Appointee Biographies

GRANT WALSH

Grant B. Walsh is a Chairman, CEO and corporate director. He has served on 30 plus Boards of Directors and currently serves as Chair of the Workplace Safety Insurance Board of Ontario (WSIB), View Canada Inc. (Advisory Board), and Director of Square Canada, Square Technologies, among others. Grant Walsh was formerly the Chair of Canada Lands Company Limited with real estate properties across Canada and tourism properties including the CN Tower; Downsview Park; the Old Port of Montreal; and the Montreal Science Centre. Grant Walsh was President and CEO of St. Peter’s Health System and Vice President of Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON. Grant Walsh's healthcare experience includes academic medical centres, research and innovation centres, management outsourcing, long term care, continuing care retirement communities, home health and rehabilitation agencies, and foundations. As Executive Vice President of The ServiceMaster Company, Chicago, IL, Grant Walsh was accountable for $550 million in revenue (US in 1998), 30,000 employees, and 10,000 properties in 44 states and across Canada. Grant Walsh has a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance and an undergraduate degree in English and Philosophy. Grant Walsh holds a designation as a Chartered Director from McMaster University and the Conference Board of Canada and has served as Executive-in- Residence / Adjunct Professor at McMaster University.

JAMES HOGARTH

James E. Hogarth serves as President of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario (PBCTCO), a position that he has held for the past 10 years. In that role, he leads an organization representing over 150,000 workers across every construction trade. As a committed labour leader, Mr. Hogarth is passionate about improving the health and safety of all workers in the province of Ontario. After successfully completing his apprenticeship with UA local 46 in Toronto, James became a Certified Steamfitter in 1984. Over the last of 25 years, he has served as Business Manager of UA local 46 as well as Business Manager of the Ontario Pipe Trades Council (OPTC). He also served as an Employee Bargaining Agent representing the Piping Trades. Mr. Hogarth currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) and was recently appointed to the position of National Executive Director of Helmets to Hardhats Canada. By serving on the Board of Directors of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Mr. Hogarth is honoured to apply his skills and knowledge towards the advancement of workers, particularly that of injured workers.

HELEN POLATAJKO

Helen Polatajko has over 35 years of executive experience in both the private and the public sectors, in Canada and the United States. As a CIO, she was responsible for the overall strategic direction, organizational and digital transformation, and management of information technology functions while being a contributing member of company executive committees at CMHC, CIBC Mellon and BNY Mellon. Helen has over 15 years experience serving as Chair and member on Risk, Finance, HR, Audit and Governance Committees on the boards of CDSPI, York University, The Salvation Army, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and the IESO. Helen was featured on the cover of CIO Canada magazine for an article titled “Fusing Business and Technology” and has served on the judging panel of the Canadian Information Productivity Awards. Helen also served on the Canadian Advisory Board of the CIO Executive Council, and the Advisory Committee of the Conference Board of Canada, Council of CIOs. Helen has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Computing, acknowledging her achievements and contributions to information services and technology. Helen received her education from The University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, attaining a bachelor’s in science in Mathematics and Psychology degree, and graduated from The Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware. Helen has also received the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

