Karen is currently the Chief Integration, Member Business Services and Quality Officer, Mohawk Medbuy. Karen has held such roles as the Chief Executive Officer at Shared Services West, Chief Operating Officer at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Chief Operating Officer at the London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care London, the Vice President Administration for McMaster University and the Vice President of Finance and Administration for St Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton and Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga.
Karen holds a CPA / CGA designation and an MBA.
Karen values governance and the role of the Board. Having completed the Conference Board of Canada/DeGroote School of Business Directors College, she is a Chartered Director (C. Dir.), and her board experience includes CIMTEC, Trillium Gift of Life Network, Horizon Utilities, Theatre Aquarius, St. Peters Hospital, McMaster Innovation Park, Gore District Land Trust, McMaster Museum of Art, and CAA Southwestern Ontario.
Board of Directors
He began his career with LIUNA in 1984 working in construction as a labourer with Canadian Engineering. In 1989 he accepted a position with the LIUNA Local 837 Training Centre as a Training Instructor. By 1999 he was named as the Centre’s Director of Training.
In 1993 he was appointed as Executive Director of the LIUNA Group, which oversees the operations of the Liuna Gardens and the Liuna Station Banquet and Conference Facilities in Greater Hamilton, a position which he still holds today. He was instrumental in the revitalization of Hamilton’s iconic Lister Block and oversaw its renewal and transition from LiUNA to the City of Hamilton.
He was first elected to the Executive Board of the local in 1995 as Recording Secretary.
His other responsibilities within LIUNA include serving as a Director on the Boards of the Queens Garden and Regina Gardens Long-term Care Facilities; 34 West Avenue Inc. (Local 837’s real estate arm); and LIUNA Hamilton Association (LIUNA’s social housing wing).
In 2014, he was the recipient of the Festitalia Italian Heritage Award, Labour Category. He chaired the 2015 St. Joseph Healthcare Annual Gala. He is a member on the Centre of Surgical Invention and Innovation committee. He serves on the committees of the Hamilton Regional Trade Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee and the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Industry Committee.
He is a member of the Order of the Sons of Italy (Trieste Lodge) and a Member of the Hamilton Art Gallery.
Riccardo was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. He resides on Hamilton Mountain with his wife Cristina, and together they raise their four children: Eric, Analisa, Adam and Vanessa and the loveable Leo, their 2 ½ year old Bernadoodle.
Dr. Anvari is a tenured professor at McMaster University. In 2004, he was appointed to the newly created Chair in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Surgical Innovation. In 2005, he became the founding director of the McMaster Institute for Surgical Invention, Innovation and Education. He is the founding director of the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) and Scientific Director and CEO of the Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation (CSii), affiliated with McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Ontario Canada. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer-Assisted Surgery, an Adjunct Scientist with ICES and the Clinical Lead and Chair of the Ontario Bariatric Network.
His body of work has been internationally recognized and acknowledged. Time Magazine has touted the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) as “sculpting the next frontier of medicine.” Through CMAS, the first of its kind in Canada, Dr. Anvari has promoted the use of minimal access techniques in all surgical specialties and has focused on improving patient outcomes, minimizing the physical, emotional and financial impact of surgical procedures on patients and reducing hospital admissions and the associated costs. His dedication to the ongoing training and mentoring of surgeons through CMAS has resulted in creation of a series of continuing education programs that are unrivalled in scope, subject matter and participation. Under his direction, CMAS has trained over 1200 surgeons through 87 CME programs designed for surgeons from all specialties, providing them with their primary source of training in the newest techniques and applications in the use of minimal access surgery.
Dr. Anvari was one of the first surgeons in Canada to use robotics in surgery, and in 2003 he established the world’s first telerobotic surgical service linking St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and a community hospital, North Bay General. He was the Chief Scientific Officer for the NEEMO 7 mission (2004), and NEEMO 9 (2006), joint projects of McMaster, the Canadian Space Agency and NASA that were tasked with testing the ability of new robotic and telesurgical technology to allow a non-physician to perform assisted surgery in a contained environment that simulates conditions in space. He is the Past President and current board member of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians & Surgeons (CABPS) and former President of MIRA, the association representing robotic surgeons worldwide. The recipient of the 2009-2010 ORION Award for Leadership, Dr. Anvari has also been awarded the Government of Ontario Diamond Award for Innovation in Technology, the Government of Canada Gold Medal of Distinction for Telerobotic Surgery, the McMaster Innovator of the Year Award (2009), the NASA-International Space Station (ISS) Research and Development Award for Biology and Medicine (2015), the Order of Ontario (2017), and the Order of Canada (2022).
