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Board of Directors

Community Care Durham is governed by dedicated, community-minded volunteers with a passion for service to the community. Among many important roles, the Board sets the strategic direction of the organization, empowering staff to carry out the Mission and the day to day operations.

Board of Directors

Community Care Durham is governed by dedicated, community-minded volunteers with a passion for service to the community. Among many important roles, the Board sets the strategic direction of the organization, empowering staff to carry out the Mission and the day to day operations.

Headshot of Helen Brenner

Helen Brenner
President – Elected in 2021

A long-time resident of Pickering, Helen is a retired RN/MBA and senior health care executive.  Throughout her career Helen focused on introducing new and innovative strategies to improve quality of care and the overall health care experience for patients and caregivers. In particular she is proud of being one of the first to lead the introduction of genuine patient engagement through the use of experience-based co-design.

Helen brings with her strategic, operational, business and financial expertise, past board experience, and extensive experience working/partnering with a broad range of stakeholders including senior health officials, board members, patients, caregivers, volunteers and community stakeholders to name a few.

Helen is a passionate gardener who has great respect for nature and as such advocates to protect our local wetlands, watersheds, natural heritage systems and agricultural land.

Portrait shot of David Brazeau

David Brazeau
Director – Elected in 2023

David is an accomplished communications professional from the private and public sectors with a proven track
record in strategic and hands-on communications, rebranding, digital media, stakeholder engagement and
media relations.

Prior to joining a provincial regulator, the Bereavement Authority of Ontario in 2020, he was an executive
team member and Director, Public Affairs, Community Relations & Telecommunications at a Toronto hospital
corporation.

David is a writer, editor and leader responsible for communications strategy and implementation including the
areas of: stakeholder and community relations; strategic planning; supporting government relations; public
presentations; web and social media strategy and content; writing and editing annual reports and e-magazines;
crisis communications and risk mitigation; plus has led a team of 23 staff including a telecommunications
department.

He has been recognized nationally and internationally as a communications professional and former daily
newspaper staff journalist with awards from The Canadian Press, Thomson News (a.k.a. Thomson Reuters
Corporation), Mercury Awards for Professional Communications, and APEX Awards. He has also been chair of
the board of directors at TransCare Community Support Services in Scarborough and the Independence Centre
And Network in Sudbury.

Nagesh Chawla
Director – Elected in 2024

Nagesh is an IT executive with 26 years of experience in the financial services sector.

He is a seasoned technologist that enables business advancement by modernizing the IT strategy and transforming technology and Cybersecurity capabilities into innovative platforms that drive capacity planning, performance improvement, Cyber-risk management, and cost control. Nagesh holds a Masters in Chemical Engineering from Dalhousie University, in addition to advanced certifications in Leadership, Negotiation and Technology.

Laura Fitzgerald
Director – Elected in 2024

Laura Fitzgerald has been a resident of Whitby since 2015. She is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience in delivering complex software solutions within the public and private sectors. Passionate about helping companies and organizations scale and modernize, she focuses on building a culture of growth and success. Her areas of expertise include software delivery, business operations, PMO, strategic planning, and client success. Laura is currently the General Manager for the Health and Human Services Solutions portfolio at Tyler Technologies. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from Queen’s University and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. In her downtime, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, going to the gym, listening to music and podcasts, and trying out new recipes.

 

Headshot of board member Lorrie Hagen

Lorrie Hagen, RD, MHSc, CHE
Director – Elected in 2021

Lorrie and her husband, Adam have raised their family (daughter, son, and dog) in Whitby and have enjoyed seeing it grow over the last 20 years. Ms. Hagen is the Executive Director of The Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre (serving all of Durham) since 2017, where she provides hands-on leadership to the clinical, administrative, and fundraising teams. She is currently co-leading their first-ever capital campaign, since doors opened in 1989, to patients living with type 1 diabetes. Her professional experiences include 20 years in acute healthcare as both a clinician (Registered Dietitian), Nursing Manager and Senior Manager for the Transplant and Medical Specialties units at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. In 2013, Lorrie completed a master’s degree in Health Administration (MHSc) from the University of Toronto, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

Lorrie has enjoyed volunteering her time with a variety of projects and places over the years but is particularly excited to be bringing her energy and unique skill mix to the CCD Board.  She is passionate about the intersection of community care and health care as it relates to the positive impact and outcomes for our people and their families.

Portrait shot of Toyin Omoniyi

Toyin Omoniyi
Director – Elected in 2023

Toyin Omoniyi is a lawyer with her focus on corporate and board governance. Driven by her passion for
excellence, she has contributed her wealth of experience in the private, government and not-for-profit sectors.
Her areas of expertise include corporate governance, strategic planning and risk management.

In addition to her primary job functions, she also volunteers with various not-for-profit and charitable
organizations. In her spare time, she loves to read and travel.

Margaret Osborne Headshot

Margaret Osborne, MBA
Director – Elected in 2022

Margaret has enjoyed living in Pickering for two decades.  Her career includes senior private and public sector management roles in marketing, operations and information technology. She is currently a college professor teaching innovation and entrepreneurship.  

Her governance experience includes roles as an appointed professional member at the College of Opticians of Ontario and as an elected director for the Canadian Internet Registration Authority.  The opportunity to contribute this experience in her own neighbourhood inspired her to become involved with Community Care Durham.  

Margaret is an avid sea kayaker who enjoys travelling for international expeditions as much as exploring Durham Region’s abundant lakes and rivers. 

Malvina Ram Headshot

Malvina Ram
Director – Elected in 2022

Malvina is a long-time resident of Pickering and a retired Banker.  She has raised her three children in the Durham Region with her late husband.  

Malvina brings extensive capabilities in handling operational management, strategic planning, people development and financial knowledge resulting with her 39 years of tenure working in banking. 

Malvina has had the opportunity of holding key positions in various non-profit and volunteer organizations and has knowledge of working with various stakeholders, organizing events and policy management. She has a deep passion for community welfare through innovative ideas.  In her downtime, Malvina enjoys cooking, gardening, crafts and serving those in need in her community. 

Portrait shot of Ron Rondinone

Rino Rondinone, MBA
Director – Elected in 2023

Rino is a long-time resident of Pickering and is a business and IT executive with 25 years of experience at the
intersection of Health, Insurance and Technology. Rino has led complex transformations, teams and senior
relationships in the areas of Health Claims Processing, Technology, Cyber Security, Sales, Strategy, Acquisitions,
Operations and Outsourcing.

Rino was mostly recently EVP of Benefits Management and Enterprise Growth at Green Shield Canada (GSC).
Previous to this role, he was the CIO at GSC and Foresters Financial where he managed all aspects of their
Technology functions. Prior to his years as a CIO, Rino spent 15 years in progressive leadership positions at CGI
where he held the role of Vice President Consulting Services.

Rino obtained his MBA from Queen’s School of Business in 2005, with a major in Finance and Accounting. Rino
enjoys playing squash, cycling and running and has coached children’s minor hockey. His family enjoys raising
seeing-eye dogs for the ‘Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind’ organization.

Headshot of Matt Snyder

Matt Snyder
Director – Elected in 2021

Matt is a resident of Newcastle along with his life partner, two children and three dogs.

He is a seasoned Health Care and Human Resources Executive, having worked with Government, Hospitals, and Community Health organizations over the past 20+ years.  He holds a Masters in Leadership from the University of Guelph, in addition to advanced certifications in Leadership and Health Care Delivery from Rotman and Harvard respectively.

In his spare time Matt enjoys coaching and playing sports, reading, and all things out-of-doors.

Headshot of Phil Trinh

Phil Trinh
Director – Elected in 2024

Phil has over fifteen years in public affairs, digital media, communications, public policy analysis, stakeholder relations and issues management. Phil is currently a Principal with Maple Leaf Strategies, an expert public affairs, government relations and public opinion research consulting firm. He also founded Far and Wide Messaging, a digital firm that assists clients across Canada.

Phil also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Bridge, a non-profit, licensed, federally incorporated adoption agency. He attended the University of Toronto and studied History and English. Phil currently resides in Whitby with his wife, Samantha, and daughter, Emma.