REAGAN RUSLIM

Since January 2020, Reagan Ruslim has held senior legal and executive roles across Canada’s public and broader public sectors, combining expertise in law, finance, human resources, and governance. He currently serves as Senior Legal HR Counsel and Acting Associate Vice-President & Chief Human Resources Officer at Sheridan College, where he leads the Human Resources function for over 4,000 employees. Reagan provides trusted legal, strategic, and governance advice to senior executives and the Board of Governors on labour, employment, and compliance matters. He has overseen complex organizational restructuring, led grievance and arbitration strategies, and authored Sheridan’s first Strike Preparation Playbook to guide legal, operational, and financial readiness during potential labour disruptions. Previously, Reagan served as Senior Manager of Talent Management at the Region of Peel, directing a team of 30 professionals across Talent Acquisition, Labour Relations, and Employee Relations. In this role, he acted as Chief Negotiator for 14 collective agreements (CUPE, OPSEU, ONA, and others), securing stable labour outcomes while advancing diversity and compliance across a workforce of 9,000 employees. From 2020 to 2023, Reagan was Senior Legal Counsel (HR, Pensions & Benefits) at Hydro One Networks Inc., where he provided legal and strategic advice on employment, pensions, and human rights matters. He represented Hydro One before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Labour Relations Board, achieving favourable outcomes in over 70% of matters, and led initiatives that reduced case resolution times and legal expenditures by 70%. He also modernized policy frameworks to improve compliance with the Employment Standards Act, mitigating significant financial exposure. Earlier in his career, Reagan practiced law in private practice for more than a decade at Grosman Law Group and Dunsmore Law, where he co-counselled the landmark Supreme Court of Canada case Wilson v. Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (2016 SCC 29), which reshaped Canadian labour law. His scholarly article, “Unjust Dismissal Under the Canada Labour Code: New Law, Old Statute,” was cited by the Supreme Courtin its decision. Reagan also practiced tax litigation at Moodys LLP, where he successfully reduced client liabilities and influence regulatory reform. Beyond his professional roles, Reagan serves as Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee and Board Director for both the WISE Trust Jointly Sponsored Pension Plan (overseeing $4 billion in assets) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) (with over $40 billion in assets under management). He contributes leadership in investment policy, fiduciary oversight, and audit governance, with a focus on transparency, intergenerational equity, and risk management. A dual-qualified lawyer and chartered accountant, Reagan holds a BBA (Wilfrid Laurier University), LL.B (Western University), and two LL.M degrees in Labour & Employment Law and Taxation Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified Public Accountant (New Hampshire, USA), Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), and Pension Plan Administrator Certificate (PPAC) holder. In 2024, he earned the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. Reagan is widely regarded for his interdisciplinary approach to governance, combining legal precision, financial literacy, and human capital insight. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to ethical governance, sound fiscal stewardship, and building psychologically safe, high-performing workplaces.

JEFFREY MACOUN

Jeffrey Macoun, of London, is former President and Chief Operating Officer at Canada Life. His community involvement has included serving as a board member for United Way, St Joseph’s Hospital, Chamber of Commerce, Find for Change, and YMCA.

COLLEEN WARD

Colleen Ward, of Pickering, is former Vice-President of TD Bank Group. Her community involvement includes serving as Chair for TD Black Experience and Women in Technology.

PETER GEORGE

Peter George is the CEO of Neurolytixs Inc., an exclusive global licensee of Lawson Health Research Institute’s blood-based invitro diagnostics, specializing in the detection of concussions. Peter has diverse corporate and Board experience spanning decades in sales, marketing and venture capital in the areas of health care, real estate development and asset management. Peter is the co-founder and past director of LB Energy Inc., one of the largest developers of renewable energy in Ontario. Peter is deeply rooted in his community, having volunteered, and fundraised for SickKids, Windsor Regional Hospital, Art Gallery of Windsor and St. Clair College. Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor.

SEAN MCFARLING

Sean McFarling serves as General Counsel to the Labourers’ International Union of North America, Ontario Provincial District Council (“OPDC”) and LiUNA’s Central and Eastern Canada Organizing Fund (“CECOF”). His practice focuses on providing strategic advice and overseeing the OPDC’s legal affairs across Ontario and CECOF’s legal matters across Central and Eastern Canada. Sean has dedicated his career to representing the hard-working men and women of Ontario and he currently serves as LiUNA’s Vice President at the Ontario Federation of Labour and Delegate to the Canadian Labour Congress.

JEFFERY LANG

Jeffery Lang was recently President and CEO of two Ontario-based manufacturing businesses with customers around the world. Jeffery Lang completed his undergraduate degree in Social Sciences and honours degree in Political Science at the University of Western Ontario, King’s University College. Jeffery Lang is co-founder and Board Chair of the Canadian Economic Development Assistance for South Sudan and has held many past community roles, including Vice President of Ronald McDonald House Charities, President of Boys & Girls Club of London, Board Chair, Alzheimer Foundation of London, and Board Members of Pathways Skills Development and the London Food Bank. Jeffery Lang is a proud fourth generation Londoner.