avid fan of the arts and sports. Like many Canadians, Lori is personally impacted by the disease and shares a deep connection to this cause.

Meera Manghani

Job Titles:
  • Development Coordinator, Eastern Ontario

Mishal Tahir

Job Titles:
  • Coordinator, Development & Community Engagement, Southwest BC

Ms. Jennifer Ball

Job Titles:
  • Registered Dietitian / Mount Sinai Hospital

Ms. Jennifer Haskett

Job Titles:
  • Registered Dietitian

Ms. Marie-Louise Martin

Job Titles:
  • Nurse Practitioner

Ms. Usha Chauhan

Job Titles:
  • Nurse Practitioner

Nicole Sage

Job Titles:
  • Development Coordinator, Northern Ontario

Ron Dunn

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Vice - Chair of the Board
  • Health Industry Executive
Ron Dunn is an accomplished and experienced health industry executive with a track record of success throughout Canada and the United States. He has held a variety of sales leadership, management and executive positions throughout his career in the health informatics industry. In February of 2016, Ron retired from his position as vice president of McKesson Technology Solutions Canada. During his 25 years at McKesson, he was responsible for the overall leadership of McKesson Corporations' healthcare information technology business in Canada. In 2012, Ron was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to the Canadian health informatics industry. He remains a strong advocate for and continues to be an active promoter of Canada's health ICT industry domestically and abroad. Since retiring from McKesson, Ron has established his own executive advisory consulting firm focused on assisting healthcare software and services companies to maximize their growth and opportunity potential in the Canadian and US markets. He currently serves as a health technology advisor for Lumira Capital and MaRS Ventures Services. He also serves on the board of directors for various companies and not-for-profit organizations. Since his own diagnosis of Crohn's Disease in 1985, Ron has been involved with Crohn's and Colitis Canada in various ways - from being a user of educational and support services to being a fundraiser and volunteer at many events over the years. Ron and his wife Lynn live in Burlington, Ontario during the summer and fall months and in Sarasota, Florida during the winter and spring months.

Ruth Scully

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Marketing Consultant
  • Member of the Board
Ruth Scully is mother of Sarah & Adam Scully, both of whom have inflammatory bowel disease: Sarah has ulcerative colitis and Adam has Crohn's disease. As a result of their conditions, Ruth has been very actively involved with the Crohn's and Colitis Canada since 2004. Over the years, Ruth has sat on the organization's Board Advisory Council, the Marketing Task Force, the Grants in Aid Review Committee, the Development Committee and was Vice President of the Toronto Chapter, volunteer at Gutsy Walks, Toronto Galas, Golf Tournaments and M&M Barbecues. Professionally, Ruth is a marketing consultant with over 30 years in the business. Her career began in 1982 in consumer packaged goods marketing at Procter & Gamble. In 1989, she started her own business - Mainline Marketing Consulting. Ruth's specialty is in sponsorship and experiential marketing for the corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

Sabrine Kani

Job Titles:
  • Development and Community Engagement, Québec

Sara Gottlieb

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
  • General Counsel of Ontario Tech University
Sara Gottlieb is General Counsel of Ontario Tech University, where she is responsible for all legal services including corporate legal matters, academic affairs, intellectual property, human rights and gender-based violence issues - among many other areas. Sara joined Ontario Tech University from the University of Toronto, where she was Senior Legal Counsel and Director, with a focus on the health sciences sector. Prior to that, she was Legal Counsel with the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario, which reviews and resolves complaints from the public about provincial government organizations. She began her career as an Associate with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP in New York City, followed by Goodmans LLP in Toronto. Her experience also includes roles as a volunteer board member and governmental appointee with health, equity and diversity initiatives. As an individual impacted by Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Sara is committed to helping those living with the diseases as well as supporting research and fundraising initiatives that help find a cure and treatments.

