Appointee Biographies

GARY BENNETT

Gary Bennett, of Kingston, is a Senior Managing Partner at Bendale Property. He is also former Mayor for the City of Kingston. His community involvement has included serving as a board member of Trillium Foundation of Ontario.

MARY HENEIN THORN

Mary Henein Thorn was formerly employed as a Special Assistant at a Federal Minister's Regional Office and as the CEO of AdSpace Plus. She is a former Constituency Assistant and Candidate for the Ontario PC Party. Her community involvement includes serving as Chair/Director at large for the MS Society (Grand River Chapter) and as a member of Zonta International (KW Chapter).

ROD JACKSON

Rod Jackson is currently President at iPi inc. He has formerly served as MPP for Barrie as well as CEO at Barrie Chamber of Commerce. His community involvement includes serving as a director for the McLaren Art Centre.

SHERRI HAIGH

Sherri Haigh is an international award-winning communicator and journalist with more than 25 years of experience in her field. She started her own successful communications consulting business, Haigh Communications Inc. in 2016. providing public relations and issues management services for a broad range of organizations She worked as a journalist for daily newspapers before moving into the communications and marketing profession. She has managed communications for several provincial regulatory bodies and for the Wine Council of Ontario and the LCBO. She also worked for a global public relations firm providing media training and crisis management services. She was part of a church refugee committee that helped bring a family to Canada and assisted them in settling in the Toronto area. Sherri lives in the Niagara region and is passionate about fishing and enjoying the the Ontario outdoors.

ALBERTA CEFIS

Alberta Cefis is the President of Alcetor Inc., she currently serves as a Board Director and Board Chair, and had a long corporate career as a Global Banker. Her Board work has encompassed over time Chair and Director roles across the private, corporate, association, and not for profit sectors – including: Chair of the National Theatre School of Canada; Chair of Opera Atelier; Shaw Festival; Visa International; Scotia Bank Mortgage Corporation; Chair of Alcemon Ltd. Alberta is an experienced global leader, having served as a C-suite executive in the financial services industry, managing complex businesses across continents and client segments. She has served on numerous industry committees and financial forums across borders; she has been frequently interviewed and has written on topics of interest; and, is the recipient of numerous awards.

WILLIAM WALKER

William Walker is President/Chief Executive Officer of Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries and was a former Member of Provincial Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound (2011 – 2022). His community involvement includes serving as a Speaker for Make a Wish Foundation.

DONALD MACKAY

Donald Mackay is the Owner of Dream Links, and a former Accountant at Deloitte. His community involvement includes serving as a board member and Chair for the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital.

MANJIT KHAIRA

Manjit Khaira is the Director of Finance with Safran Canada, a division of Safran Group (France) an Aerospace and Defense corporation. Prior joining Safran, Manjit has held various roles in corporations from various industries for over 20 years. She is certified Public Accountant and have Part time public practice. Manjit holds MBA from Kellogg-Schulich school of Management.

PETER FORSBERG

Peter Watts Forsberg was born and raised in Newmarket ON before joining the Canadian Army at the age of 16 and followed a 38-year career, serving his country in Canada and Europe. His time in uniform spanned various areas of responsibility, including the management of an infrastructure project and the command of troops. With the United Nations Protection Force in Former Yugoslavia, he worked with the national contingents of the contributing nations and was secretary of the liaison committee that included representatives of the three warring factions. Following his retirement in 1995 he became public affairs officer with a defence advocacy. In this capacity he dealt with members of the media and was manager of two award programs, and Editor of the quarterly journal of the CDA Institute. He managed the corporate sponsorship of the Vimy Award gala and of the Conference of Defence Associations’ annual seminar. Peter is a member of the Regimental Senate of a Reserve artillery regiment. The Senate is a benevolent organization devoted to fostering the welfare of the members of the Regiment, such as providing gift boxes of comfort goods and other essentials for soldiers who volunteered to be called out and be deployed to support frontline workers combating the COVID-19 pandemic. On his second retirement, in 2017, he and his wife, April, moved to Smithville. Peter serves his community on various boards and committees. He likes to read history and politics. Peter is an active member of a church in. He is a member of the board of directors of Ontario Trillium Foundation, and a member of the Executive Committee of The Sporting Clubs of Niagara, a member of the Outreach and Fundraising Committee of Robert Land Academy, member of the Township of West Lincoln’s Committee of Adjustment and Property Standards Committee, member of the board of directors of the local Federal Electoral District Association and of the local Provincial Electoral District Association, and a member of the board of directors of his condominium. He is the recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration, and of the Queen Elizabeth II Gold Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee medals, for service to his community.

DIANE MAVRINAC-ROSS

Diane Mavrinac-Ross, of Toronto, is a director with Windley Limited. Her community involvement includes serving as President of the Granite Club and as a director of the Jeffery and Diane Ross Foundation.

TONY PAMPENA

Since joining EY Canada in 1986, Tony has distinguished himself through leadership roles, global appointments, board positions and extensive volunteer work. For the last four years he has served as a Central Managing Partner at EY Canada, leading the largest market segment in the Canadian business. Since 1990 Tony has mentored tomorrow’s CPAs, recently developing regular touchpoint for students in second- and third-year accounting and business programs to connect. With a keen passion for giving back. Tony applies his CPA skills as a volunteer with several organizations including the United Way, NEXT Canada, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and York University.

GARY BENNETT

Gary Bennett, of Kingston, is a Senior Managing Partner at Bendale Property. He is also former Mayor for the City of Kingston. His community involvement has included serving as a board member of Trillium Foundation of Ontario.

MOSHE RONEN

Moshe Ronen is President of SAS Inc. (strategic solutions and advocacy consulting). Moshe’s community involvement includes serving as an Executive for World Jewish Congress.