Ghada received her PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Wireless Mesh Networks in the field of Artificial Intelligence from McMaster University. She is Vice-President and Co-founder of FyeLabs (a spin-off lab from McMaster University). FyeLabs helps ambitious SMEs compete with large enterprise through ultra lean product development and problem solving services.
Karen is currently the Chief Integration, Member Business Services and Quality Officer, Mohawk Medbuy. Karen has held such roles as the Chief Executive Officer at Shared Services West, Chief Operating Officer at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Chief Operating Officer at the London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care London, the Vice President Administration for McMaster University and the Vice President of Finance and Administration for St Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton and Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga.
Karen holds a CPA / CGA designation and an MBA.
Karen values governance and the role of the Board. Having completed the Conference Board of Canada/DeGroote School of Business Directors College, she is a Chartered Director (C. Dir.), and her board experience includes CIMTEC, Trillium Gift of Life Network, Horizon Utilities, Theatre Aquarius, St. Peters Hospital, McMaster Innovation Park, Gore District Land Trust, McMaster Museum of Art, and CAA Southwestern Ontario.
He began his career with LIUNA in 1984 working in construction as a labourer with Canadian Engineering. In 1989 he accepted a position with the LIUNA Local 837 Training Centre as a Training Instructor. By 1999 he was named as the Centre’s Director of Training.
In 1993 he was appointed as Executive Director of the LIUNA Group, which oversees the operations of the Liuna Gardens and the Liuna Station Banquet and Conference Facilities in Greater Hamilton, a position which he still holds today. He was instrumental in the revitalization of Hamilton’s iconic Lister Block and oversaw its renewal and transition from LiUNA to the City of Hamilton.
He was first elected to the Executive Board of the local in 1995 as Recording Secretary.
His other responsibilities within LIUNA include serving as a Director on the Boards of the Queens Garden and Regina Gardens Long-term Care Facilities; 34 West Avenue Inc. (Local 837’s real estate arm); and LIUNA Hamilton Association (LIUNA’s social housing wing).
In 2014, he was the recipient of the Festitalia Italian Heritage Award, Labour Category. He chaired the 2015 St. Joseph Healthcare Annual Gala. He is a member on the Centre of Surgical Invention and Innovation committee. He serves on the committees of the Hamilton Regional Trade Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee and the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Industry Committee.
He is a member of the Order of the Sons of Italy (Trieste Lodge) and a Member of the Hamilton Art Gallery.
Riccardo was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. He resides on Hamilton Mountain with his wife Cristina, and together they raise their four children: Eric, Analisa, Adam and Vanessa and the loveable Leo, their 2 ½ year old Bernadoodle.
Dr. Anvari is a tenured professor at McMaster University. In 2004, he was appointed to the newly created Chair in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Surgical Innovation. In 2005, he became the founding director of the McMaster Institute for Surgical Invention, Innovation and Education. He is the founding director of the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) and Scientific Director and CEO of the Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation (CSii), affiliated with McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Ontario Canada. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer-Assisted Surgery, an Adjunct Scientist with ICES and the Clinical Lead and Chair of the Ontario Bariatric Network.
His body of work has been internationally recognized and acknowledged. Time Magazine has touted the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) as “sculpting the next frontier of medicine.” Through CMAS, the first of its kind in Canada, Dr. Anvari has promoted the use of minimal access techniques in all surgical specialties and has focused on improving patient outcomes, minimizing the physical, emotional and financial impact of surgical procedures on patients and reducing hospital admissions and the associated costs. His dedication to the ongoing training and mentoring of surgeons through CMAS has resulted in creation of a series of continuing education programs that are unrivalled in scope, subject matter and participation. Under his direction, CMAS has trained over 1200 surgeons through 87 CME programs designed for surgeons from all specialties, providing them with their primary source of training in the newest techniques and applications in the use of minimal access surgery.