Shawna Gutfreund

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, Strategy and Governance
Shawna joined Crohn's and Colitis Canada in January 2023. A strategic healthcare and non-profit leader, Shawna brings senior expertise in leading mission-critical strategic and governance processes that transform organizations. Most recently, Shawna led the planning, development and implementation of a ground-breaking new strategic and impact framework for the MS Society of Canada providing greater clarity and impact for the MS community. Previously, Shawna worked at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Public Health Ontario developing and implementing transformational strategic initiatives, establishing policy and process frameworks, and cultivating key partnerships to shape the organizations.

Shie Gorman

Job Titles:
  • Development Coordinator, Southwestern Ontario

Sonu Dhanju-Dhillon

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Partner
  • Secretary of the Board
Sonu is a partner in Torkin Manes' Litigation Group and practises in all areas of civil litigation, with a particular focus on business law. She is the recipient of the 2018 Lexpert Rising Star: Leading Lawyers Under 40. She is a highly respected instructor, lecturer and facilitator. Sonu is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association, Advocates' Society, 10 + Standing Committee, and the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC). Sonu is highly passionate about our Promise and Mission, as she is personally impacted by the disease.

Susan Cowan - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • Senior Capital Markets Executive
Susan Cowan is a senior capital markets executive with over 20 years experience in the financial services industry including debt capital markets and investment management. Susan served as a Managing Director at BMO Capital Markets. Her focus was on origination, structuring and execution of complex public and private corporate debt financings in a variety of sectors, including infrastructure and project finance, real estate/REITS, diversified and industrial products and income trusts. Prior to this, Susan was an Investment Officer in Sun Life's Private Placement Investment Group originating and managing a multi-billion dollar portfolio of corporate bonds, venture capital, leasing, and oil and gas equity investments. Susan works extensively with numerous organizations. She knows how to build group capacity, empowering teams and stakeholders to exceed expectations and is respected as a leader, both within the workplace and in the wider business community. Susan has served on the Board Development Committee for Crohn's and Colitis Canada since 2017, building relationships to raise the funds needed to power research and develop key programs. She became a Board Director in 2018 serving on the Development and Finance and Governance Committees. Susan is also a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and "theBoardlist". She has a Honours degree in Economics from the University of Toronto. In November 2020, Susan stepped down as a Board Director to serve as the interim CEO of Crohn's and Colitis Canada.

Susan Hampton

Job Titles:
  • Development Coordinator, British Columbia
  • Leadership Giving Officer, Western Canada

Sylvain Chiasson

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
Since graduating from the University of Montreal in 1989, Sylvain has worked in the healthcare industry, occupying roles of increasing responsibility all while having his team at heart and an unwavering focus on patients. Sylvain started his career with the pharmaceutical company Glaxo before joining the medical device company ConvaTec, where he stayed for 21 years and held the role of Vice-President/General Manager for Canada during his last 11 years with the company. Following his tenure at ConvaTec, Sylvain joined Patterson Dental as the Managing Director for Canada. Sylvain has and continues to oversee all aspects of the business including sales, marketing, finance, human resources, supply chain, regulatory affairs, and legal. Sylvain worked for three years in the United States, leading the most important global division of ConvaTec as the Global Director of Ostomy Care. During his career, Sylvain has been responsible for countries such as Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. In addition to his responsibilities as country lead over the last decade, Sylvain was an active member of a culture transformation committee while being on the Americas Leadership Team. Sylvain has been volunteering at the Ostomy Youth Camp in Calgary and helped raise funds for mental health initiatives while being involved in coaching his two daughters. As part of his work with a leading medical device company, Sylvain has been exposed to the challenges and resilience demonstrated by individuals living with IBD. Sylvain looks forward to the opportunity of contributing to this important cause.

Teri McGeachie

Job Titles:
  • Coordinator, Development and Community Engagement, BC / Yukon

Terri McGeachie

Job Titles:
  • Development Coordinator, British Columbia