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.

ALANA MCPHEE

Alana McPhee is Senior Counsel, Treasury & Corporate, at The Toronto-Dominion Bank where she serves as lead internal counsel for securities issuances under the bank's global funding programs ranging from $20 to $40 billion per annum in recent years. Prior to TD, Alana led Strategic Initiatives for Macquarie's North American Banking & Financial Services Division and was a Principal at Coventree Inc., then an independent securitization boutique firm with total assets under management of $33 billion. Preceding Coventree, Alana was a partner at leading Bay Street firm, Davies Ward Phillips Vineberg LL.P., practicing corporate securities law. Alana holds a Bachelor of Commerce (in Finance & Marketing) from St. Mary's University and obtained her law degree at Dalhousie University. Alana’s community involvement has included serving on the boards of Canada Lands Company Limited, Downsview Park, the Old Port of Montreal, Women in Capital Markets Association and on the Board of Trustees of the Toronto International Dance Festival.

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 been a member of the Law department of Hydro One as Senior Legal Counsel. Reagan provides practical legal advice in the areas of: Labour, Employment, Human Rights, Occupational Health & Safety, Workplace Investigations, Pensions, Benefits and Corporate Ethics to the team at Hydro One. Previously, Reagan worked in private practice for more than 12 years. He practiced primarily Labour, Employment and Human Rights law. Prior to his legal career, Reagan practiced public accounting with Deloitte. During his time at Deloitte, Reagan earned two accounting designations: (1) Chartered Accountant (Ontario, Canada); and (2) Certified Public Accountant (New Hampshire, United States). Reagan holds a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, an LL. B from Western University, two LL.M degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Additionally, in 2014, Reagan earned both his Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designations from the Human Resources Professional Association of Ontario.

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.