Dr. Anvari was one of the first surgeons in Canada to use robotics in surgery, and in 2003 he established the world’s first telerobotic surgical service linking St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and a community hospital, North Bay General. He was the Chief Scientific Officer for the NEEMO 7 mission (2004), and NEEMO 9 (2006), joint projects of McMaster, the Canadian Space Agency and NASA that were tasked with testing the ability of new robotic and telesurgical technology to allow a non-physician to perform assisted surgery in a contained environment that simulates conditions in space. He is the Past President and current board member of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians & Surgeons (CABPS) and former President of MIRA, the association representing robotic surgeons worldwide. The recipient of the 2009-2010 ORION Award for Leadership, Dr. Anvari has also been awarded the Government of Ontario Diamond Award for Innovation in Technology, the Government of Canada Gold Medal of Distinction for Telerobotic Surgery, the McMaster Innovator of the Year Award (2009), the NASA-International Space Station (ISS) Research and Development Award for Biology and Medicine (2015), the Order of Ontario (2017), and the Order of Canada (2022).
Ghada received her PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Wireless Mesh Networks in the field of Artificial Intelligence from McMaster University. She is Vice-President and Co-founder of FyeLabs (a spin-off lab from McMaster University). FyeLabs helps ambitious SMEs compete with large enterprise through ultra lean product development and problem solving services.
Terry Finley is a CPA with over 43 years’ experience in the National and International Medical Device Industry. Terry worked five years with Wright Medical as the VP Canada and Europe, followed by 17 years with Medtronic in the Restorative Therapies Group (RTG) as Director and subsequently Sr Director. Terry is now retired and is the Owner of a Canadian Medical Device Industry Consulting Business. As well as serving as Chairman of the Board for CSII Terry also serves on the Board of Directors at Cutten Fields Golf and Recreation Club.
Mike Hamilton is a senior executive and board member with over 30 years’ experience in health care and medical technology, gained through progressively senior commercial and executive roles in Canada and Internationally. He is currently President and CEO of GE HealthCare Canada, a position he has held since September 2022. In this role, Mike is accountable for defining the vision for the Canadian region and executing the commercial strategy for the full portfolio of Imaging, Ultrasound, Patient Care Solutions and Digital Solutions offerings. Prior to his role at GE HealthCare, Mike held several executive-level positions with industry leading medical technology and healthcare companies including Hillrom and Baxter International.
Mike is also a member of the C.D. Howe Institute’s Health Policy Council as well as the Canadian College of Health Leaders’ Corporate Advisory Council. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Hamilton Health Sciences and also sits on the Board of Ring Rescue Inc., a Halifax-based med tech start-up.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Western University, as well as an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.
Paul Milne's educational background includes a BA and MBA from the University of Toronto, a LLB from Osgoode Law School and a Certificate in Family Business advising from the Family Firm Institute, an international organization of family business advisors. Paul's continuing education includes the Business Families Foundation Course in Montreal and succession planning programs at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA in Los Angeles and the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia.
Areas of practice include:
Acting as counsel to owners of private businesses with emphasis on corporate organizational planning from a legal perspective, corporate transactions and implementation of transition plans for businesses. This also includes working with other professionals in an interdisciplinary manner facilitating transition planning, values clarification, family retreats and design and development of governance systems such as advisory boards and boards of directors; and Estate planning and incapacity planning for owners of private businesses, their families and other individuals.
Paul is a Fellow of the Family Firm Institute, has been a member of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise and of the Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises, an international organization of lawyers for family business. Paul is also a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He has also served as a member of the Consulting Services Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, has lectured to lawyers with the Law Society of Upper Canada, has lectured in the Society's Bar Admission Program, has been an editor of the Estates Trusts and Pensions Journal, a national publication in Canada and as well has served on numerous public boards. Paul's publications include "The Family Business History"; "A Catalyst to a Successful Succession Plan" co-authored with Phyllis M. Cowan which was published in the Estates Trusts and Pensions Journal in Canada and The CPA Consultant which is the journal of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Paul also speaks regularly on transition planning to business organizations.
Paul has served on the Board of Directors of numerous community organizations including the Boards of Directors of The Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, the Canadian Centre for Studies of Children at Risk at McMaster University and the Idlewyld Home for Aged in Hamilton.
Terry Finley is a CPA with over 43 years’ experience in the National and International Medical Device Industry. Terry worked five years with Wright Medical as the VP Canada and Europe, followed by 17 years with Medtronic in the Restorative Therapies Group (RTG) as Director and subsequently Sr Director. Terry is now retired and is the Owner of a Canadian Medical Device Industry Consulting Business. As well as serving as Chairman of the Board for CSII Terry also serves on the Board of Directors at Cutten Fields Golf and Recreation Club.
Mike Hamilton is a senior executive and board member with over 30 years’ experience in health care and medical technology, gained through progressively senior commercial and executive roles in Canada and Internationally. He is currently President and CEO of GE HealthCare Canada, a position he has held since September 2022. In this role, Mike is accountable for defining the vision for the Canadian region and executing the commercial strategy for the full portfolio of Imaging, Ultrasound, Patient Care Solutions and Digital Solutions offerings. Prior to his role at GE HealthCare, Mike held several executive-level positions with industry leading medical technology and healthcare companies including Hillrom and Baxter International.
Mike is also a member of the C.D. Howe Institute’s Health Policy Council as well as the Canadian College of Health Leaders’ Corporate Advisory Council. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Hamilton Health Sciences and also sits on the Board of Ring Rescue Inc., a Halifax-based med tech start-up.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Western University, as well as an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.
Paul Milne's educational background includes a BA and MBA from the University of Toronto, a LLB from Osgoode Law School and a Certificate in Family Business advising from the Family Firm Institute, an international organization of family business advisors. Paul's continuing education includes the Business Families Foundation Course in Montreal and succession planning programs at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA in Los Angeles and the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia.
Areas of practice include:
Acting as counsel to owners of private businesses with emphasis on corporate organizational planning from a legal perspective, corporate transactions and implementation of transition plans for businesses. This also includes working with other professionals in an interdisciplinary manner facilitating transition planning, values clarification, family retreats and design and development of governance systems such as advisory boards and boards of directors; and Estate planning and incapacity planning for owners of private businesses, their families and other individuals.
Paul is a Fellow of the Family Firm Institute, has been a member of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise and of the Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises, an international organization of lawyers for family business. Paul is also a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He has also served as a member of the Consulting Services Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, has lectured to lawyers with the Law Society of Upper Canada, has lectured in the Society's Bar Admission Program, has been an editor of the Estates Trusts and Pensions Journal, a national publication in Canada and as well has served on numerous public boards. Paul's publications include "The Family Business History"; "A Catalyst to a Successful Succession Plan" co-authored with Phyllis M. Cowan which was published in the Estates Trusts and Pensions Journal in Canada and The CPA Consultant which is the journal of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Paul also speaks regularly on transition planning to business organizations.
Paul has served on the Board of Directors of numerous community organizations including the Boards of Directors of The Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, the Canadian Centre for Studies of Children at Risk at McMaster University and the Idlewyld Home for Aged in Hamilton.
Founder and CEO of Proprietary Nutritionals Inc. which was sold to Pharmachem Laboratories who subsequently sold to Ashland Chemicals. Over the years have been involved in various other Companies as an investor and/or Board Member.
Interested in pursuing opportunities utilizing my experience as an Entrepreneur with strong Strategic Planning skills. Ideally, mentoring and connecting businesses/entrepreneurs who have developed exciting new products/technologies that are disruptive to their industry. Key focus on execution of product launch and distribution strategy utilizing my extensive network and experience as well as assistance in obtaining financing through various channels (Angel, Venture, Pension Funds, Alternative non dilutive and traditional).
Ratan Ralliaram is a Partner at Deloitte LLP, Toronto, with over 20 years of experience providing assurance and advisory services to public entities and other regulated organizations in the financial services sector. His clients include domestic and international financial institutions. He has also been involved with securities offerings, due diligence reviews and internal control certifications with formal reporting to regulators, securities commissions, audit committees and boards of directors.
Mr. Ralliaram is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of Cancer Care Ontario and Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and has served as the past Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee. Mr. Ralliaram is a CPA, CA with the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and an FCA with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Dr. Reid is a general and trauma surgeon whose primary clinical interest is the management and surgical treatment of breast cancer. Her research efforts have been focused mainly in the area of surgical education, with an emphasis on studying the many factors influencing undergraduate medical student interest in surgical training. Dr Reid was named a 2012-2013 Ethicon Endo-Surgery Surgical Education Research Fellow by the Association for Surgical Education.
She received her MD (1987) and completed her General Surgery Residency training at McMaster University (1992), followed by a Postgraduate Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at McMaster (1993). Currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Dr. Reid holds the John A. Bauer Chair in Surgery and was the first female to be appointed Chair of an academic department in Canada. Prior to assuming that position, Dr. Reid served as the Department's Associate Chair, Education, a role that encompassed her myriad responsibilities as Department Education Coordinator and Director of Postgraduate Surgical Training Programs. Dr. Reid has been extensively involved in Education at the undergraduate, postgraduate, faculty and community levels as an invited speaker, instructor, advisor/mentor and a clinical and research supervisor. It was under her tutelage that a number of educational initiatives came to fruition within the Department of Surgery, including the Surgeon Scientist and Women in Surgery Programs, the International Surgery Desk and MacSERG (McMaster Surgical Education Research Group).
Dr. Reid has been rewarded for her wide-ranging contributions to teaching at McMaster with recognition as the Best Contributor to Resident Education, General Surgery Residency Program (2009) and Mentor of the Year, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (2007); she was also nominated for the PAIRO Teaching Award on two occasions. Dr. Reid previously served as President of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) and has acted as an Examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professionals Educated Abroad (CEHPEA). In addition, she has served as a grant and journal reviewer and as an expert reviewer for the CAGS Program for Evidence-Based Reviews in Surgery.
Dr. Leyla Soleymani holds a Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices, and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University. She received her M.Sc. from the University of Southern California, and her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. To address the world’s problems in healthcare, Leyla’s research combines innovations in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, and biochemistry. She is currently developing rapid diagnostic and antimicrobial platforms for improving the management of diseases and quality of healthcare. Leyla is the co-founder of startup company FendX Technologies, Inc.
In her role as Associate Vice-President, Research (Commercialization & Entrepreneurship), Leyla supports McMaster’s research community in initiatives that increase the impact and value of their research, by advancing economic development locally, nationally and internationally.
Founder and CEO of Proprietary Nutritionals Inc. which was sold to Pharmachem Laboratories who subsequently sold to Ashland Chemicals. Over the years have been involved in various other Companies as an investor and/or Board Member.
Interested in pursuing opportunities utilizing my experience as an Entrepreneur with strong Strategic Planning skills. Ideally, mentoring and connecting businesses/entrepreneurs who have developed exciting new products/technologies that are disruptive to their industry. Key focus on execution of product launch and distribution strategy utilizing my extensive network and experience as well as assistance in obtaining financing through various channels (Angel, Venture, Pension Funds, Alternative non dilutive and traditional).
Ratan Ralliaram is a Partner at Deloitte LLP, Toronto, with over 20 years of experience providing assurance and advisory services to public entities and other regulated organizations in the financial services sector. His clients include domestic and international financial institutions. He has also been involved with securities offerings, due diligence reviews and internal control certifications with formal reporting to regulators, securities commissions, audit committees and boards of directors.
Mr. Ralliaram is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of Cancer Care Ontario and Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and has served as the past Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee. Mr. Ralliaram is a CPA, CA with the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and an FCA with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Dr. Reid is a general and trauma surgeon whose primary clinical interest is the management and surgical treatment of breast cancer. Her research efforts have been focused mainly in the area of surgical education, with an emphasis on studying the many factors influencing undergraduate medical student interest in surgical training. Dr Reid was named a 2012-2013 Ethicon Endo-Surgery Surgical Education Research Fellow by the Association for Surgical Education.
She received her MD (1987) and completed her General Surgery Residency training at McMaster University (1992), followed by a Postgraduate Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at McMaster (1993). Currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Dr. Reid holds the John A. Bauer Chair in Surgery and was the first female to be appointed Chair of an academic department in Canada. Prior to assuming that position, Dr. Reid served as the Department's Associate Chair, Education, a role that encompassed her myriad responsibilities as Department Education Coordinator and Director of Postgraduate Surgical Training Programs. Dr. Reid has been extensively involved in Education at the undergraduate, postgraduate, faculty and community levels as an invited speaker, instructor, advisor/mentor and a clinical and research supervisor. It was under her tutelage that a number of educational initiatives came to fruition within the Department of Surgery, including the Surgeon Scientist and Women in Surgery Programs, the International Surgery Desk and MacSERG (McMaster Surgical Education Research Group).
Dr. Reid has been rewarded for her wide-ranging contributions to teaching at McMaster with recognition as the Best Contributor to Resident Education, General Surgery Residency Program (2009) and Mentor of the Year, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (2007); she was also nominated for the PAIRO Teaching Award on two occasions. Dr. Reid previously served as President of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) and has acted as an Examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professionals Educated Abroad (CEHPEA). In addition, she has served as a grant and journal reviewer and as an expert reviewer for the CAGS Program for Evidence-Based Reviews in Surgery.
Dr. Leyla Soleymani holds a Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices, and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University. She received her M.Sc. from the University of Southern California, and her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. To address the world’s problems in healthcare, Leyla’s research combines innovations in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, and biochemistry. She is currently developing rapid diagnostic and antimicrobial platforms for improving the management of diseases and quality of healthcare. Leyla is the co-founder of startup company FendX Technologies, Inc.
In her role as Associate Vice-President, Research (Commercialization & Entrepreneurship), Leyla supports McMaster’s research community in initiatives that increase the impact and value of their research, by advancing economic development locally, nationally and internationally.
Dr. Lehana Thabane is the Vice President, Research at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and the Scientific Director of The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton.
Dr. Thabane is a highly respected academic leader and researcher with more than 20 years of health care experience. He is a pioneer in health research and clinical trials methodology as well as a celebrated academic mentor and advocate of evidence-based medicine in Canada and around the world.
Dr. Thabane is a professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) at McMaster University. He also holds numerous other positions related to evidence-based medicine and clinical trials methodology and has received many awards in these areas recognizing his ongoing contributions to health research.
Mr. Walzak has a degree in Economics from the University of Windsor (1969) (formerly Assumption University) and has accumulated over thirty-five years experience in Private Client Wealth Management with RBC Dominion Securities in London Ontario, Hamilton and Toronto.
While in Toronto for fourteen years, Mr. Walzak held a key role as a Director of RBC Dominion Securities, and became the architect and founding Managing Director of the firm's Latin American and Caribbean Group, managing assets for off-shore clients from offices in Toronto and Miami.
Mr. Walzak returned to Hamilton eleven years ago and became the Branch Manager of RBC Dominion Securities, a position he held until 2001. He then formed a partnership with his daughter, Victoria Watson (MBA, McMaster) to establish a Private Client Wealth Management Practice, with assets in excess of $200 million.
He currently sits on the Board of Governors for the Good Shepherd Centre's in Hamilton, as well as the Investment Committee for the Hamilton Community Foundation.
Mr. Walzak was the Foundation Board Chair for the Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton and Investment Chair for the United Way of Hamilton/Burlington. He further held a position on the Board of Trustees for Hillfield Strathallan College and Board of Governors for Art Gallery of Hamilton.
Dr. Lehana Thabane is the Vice President, Research at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and the Scientific Director of The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton.
Dr. Thabane is a highly respected academic leader and researcher with more than 20 years of health care experience. He is a pioneer in health research and clinical trials methodology as well as a celebrated academic mentor and advocate of evidence-based medicine in Canada and around the world.
Dr. Thabane is a professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) at McMaster University. He also holds numerous other positions related to evidence-based medicine and clinical trials methodology and has received many awards in these areas recognizing his ongoing contributions to health research.
Mr. Walzak has a degree in Economics from the University of Windsor (1969) (formerly Assumption University) and has accumulated over thirty-five years experience in Private Client Wealth Management with RBC Dominion Securities in London Ontario, Hamilton and Toronto.
While in Toronto for fourteen years, Mr. Walzak held a key role as a Director of RBC Dominion Securities, and became the architect and founding Managing Director of the firm's Latin American and Caribbean Group, managing assets for off-shore clients from offices in Toronto and Miami.
Mr. Walzak returned to Hamilton eleven years ago and became the Branch Manager of RBC Dominion Securities, a position he held until 2001. He then formed a partnership with his daughter, Victoria Watson (MBA, McMaster) to establish a Private Client Wealth Management Practice, with assets in excess of $200 million.
He currently sits on the Board of Governors for the Good Shepherd Centre's in Hamilton, as well as the Investment Committee for the Hamilton Community Foundation.
Mr. Walzak was the Foundation Board Chair for the Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton and Investment Chair for the United Way of Hamilton/Burlington. He further held a position on the Board of Trustees for Hillfield Strathallan College and Board of Governors for Art Gallery of Hamilton.