Appointee Biographies

GREGORY BISHOP

Gregory Bishop is a former Director for Greg Bishop Surveying and Consulting Ltd., a former Vice-Chair for Ontario Municipal Board, and a Vice-Chair (full-time) for the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

DAVID LANTHIER

David Lanthier has served with the board and tribunal since May of 2016. Prior to this, he maintained his general law practice in northeastern Ontario for over 30 years with emphasis on municipal law and civil litigation. During his career he has attended at all levels of the Ontario Courts and has appeared before numerous administrative tribunals. Mr. Lanthier was the municipal solicitor for four municipalities assisting in a variety of functions including local planning and development and real estate, municipal litigation, and municipal law. Residing in his home town of Cochrane, he was involved in a wide variety of community service and volunteer endeavours serving on numerous community and regional organizations. Mr. Lanthier holds a BA Honours, and Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University and was called to the Bar in 1986.

STEVEN COOKE

Steven Cooke has been serving on the Ontario Land Tribunal as member (full-time) since 2019. Steven is a former Local Councilor for the Municipality of Clarington, and a former Trustee for Kawartha Pine Ridge Public School Board. Steven’s community involvement includes serving as a Director for Navy League of Bowmanville.

GREGORY BISHOP

Gregory Bishop is an Ontario Land Surveyor and Professional Engineer who has over thirty years experience in boundary law and land use planning. Greg was a member and Vice-Chair on the Ontario Municipal Board from 2000-2004 before returning to the private where he has provided consulting services and expertise to clients in both public and private sectors. He has acted both as a mediator in land development disputes as well as an expert witness in land matters. Greg is a former President of the Rotary Club of Haliburton.

HUGH WILKINS

Hugh Wilkins is a lawyer who was called to the Ontario Bar in 1998. He practiced law at Morris/Rose/Ledgett LLP and is a former adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. He holds Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Queen's University and a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics.

MARY-ANNE SILLS

Mary-Anne Sills brings a wealth of tribunal, municipal, and community experience to the position of Vice-Chair. She was first appointed to the Ontario Municipal Board in 2007. Drawing on her wide-ranging adjudicative experience, she has consistently demonstrated the ability for impartial decision-making, informed by her knowledge of legislation and jurisprudence. Moreover, through her Municipal Board work, her previous experience as a Municipal Councillor and as Mayor of the City of Belleville (1988-2006), and her community volunteer service, she has proven herself as a leader, mentor, and role model. Ms. Sills is a graduate of Loyalist College in Belleville.

SCOTT TOUSAW

Scott Tousaw was appointed to the OLT in 2017 (OMB at that time) following a 31 year career in planning with the County of Huron. Mr. Tousaw is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP), a member of the Ontario Professional PIanners Institute and Canadian Institute of Planners, and has served on the boards of these provincial and national associations. He holds a Master of Arts in Geography and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Geography from the University of Waterloo. Mr. Tousaw has been a sessional instructor and guest lecturer at the Universities of Guelph and Waterloo and for 20 years advised delegates at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) annual conference.

WILLIAM MIDDLETON

William Middleton was called to the Ontario Bar in 1988, William is a seasoned legal and business professional. He was a commercial litigator at top Canadian law firms, including Borden Ladner Gervais and Miller Thomson in Toronto. He has also been a 4-time General Counsel with a variety of public and private companies and has also served in other senior business executive roles at large and medium-sized Canadian corporations. He has considerable worldwide experience in managing complex litigation / ADR programs and has appeared in that role before courts and tribunals in both Canada and the US. Additionally, he and has testified as a lead corporate witness in many litigation and arbitration proceedings.

SHARYN VINCENT

Sharon Vincent is a member (full-time) for the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), Ministry of Attorney General, and a former principal for Vincent Planning & Development Consultants Inc. Sharon holds an Honors in Bachelor of Environmental Studies from University of Waterloo.

DOUGLAS COLBOURNE

Douglas Colbourne has been an arbitrator and mediator in the fields of planning, expropriation, finance and construction for several decades. In the Province served on the OMB, LPAT, ARB, BON and Tarion. Was a member of two Committees in the City of Toronto, the C of A, and the Compliance Audit Committee was an Ontario Member for the Federal Boundaries Commission. Privately for other municipalities, utilities in the same fields.

GILLIAN BURTON

Gillian Burton has specialized in land use planning and municipal law throughout her career, most recently as an adjudicator with the Ontario Land Tribunal. She was a hearing officer under the Expropriations Act, holding hearings throughout Ontario, and a member of the Toronto Local Appeal Body. She was General Counsel to the Ontario Municipal Board and the Assessment Review Board, as well as counsel to three Ontario Ministries, including Municipal Affairs and Housing. She was founding Chair of the Residential Rental Standards Board at the Ministry of Housing.

ROBERT STEINBERG

After graduating in 1971 from Wilfrid Laurier University, Robert Steinberg commenced employment with the Province of Ontario, assessing all classes of property in several municipalities. In 1981, he obtained Accredited Appraiser status from the Appraisal Institute of Canada. In 1986, Mr. Steinberg began working for the Grand River Conservation Authority, acquiring lands for numerous projects and managing a complex real estate portfolio located in 32 municipalities throughout the watershed. In 1997, he obtained a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario. In 2006, he became an appraiser and negotiator in the municipal sector. Mr. Steinberg has been a certified lecturer with the Appraisal Institute of Canada and has lectured in municipal real estate at the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario meetings. He is a member and former Director of the Ontario Expropriation Association and serves as a volunteer for various community organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society. Mr. Steinberg has been a member of the Board of Negotiation (Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario) since 2011.

BLAIR TAYLOR

Prior to joining the Ontario Municipal Board, Blair Taylor was a Senior Partner with the law firm of O'Connor, MacLeod Hanna LLP. He practiced in the municipal and development field representing both the public and private sectors. He is a former Assistant Director with Ombudsman Ontario. Mr. Taylor is also a former Director of both the Oakville Hospital Foundation and the Community Foundation of Oakville. He holds a Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Laws degree from York University.

SHANNON BRAUN

Shannon Braun was formerly a full-time member with Tribunals Ontario, adjudicating disputes for both the Social Benefits Tribunal and Licence Appeals Tribunal. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto.

CARMINE TUCCI

Carmine Tucci comes to the Tribunal from a private practice in Dispute Resolution. As a mediator, Mr. Tucci provides consulting and dispute resolution services related to construction development and other matters. In this position, Mr. Tucci oversees disputes, mediation and adjudication under applicable legislation. He has held volunteer positions as Co-Chair of SantaFest Parade in Vaughan, a Committee Member of Vaughan in Motion for Cancer Care, a Board Member of the Vaughan Recognition Society and a Fundraising Committee Member of Hospice Vaughan.

PAVEL TOMILIN

Pavel Tomilin is a seasoned professional in the Financial Service industry. He brings knowledge and expertise in business management as well as in personal finances. Pavel has served on council as well as many statutory committees for one of the regulatory colleges in Ontario for a number of years.

STEVE DEBOER

Steve DeBoer has a background as a Chartered Director. He has served as a public member for Veridian Corporation and served as the Chair of the Committee in forming the new Elexicon Group. This new corporation’s purpose was to create utility revenue from unregulated sources. Steve was the leader in the hiring of the first CEO and with the other board members, created the strategic direction of the corporation. Steve most recently was a member of the Durham Regional Police Services Board and served as the Chair of the Human Resources Committee. Steve also served as a part time member of the Ontario Review Board as a public member.

ERIC CROWE

Eric Crowe is a lawyer and member of the Law Society of Ontario. He previously served several years with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine as an International Monitor. Prior to that Eric was Duty Counsel for Legal Aid Ontario in Manitoulin Island. He Started his career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, then as Legal Policy Analyst for the Union of Ontario Indians and Senior Aboriginal Policy Advisor for the Canadian Defence Academy, Department of National Defence. A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Common Law Program and Osgoode Hall Law School, Intensive Program in Indigenous Lands, Resources & Governments. He has received the Queens Jubilee Medal, United Nations Medal and several military medals from having served in the United States Marine Corps. Eric is a proud member of Alderville First Nation.

SARAH BOBKA

Sarah Bobka served for seven years as a Trustee for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, which included five years as the Vice-Chairperson of the Board and Chairperson of the Budget Committee. Sarah also worked in various roles in communications, sales, and marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queen’s University. Her past community involvement has included acting as a director and/or member on numerous community boards.

SIMRANJEET MANN

Simranjeet Mann is a lawyer who was called to the Ontario Bar in 2017. He practiced law as In-House Counsel for a real estate developer operating primarily in the city of Toronto. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Leicester, UK

BITA RAJAEE

Prior to being appointed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, Bita M. Rajaee practiced in the area of civil litigation. She attended before various levels of the Ontario Courts and numerous administrative tribunals, where she passionately sought the best results by looking at each matter practically and strategically. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario. She obtained her JD from Osgoode Hall Law School, has a Masters of Arts from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Humanities from Carleton University.

CAROLYN MOLINARI

Carolyn Molinari is a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and has over 30 years experience as an Urban Planner, most recently as the owner and principal of CM Planning Inc. providing planning consulting services to various private sector clients. She also has international experience working as a planning consultant for the government of The Bahamas. In the past, Carolyn has acted as an expert witness in land development matters before the former OMB/LPAT and served as a member/Vice Chair of the Town of Ajax Committee of Adjustment for twelve years and as a member of the Region of Durham Land Division Committee for four years.

ROBERT ACKERMAN

Robert Ackerman is from Windsor and Oakville, Ontario, and a graduate of University of Toronto (B.A.), York University (M.A.) and University of Windsor. (LL.B.). Robert has been an Ontario lawyer since 1984, with 30 years' experience representing property owners and stake holders in proceedings under the Expropriations Act and the Planning Act, and in conducting complex Hearings at the OMB, the LPAT, the Tax Court of Canada, Superior Court of Justice, and Appeals in the Divisional Court, Ontario Court of Appeal, Federal Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.

TEE FUNG NG

Tee Fung Ng is a consultant at Syed Alwi Ng & Co. Advocates & Solicitors, and a former advocate and solicitor at Benjamin Ng & Partners. Tee Fung Ng’s community involvement includes serving as a honorary legal advisor for NG Clan association.

JATINDER BHULLAR

Jatinder Bhullar possesses post-graduate education in Engineering. He has been a Professional Engineer in Ontario since 1978. Additionally, he received formal training in Administrative Law. He previously worked as an adjudicative member at a Government of Canada Tribunal for two years. He has volunteered for betterment of healthcare for seniors in Ontario. Over the last twenty-five years, Jatinder has made voluntarily contributions at the Canadian Radio Telecommunication Commission for the better delivery of telecommunication services to all Canadians.

DALE CHIPMAN

Dale Chipman has over 20 years of experience in municipal and provincial administration. She holds an Executive Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law and a Diploma in Municipal Administration. Ms. Chipman has experience in dispute resolution having served as Chair of the Committee of Adjustments for several municipalities across Durham Region and Northumberland County. She has been an active participant on the boards of Northumberland Unity Way, Port Hope Northumberland Community Health Centre, Group 74 and the Port Hope Police Services Board.

KURTIS SMITH

Before being appointed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, Kurtis Smith was the Mayor of the Township of Adelaide Metcalfe and Councilor for the County of Middlesex, serving as the County Warden in 2019. His formal education is in Urban Planning, and he has sat on various municipal boards and committees.

STEVEN DIXON

Steven Dixon is a Registered Professional Planner and a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. He has 15 years of land use planning and policy experience in both the private and public sectors, including the municipalities of Toronto, Vaughan and Caledon. He has acted as an expert witness at the Ontario Municipal Board, Local Planning Appeal Tribunal and Ontario Land Tribunal on numerous occasions. Steven holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Honours Planning from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Environment and Sustainability from Western University.

JEAN-PIERRE BLAIS

Jean-Pierre is a member of both the Ontario Bar and the Quebec Bar. He hold law degrees from both McGill University (B.C.L. and LL.B.) and the University of Melbourne (LL.M.). Prior to his appointment to the Tribunal, he held numerous senior positions in the Federal Government over his 28 year career including Assistant Deputy Minister, Receiver General and Pensions (Public Service and Procurement Canada), Queen’s Printer for Canada, and Assistant Secretary for Government Operations (Treasury Board Secretariat). He notably was instrumental in the successful negotiations amongst UN Member States that resulted in Anti-Doping in Sports treaty at UNESCO. He also was a director of both the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Bid Corporation and the Canadian Television Fund Corporation. He was Chairperson and CEO of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) from 2012 to 2017. He received the Award for Excellence in Leadership from the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX) in 2010 and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers in 2015. Jean-Pierre is fluent in French and English. He resides in Arnprior, Ontario.

DAVID BROWN

David Brown is a land use planning consultant and has been operating a private practice since leaving the City of Mississauga in 1999, where he had been the Secretary Treasurer to the Committee of Adjustment. David is a Past President of the Ontario Association of Committees of Adjustment and Consent Authorities and has received two Civic Recognition Awards from the City of Mississauga for his community involvement serving as the Chairman of the Traffic Safety Council for ten years. David resides in the Niagara region where his family owns and operates a tourism related business.

CARRIE HARDY

Carrie Hardy is a lawyer who was called to the Ontario Bar in 2002. She most recently practiced law as real estate legal counsel and staffing manager of Real Estate Operations for University of Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University. Her most recent community involvement includes serving as a Director for Canadian Mental Health Association in Durham.

NAZANIN EISAZADEH

Nazanin Eisazadeh is a lawyer with extensive experience in civil and complex commercial litigation. She has attended before various levels of Court and numerous administrative tribunals, understanding the complexities of the adjudicative process. Nazanin is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, having been called to the Ontario Bar in 2013. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Ottawa, with a specialization in Alternative Dispute Resolution, and her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from York University.

DAN BEST

Daniel Best was appointed to the Ontario Land Tribunal in 2022 after a municipal career spanning over 30 years at the local and County levels. In addition to his municipal knowledge, Mr. Best has served on several boards and committees, gaining a solid knowledge of governance and finance. He holds a BA from York University and master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario.

GWEN CROSER

Gwen Croser is a lawyer and member of the Law Society of Ontario. After articling in-house with a large crown corporation, she practiced municipal law and commercial litigation at Unified LLP. Before her legal career, Gwen provided clients from the horse racing industry with accounting and taxation advice and services. She also led educational seminars on the economics of racehorse ownership at racetracks throughout Ontario. Gwen holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours with Distinction) from the University of Guelph and obtained her JD from Western University.

STEVEN MASTORAS

Steven Mastoras is a successful entrepreneur, community leader and small business advocate. Passionate about economic development, community engagement and government policy. A member/adjudicator at the Landlord and Tenant Board since 2021, a licensed real estate professional and community relations consultant, Rotarian and member of the Michael Garron Hospital “Heart of the East” Campaign. A former elected Council member in the Borough of East York, past Board of Directors for Restaurants Canada, past member of the Toronto East General Hospital Board of Governors and Foundation Board, past Assistant District Governor with Rotary International, and past Homes First Foundation Board of Directors.

KURTIS ANDREWS

Prior to his appointment, Kurtis Andrews was a practicing lawyer based in the Ottawa area. Mr. Andrews has degrees in various disciplines from York University, Brock University, the University of Ottawa (including his law degree), and he was called the Ontario Bar in 2010. His past community involvement has included volunteer work with The Main Farmers' Market (Ottawa), Just Food (Ottawa), FarmStart (Guelph) and the Ottawa Girls Hockey Association. Mr. Andrews is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture

SHARON DIONNE

Sharon Dionne, has over 30 years of professional experience in land use planning and land development, having worked in both planning consulting and in senior roles for Greater Golden Horseshoe Area Builder/Developers. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, (Honours Co-op) from the University of Waterloo. She is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP), and long-standing member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI). Sharon is Past Chair, Durham Chapter of Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and Former Chair, Town of Ajax Committee of Adjustment.

BRYAN TUCKEY

Bryan Tuckey is a resident of the City of Toronto. His most recent employment was as the President and Chief Executive Officer or the Building Industry and Land Development Association of the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to his position at BILD, he held a number of senior positions at all three levels of government in Ontario. Positions included: Commissioner of Planning and Development at the Region of York, Assistant Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Commissioner of Planning (A) Atthill he former City of North York during the City of Toronto amalgamation.

DEBRA ARNOLD

Debra Arnold holds a Bachelor of Arts (Urban Studies) from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University. Debra practised municipal law for approximately 30 years as inhouse counsel with the City of Kitchener and subsequently with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Debra's volunteer activities have included participating with Habitat for Humanity and as a swim coach with the Special Olympics.

JENNIFER CAMPBELL

Jennifer Campbell is a partner at Fogler Rubinoff LLP where her practice focuses on securities, corporate and mining law. She acts for both companies and registered dealers, and has extensive expertise working with junior issuers listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and Canadian Securities Exchange. In over 20 years of practice, she has been involved in numerous significant financings and complex commercial agreements for clients across a broad range of sectors. Jen has previously contributed as a legal commentator on CBC Metro Morning, and for the Globe and Mail and CBC Investigative Reports series. She is an adjunct professor at Brock University, and a faculty member for the Certificate in Mining Law program at Osgoode Hall Law School. Jen also sits on the Ontario Local Advisory Committee of the TSX Venture Exchange which provides recommendations with respect to policy, operational and strategic issues likely to have a significant impact on venture capital markets.

WARREN MORRIS

divides his time between public service (in addition to BON, part-time appointments with the Assessment Review Board and the Environmental Review Tribunal), operating a dispute resolution practice and working in the private mortgage lending business. He is a chartered mediator and runs a practice consisting primarily of commercial mediation. He is a roster mediator with the International Property Tax Institute and the Farm Debt Mediation Service. Mr. Morris has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics from McGill University, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario, and a Master of Laws degree specializing in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Previously, he was a board member for various organizations, including the ADR Institute of Ontario and a legal aid clinic.

DANIEL NELSON

is a lawyer and a frequent lecturer and writer on legal historical and new media topics. He also teaches law at George Brown College and is a volunteer with Scouts Canada and the Sharon Temple Museum Society. Mr. Nelson holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Canadian Studies from Trent University where he specialised in the history of Upper Canada before Confederation. He also holds a degree in law from the University of Windsor.

ASTRID CLOS

Astrid Clos is a member of the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), Ministry of the Attorney General, and a Registered Professional Planner (RPP), a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). She holds an Honors in Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree from the University of Waterloo. Prior to her appointment, she had 36 years experience practicing as an RPP in both the public and private sectors with 17 of those years as the Principal of Astrid J. Clos Planning Consultants located in the City of Guelph.

JENNIFER GOLD

Jennifer Gold is a Partner of Wood Gold LLP in Brampton, where she practices family law with a focus on settlement. She’s experienced in achieving consensus, negotiating agreements, de-escalating conflict, and representing clients in mediation and arbitration. In 2021, Jennifer was appointed as a Dispute Resolution Officer for the Superior Court of Justice to assist in early resolution of family law cases. She has completed a Certificate in Family Mediation and, in keeping with her professional commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, has also completed the University of Alberta’s course, Indigenous Canada. She is Past President of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario and is a Board Member of Pro Bono Ontario. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Legal Aid Ontario where she chairs the Audit and Finance Committee, and is a member of the Ontario Bar Association’s Council, representing the Central West region. To support the next generation, Jennifer is a mentor in the Women’s Law Association of Ontario’s mentorship program and York University’s Advancing Women program. Her efforts to create alternatives to the traditional law firm, with a better work-life balance in a diverse workplace were featured in The Toronto Star. Jennifer is the 2021 recipient of the Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence in Promoting Women’s Equality and a 2017 Lexpert Zenith Award celebrating the advancement of women in the legal profession. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University and was awarded an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall at York University.

GREGORY INGRAM

Gregory Ingram, of Peterborough, former Consultant for Support Ontario Youth and Junior Achievement of Central and Northeastern Ontario. Holds a Master of Education with the University of Toronto.

JACKIE DENYES

Jackie Denyes is a Certified Court Reporter with the Ministry of the Attorney General and Accredited Court Transcriptionist for the past 46 years. Elected for 15 years as a Municipal Councilor for the City of Belleville, she offers demonstrated experience as Chair, Vice-Chair and Board Member on 13 Committees of Council including the Planning Advisory Committee, Police Services Board, Quinte Conservation Authority, Fire Master Planning and Cultural Sister Cities Exchange. She has a genuine interest in local community engagement exemplified as President and Executive Board Member of Quinte Exhibition and Raceway, Parent Council and Girl Guides of Canada. She is the recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award, The Queen's Jubilee Pin, Canada Day Ambassador to Lahr, Germany, Ministry of Attorney General Awards of Excellence, Lifetime Director Quinte Exhibition and a named traffic circle dedication. She and her husband reside on their 5th Generation Holstein Dairy Farm in Belleville.

ANTHONY CORNACCHIA

Anthony Cornacchia is a lawyer with over thirty years of broad experience in corporate and commercial law. He has held numerous senior legal positions within large corporations in different industries. Most recently, he was General Counsel, Privacy and Compliance Officer and Director at Signify Canada, (formerly Phillips Lighting Canada) and General Counsel and Privacy Officer at Honda Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Science (with Distinction) from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen’s University and a Master of Business Administration degree from York University.