2021-2022 Board of Governors’ biographies

Kristi Honey, chair of the Board is the Chief Administrative Officer for the Township of Uxbridge, a leading northern municipality in the Region of Durham.

Kristi has over 20 years’ executive leadership in both the private and public sector, including starting a global consultancy that grew to a multi-million dollar enterprise, recognized by Microsoft as a top 5% global partner. Kristi is a graduate of Durham College and was recognized as an Alumnus of Distinction. She also holds a Bachelor of Management and Masters of Business Administration degree.

Kristi is an active volunteer within the community supporting causes that promote human rights and environmentalism. She was recognized for her efforts by Women of Influence in their Global Series as one of Canada's leading women driving equality, diversity, and inclusion nationally and internationally.

Lisa Allen is the Vice-President, Risk and Internal Controls at Real Matters Inc.

Lisa is a senior enterprise risk professional with over 20 years of experience assisting organizations with governance risk and internal control across multiple industries. Lisa joined Real Matters in June 2016 and worked with the senior leadership team through the IPO and established the organization’s risk and internal control functions. Prior to joining Real Matters, she was a Partner in Deloitte’s enterprise risk practice and served over 18 years in professional services. Lisa is the past President of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) in Toronto. She most recently served on the board of Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre for Women and Children where between 2007 and 2019 she held several roles including President, Treasurer and Chair of the Audit Committee. Lisa is a Chartered Professional Accountant and obtained a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Brock University.

Suzanne Beale was the Commissioner of Public Works at the Town of Whitby until her retirement in April 2021 where she was responsible for the overall direction and leadership of a diverse labour force and Department comprising of various disciplines including asset management, civil engineering approvals, design and construction, traffic operations and transportation planning, parking management, stormwater design and maintenance, fleet repair and management, roads maintenance, forestry, horticulture, parks maintenance, and waste and landfill management.

Suzanne graduated from McMaster University with a degree in civil engineering and business management, and is a professional engineer with over 30 years of experience in both the private consulting and public sector fields. Suzanne has lived in Durham Region since 1991 and is a strong advocate for the community. In her spare time, Suzanne enjoys sailing, tennis and golf and she has travelled to Europe on cycling trips.

Elizabeth Cowie is the Head, Adjudicative Tribunals and former Vice-President and General Counsel with CPA Ontario, the regulatory body for 93,000 chartered professional accountants in Ontario.

She has a BA and LLB from Queen's University, and an LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, and has been a member of the Law Society of Ontario since 1984. Over her career, she has been an Assistant Crown Attorney based in York Region, a prosecutor and educator with the Law Society, head of legal services with York Regional Police, and general counsel at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

As Vice-President and General Counsel she was an integral part of conceiving, negotiating, and implementing the unification of the accounting professions in Ontario. During her legal career she has developed specific expertise in governance of not for profit organizations, professional regulation, administrative and corporate law (including privacy, contracts, employment, litigation, intellectual property, risk management, and board advice), change management, and regulatory compliance. A resident of Uxbridge, Elizabeth is active in the community. She has taken on both leadership and front line positions with a number of community organizations, including the Uxbridge Skating and Soccer Clubs, the Uxbridge Chamber Choir, Theatre Aurora, and the York Regional Police Pipe Band, and is a church music director and musician.

Kelly Doyle is the elected administrative staff member on the Board of Governors.

Kelly began her career with Durham College in 1998 and over the past 20 years feels fortunate to have had a number of rewarding roles at DC. Her Human Resources experience has included benefits and compensation, job evaluation, recruitment and selection, health and safety, employee orientation, professional development, employee wellness and employee engagement. At the regional and provincial level, Kelly has been an active member of numerous college and community committees and is often asked to facilitate at conferences. Kelly’s passion for facilitation and building strong teams shows each time she is working with DC employees or community partners. Her facilitation experience spans from strategic planning to goal setting, emotional intelligence and personality assessments such as DiSC, Strengths and Personality Dimensions, all of which she is certified to deliver. Kelly is the Director, Organizational Effectiveness at Durham College and feels very proud to represent her colleagues as the Administrative Staff Governor.

