Appointee Biographies

JUSTIN MOONEY

Justin Mooney assists domestic and international corporations, private equity actors and individuals and family offices with diverse commercial interests, including real estate, mergers and acquisitions, complex contractual arrangements and corporate governance. As a trusted advisor to a global set of clients, principally from Canada, the United States, Japan and Europe, Justin tailors his legal advice to his client's particular needs. He is able to triage complex issues, distilling them to their business essence and problem solve by offering workable solutions and general risk mitigation counsel. Justin works hard to become a valued part of an organization's decision-making structure. Justin first joined the firm in 2000 upon his completion of law school. From 2008 to 2009, he practised as a Senior Associate in London, United Kingdom, in the Mergers and Acquisitions and Funds Structuring Practice Groups for a major international law firm. While there, Justin received qualifications to practise law in England and Wales. Justin is Chair of the Board of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. He also sits on the Board of Directors of a number of his clients. He is the former Chair of the Toronto Grant Review Team of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a role in which involved distributing large amounts of funding to not-for-profit organizations in Ontario. He has also held numerous chair positions on the boards of various music organizations and was a volunteer ride leader for Trailblazers, an organization that takes visually impaired people on tandem bike rides. Justin's achievements and volunteerism led him to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal for significant contributions to Canada (2025), be designated as King's Counsel (2023) and named a Rising Star: Leading Lawyer Under 40 by Lexpert® (2012). In 2025, Justin completed the Rotman-Institute of Corporate Directors program and received his Institute of Corporate Directors, Director (ICD.D) designation.

BETH POTTER

Beth Potter is the President & CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. Formerly, she was President and Chief Executive Officer for Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) and a former Chair of the Province & Territories for Tourism Industry Associations Committee. Prior to joining TIAO, she spent seven years as the Executive Director of Camping In Ontario, an association made up of more than 600 small businesses that actively represents the campground industry in Ontario. She also served on the board for the Accommodation Industry Alliance of Ontario and Campgrounds Camping Canada, which she chaired from 2009 to 2011. With more than 25 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, Beth has worked with a boards, committees and volunteers from a wealth of diverse backgrounds, mandates and goals. Ms. Potter holds a Bachelor of Arts from Lakehead University.

JAMES VILLENEUVE

James Villeneuve is a former Consul General for the Government of Canada, and a former Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Anheuser-Busch Inbev. His community involvement includes serving as Chairman of the Board for the Toronto Economic Development Corporation.

MARK A. BECKLES

Mark Beckles is a Senior Director for Royal Bank of Canada, and a former Head and Regional Vice President for Royal Bank of Canada. His community involvement includes serving as Board Director for the William Osler Health System.

LINDA MONTGOMERY

Linda Montgomery has over 30 years of international experience leading marketing and business development for technology, financial services, and mining sector companies. She has a track record of achievement advising CEO’s and management teams on strategic growth strategy and championing teams to successful executive. She has launched or re positioned 25 companies/business areas, over 40 new products/services, and has taken five private companies to public markets. She is currently VP Marketing for technology companies WealthyPlanet and Blockstation, she is a Volunteer Advisor contributing to leading the program at MaRS Discovery District, and she leads a Women Founders and Funders collaboration initiative.

MAUREEN HARQUAIL

Maureen Harquail is a graduate of the University of Toronto (B.A.), the University of Wales, Cardiff Law School (LL.B.) and Queen’s University (M.P.A). In the course of a 25-year career, Ms. Harquail’s career has focused on regulatory and administrative law. Currently, Ms. Harquail serves as the Chief Operating Officer & Deputy Registrar with the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) which is the vehicle sales regulator in Ontario. Previously, Ms. Harqual spend a decade with the Ontario Racing Commission as General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer and the Federal Department of Justice (Prosecution Service) as an Environmental & Regulatory Prosecutor.

PAUL BERNARDS

Paul Bernards, of Toronto, is former Chief Financial Officer at Discovery Air Inc, Premier Salons Ltd, and Shepell.FGI LLP. His community involvement includes serving as a member of the Board of Directors, Chair of Audit Committee for TO Live and the Canadian Opera Company.

GINA SACCOCCIO BRANNAN

Gina Saccoccio Brannan, K.C. earned her Hons. B.A. at York University in 1976. In 1979 she earned an LL. B from the University of Windsor Law School. Ms. Brannan was called to the Ontario Bar in 1981. She was appointed Queen's Counsel by the Federal Minister of Justice in July 1992. Ms. Brannan has served as Counsel to the Federal Security Intelligence Review Committee and as Commissioner-at-Large (Ontario) to the RCMP Public Complaints Tribunal. Ms. Brannan has also served as counsel before the 1989 Houlden Inquiry and the 2005-2009 Cornwall Public Inquiry. Ms. Brannan has served as a volunteer member on several health-related Boards, including the Board of the Orthopaedic and Arthritic Hospital Foundation and the Board of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Since 2000, Ms. Brannan has been a partner in the litigation firm of Brannan Meiklejohn, Barristers. Ms. Brannan's areas of practice include human rights, employment, and wills and estates law.

ROBERT JOHN HUNTER

Robert J. Hunter attended the University of Waterloo where he obtained an Honours Bachelor of Science degree and then attended graduate school at the University of Washington Seattle specializing in Sports Medicine. Mr. Hunter is Chief Project Development Officer with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). He is a former Executive Vice President of Venues and Entertainment with MLSE. His community involvement includes serving as Vice-Chair of Tourism Toronto and has included serving on the University of Waterloo Board of Governors and on the Trillium Health Centre Foundation Board of Directors.