Appointee Biographies
Metrolinx
DONALD WRIGHT
is President and CEO of the Winnington Capital Group Inc., an investment holding company. His current positions also include being Chair of Cinaport Inc., Chair of GMP Capital Inc., and Chair of Richards Packaging Income Fund. In addition, he is a Director of Bank of China (Canada) and is the Lead Director and Vice-Chair of DHX Media Ltd. Mr. Wright previously held senior positions with leading domestic and global financial services companies including Wood Gundy, Merrill Lynch, Burns Fry, and TD Bank Financial Group. While at TD, he was Chairman and CEO of TD Securities and Deputy Chairman of TD Bank Financial Group. Mr. Wright is the past Chair of the Board of Directors of Via Rail Canada. His community involvement has included being member of the Board of Trustees of The Hospital for Sick Children, a former member of the Royal Ontario Museum Governors’ Finance Committee, and a prior member of the Campaign Cabinet for Eva’s Phoenix. Mr. Wright holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University.
BRYAN DAVIES
Bryan Davies was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) on June 29, 2017. He has extensive financial sector and governance experience in both the private and public sectors. Most recently, he served as Chair of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, assuming that role in 2006. Mr. Davies also served concurrently as Vice-Chair of the Canadian Securities Transition Office from July 2009 to July 2013. Prior to those federal appointments, Mr. Davies was Chief Executive Officer and Superintendent of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario from 2002 to 2005. Before then, he was Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the Royal Bank Financial Group. Mr. Davies held a number of senior positions in the Government of Ontario from 1975 to 1993, including Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Minister of Economics, and was Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer at the University of Toronto from 1992 to 1994.
JOHANNES PHILLIPUS (PHIL) VERSTER
Phil Verster has had a long career in the transportation sector. He is the Managing Director of East West Railway in London, England, prior to which he was the Managing Director of ScotRail Alliance in Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. Verster holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Stellenbosch, a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Newcastle Business School, and is a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
SYLVIE TESSIER
Sylvie Tessier is a former Client Service Director for ACI Worldwide, and a former Executive Advisor for Canada School of Public Service. Her community involvement includes serving as a member of the Department Audit Committee Office for Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada.
LUIGI FERRARA
Luigi Ferrara is currently the Dean of the Centre for Arts, Design and Information Technology at George Brown College where he has been employed since 2013. He is Director of the organization Institute without Boundaries. He lectures internationally on topics including sustainablity, design management, urban planning, information technology, digital media, telecommunications and the network society. He is an Architect.
EMILY MOORE
Emily Moore is currently Associate Professor and Director at Troost Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering at University of Toronto. She is a former Managing Director at Hatch Inc leading technology development initiatives across the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors. She is a former Principal Engineer at Xerox Research Centre of Canada. Her community involvement has included serving on the Board of Directors of Haltech and volunteering with the Church of St. Bride as Warden. Emily is currently serving on the boards of Chemtrade Logistics, International Petroleum Corp, and the Canadian Mining Innovation Council. She Holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Queen's University and a DPhil. Physical Chemistry from Oxford University. She is currently a member of Professional Engineers of Ontario.
REG PEARSON
REG PEARSON is currently President at Reg Pearson Mediation as well as an Adjunct Professor at Ryerson University. His former employment roles include Associate Deputy Minister at Government of Ontario in the Treasury Board Secretariat and Assistant Deputy Minister at Government of Ontario's Ministry of Labour as well as other leadership roles in the Ontario Public Service. His community involvement includes serving the Ontario Construction Secretariat as Board Member.
PAUL TSAPARIS
Paul Tsaparis is the former Vice President Technology Support for the Americas for HP as well as former President and CEO with Hewlett-Packard Company Canada. His community involvement includes serving York University as Chair of the Board of Governors. He is also currently a Chair of Chairs of the Council of Ontario Universities. He is an Executive in Residence at Schulich School of Business and a board member for Ontario Health, Metrolinx, Indspire and Teranet. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration from York University.
ROBERT POIRIER
Robert Poirier holds his ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and has a 25-year career in banking, investment management and technology. He is currently a financial technology executive and serves on several corporate boards including as chair of Northern Trust Company Canada and the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority. Robert also possesses experience in the transportation sector as the former chair of the federal Toronto Port Authority including Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Robert was previously the Managing Director of the Alternative Investments division at State Street and served as a senior advisor to members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce from 1992 until 1999 where he was involved in governance practices of institutional investors and the evolution of some of Canada’s largest public sector plans.
DEB HUTTON
Deb Hutton has nearly three decades experience solving communications and media crises and leading communication teams in both the public and private sectors. She began her career in politics, advising candidates, elected officials and leaders. From speechwriting to leading the government’s issues management strategy, Deb held progressively senior roles during a decade at Queen’s Park. Deb furthered her career as Vice President of Government and Corporate Relations for Ontario’s largest electricity utility. She moved into the private sector as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for Canada’s largest international media company. For the past few years, Deb has been advising companies and individuals on media relations, crisis management and strategic communications. Deb believes in giving back and has served on York University Board of Governors, the JaysCare Foundation, Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre and the Speech and Stuttering Institute.
JANET ECKER
Janet L Ecker is the past President and CEO of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance (TFSA), a growing public-private partnership dedicated to building Toronto region as a global financial services centre. With government and industry support, she established the Global Risk Institute in Financial Services to leverage the sector's global reputation for stability, as well as the Centre of Excellence in Financial Services Education to capitalize on Toronto region's talent advantages. A former Ontario Finance Minister, Ms. Ecker also held the portfolios of Minister of Education, Minister of Community and Social Services and Government House Leader. Ms. Ecker currently sits on a number of corporate and non-profit boards, agencies and government advisory committees. In 2016, Ms. Ecker was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada. A frequent public speaker and media commentator, she was recognized in 2010 as one of the "Most Influential People in the World's Financial Centres" by Financial Centres International and received a "Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award" from the Women's Executive Network and the Richard Ivey School of Business in 2003.
TONY MARQUIS
is a Senior Vice President in Operations (East) for CP Rail. His community involvement includes serving as a Board member for Barrie Telus Community Board and Honorary Director and Advisor for NORMHC (Northern Ontario Railway Museum and Heritage Centre).
JOHANNES PHILLIPUS (PHIL) VERSTER
Phil Verster has had a long career in the transportation sector. He is the Managing Director of East West Railway in London, England, prior to which he was the Managing Director of ScotRail Alliance in Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. Verster holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Stellenbosch, a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Newcastle Business School, and is a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Engineering and Technology.