Gail Johnson Morris is the President and CEO of LeaderLink, a boutique strategy consultancy that supports boards and executive teams to build strategic capacity.

Dr. Gail enjoys teaching in the Faculty of Business MBA program at Athabasca University. She taught many proud Durham College grads at Trent University’s School of Business. Known as a transformational change agent, Dr. Johnson Morris held c-suite and corporate director roles at global financial services and health-science companies during her successful 30-year corporate career. Dr. Gail advocates for practical, applied education, and life-long learning. She holds a BA (York), MBA (Royal Roads), and a DBA (Walden University). A published author and award-winning thought-leader, Dr. Johnson Morris serves as an independent corporate board member. Dr. Gail, her husband Frank Morris and their rescue puppy Moxie, enjoy living, working, and trail walking in Durham Region.

Kenneth Michalko is a consultant in the Pharmaceutical Research and Development industry who brings years of experience in identifying and advancing new prescription product opportunities in the context of budget, timelines and technical/scientific deliverables for Health Canada Submissions. Over his career, projects focused on small molecules as active ingredients for both generic and innovative drug products. He graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Toronto. Further studies included courses in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Pharmacoeconomics.

Apart from the development of new pharmaceutical products for Canada, past positions included: General Manager, CRO, Biovail Corporation; Chief, Biopharmaceutics Evaluation Division & Acting Chief, GI-Hematology-Dermatology Division, Health Canada; and, Director Pharmaceutical Services at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and the Ottawa General Hospital.

Living in Durham Region, Kenneth has given back through volunteering and fundraising. He is currently a Governor on the Board for Durham College. Past positions include: Board Member for The Durham Family Court Clinic (2 years), Examiner for the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (10 years), and Member, Program Advisory Committee (Food & Pharmaceutical Sciences) for Durham College (2 years).

Ian Murray is the Vice-President Internal Audit at Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, where he is responsible for directing the Company's Internal Audit function in an efficient and process-driven manner, ensuring timely completion of audit and consulting engagements required to support the CEO/CFO certification process as well as operational and regulatory requirements. Prior to this, Ian had several years of experience across various industries, including four years at MCAP as Chief Audit Officer and ten years at Rogers Communications as Senior Director, Internal Audit. He has also held senior Internal Audit and Enterprise risk roles at CIBC Mellon, Meridian Credit Union, and Canadian Pacific Railway.

Ian is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner and is a graduate from Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology with a diploma in Accounting and Financial Management. Ian lives in Whitby and is married with two children.

Kunal Nagapal is the elected student governor on the Durham College Board of Governors.

Kunal Nagpal started at Durham College in 2020 as a student in the Human Resources- Business program.

Kunal has experience in business leadership and people management for over 4 years. Throughout his professional career of 7 years, he worked with mobility, online travel companies and business outsourcing firms in lower management roles where client handling, team leading and portfolio management were few major responsibilities among all. Most of his career was based with foreign corporations; however, he is associated with Walmart Canada in a customer service and fulfillment role.

Kunal holds a diploma in electronics and communication engineering back in 2013. Apart from his professional career, Kunal has an interest in data analysis and non-comprehensive writing.

Jerry Ouellette is the Chief Executive Officer of Chaga Health and Wellness Inc.

Jerry previously worked for Perma-fix, an international radioactive material disposal company and he is Oshawa’s longest-serving MPP, serving from 1995 to 2014. As MPP, Jerry held numerous portfolios including Minister Natural Resources, Junior Minister Northern Development and Mines, Junior Minister Transportation, Chair Justice Committee, Chair General Government, Vice-Chair Public Accounts, Critic Native Affairs, and Critic Natural Resources. Jerry is an alumnus of Durham College, graduating from the Business Administration program. Jerry is also an active community volunteer who was involved in the international Junior A men’s hockey championships.

Jennifer Powell is the elected support staff member on the Durham College Board of Governors.

Jennifer has been employed at Durham College (DC) for over 11 years and is currently the Outreach Coordinator in the office of Career Development. In her role, she coordinates events, marketing, communications, and public relations for the department. Previously, Jennifer has held positions in Communications and Marketing, the Office of the Registrar, and the School of Health and Community Services. Prior to joining the college, Jennifer worked at a national not-for-profit representing the interests of both grocery retailers and foodservice distributors across Canada and held both event planning and public policy roles. Jennifer holds a diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming as well as certificates obtained through Ontario Tech and Ryerson University.

Gary Rose, vice-chair of the Board is an executive at Ontario Power Generation (OPG) with over 30 years of experience in Finance and Nuclear Project Management. He is currently the Vice President of the New Nuclear Growth team at OPG and works nationally and internationally supporting Nuclear as a part of the solution to achieve Net Zero climate goals by 2050.

Gary is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and has a Project Management Professional designation.

Gary has fifteen years of Board experience as a trustee on the Whitby Public Library Board and the Durham College Board of Governors. Gary has completed the Directors Education Program and holds an Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) Designation.

Gary lives in Whitby with his wife and three teenage boys, and he enjoys spending time with family and taking in all that Durham Region has to offer.

Dwight Townsend is a consultative leader with a successful track record in managing health care strategies, and stakeholder engagements across primary, community and regulatory health care sectors.

Directing one of Ontario’s First Provincial Health Strategy, Dwight served as Deputy Registrar at the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario, and has worked in senior management Toronto’s teaching hospitals.

With over 20 years of health sector, Dwight is the Principal Director of Gomedics Health, a medical transport and health services company that is currently engaged COVID-19 business solutions across the province.

Dwight is Founder and Chair of The Health Research Council for People of African Descent in recognition of the Decade for People of African descent.

He holds a Bachelors of Health Studies degree from York University; Masters of Leadership & Interdisciplinary Studies, Royal Roads University; and is currently completing a Maters of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Dwight’s scholarship focuses on health and Afrocentric education. He consults on Board governance, curriculum development, and education engagement as it pertains to racialization, diversity and inclusion. A husband and father, he provides education mentorship to at-risk youth, and enjoys bringing external industry and sector-specific opportunities into the academic space.

Nathan Wilson is the elected academic governor on the Durham College Board of Governors.

Since 2013, Nathan has taught communications, general education, and preparatory subjects with the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Durham College. He has also held additional roles at the college including Academic Council Co-Chair, College Council member, and program coordinator, among others.

Outside of the college, Nathan sits on the Board of Directors for Learning Essentials of Durham Region -- a non-profit volunteer organization that works to increase adult literacy in Durham Region. He also previously sat on the Board of the College Association of Language and Literacy. In these roles, he has provided governance, reviewed finances, facilitated communication, and overseen quality assurance processes.

Nathan holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University and a Master of Arts from Dalhousie University. He is also a published writer, having contributed stories, articles, and poems to various North American journals and in 2015 he co-edited a collection of essays about Kristallnacht that was published by Routledge.

Don Lovisa, BA, MIM President, Durham College

Don Lovisa is President of Durham College, a position he has held for the past twelve years of his more than 30-year career in post-secondary education.

He is a strong advocate for the college system and changing lives through learning, in and out of the classroom. He believes that DC is successful because of its dedication to students, employees, and its strong community connections.

In this position, Don leads a talented group of more than 2,400 full and part-time employees dedicated to Leading the Way in the delivery of transformative, experiential education. Durham College has thrived under Lovisa’s leadership, growing to more than 13,500 full-time, post-secondary, and apprenticeship students and over 30,000 students in total.

Lovisa is considered a leader within the college system and the broader provincial and national community. He is currently a Director on the Board of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), past Chair of Colleges Ontario (CO), and is a member of the Education Committee of the Black North Initiative (BNI).

Lovisa takes great pride in Durham College being a GTA Top Employer for 10 years in a row and one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 5 years.

His track record of success was recognized when he received the Business Person of the Year Award in 2017 from the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce and the Business Achievement Award in 2011 from the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, among other awards.

Lovisa has a Master’s degree in International Management, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, a diploma in Adult Education and has completed the course work for a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership.

Members of the 2021-2022 Board of Governors are: