2023-2024 Board of Governors’ biographies

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

Known as a transformational change agent, Gail held c-suite and corporate director roles at global financial services and health-science companies during her successful 30-year corporate career. Gail holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University, a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University, and a Doctor of Business Administration from Walden University. She is a published author and award-winning thought leader who is an independent corporate board member.

She advocates for practical, applied education and lifelong learning and brings that passion to her teaching. Gail is an instructor in the Master of Business Administration program at Athabasca University and has taught many proud Durham College alumni at Trent University's School of Business.

Gail, her husband Frank Morris, and their rescue puppy Moxie enjoy living, working, and trail walking in Durham Region.

Lisa Allen is an Independent Board Director and accomplished professional with over 25 years of experience in finance, governance, risk management, internal control, and data analytics. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Risk and Internal Control at Real Matters Inc., where she worked with the senior leadership team through an IPO and established the organization's risk and internal control functions. Prior to that, she was a Partner in Deloitte's enterprise risk practice, providing audit, risk, internal control, and data analytics services to clients across multiple industries.

Lisa has also served as the Chair of the Board for Luke’s Place Support and Resource Center and has held the position of President of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Toronto Chapter. As a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Bachelor of Accounting from Brock University, she is committed to enhancing her strategic leadership skills and expanding her network through the Institute of Corporate Directors' Directors Education Program, furthering her effectiveness in board roles.

Melissa Bosomworth is the elected support staff member on the Board of Governors.

With her experience working in the fast-paced, ever-changing public sector, Melissa joined Durham College after working 14 years in health and mental health care settings. Since joining Durham College, she earned a Master of Arts in education with a focus on community colleges. Additionally, she earned an International Coaching Federation designation to help her further support student success. Melissa has been instrumental on several committees, including the Student Code of Conduct, Social Justice and Strategic Planning. Further, she has co-chaired a committee that included colleges from across Canada. As an advocate for well-being, Melissa enjoys outdoor activities, including cycling, hiking, and homesteading.

Jim Brown is the Vice President of Construction Services at Ontario Power Generation (OPG).

Under his portfolio at OPG he is responsible for the Construction Management arm supporting all of OPG Enterprise Projects. He is responsible for developing strategies to lead OPG’s Climate Change Plan with construction growth plans for the next 20 years - Nuclear Refurbishment, Small Modular Reactors, and New Hydroelectric through establishing a pipeline of new talent related to Construction Management, Engineering and Construction Building Trades.

Jim has a strong relationship with the Building Trades Unions. Of particular importance we work with external stakeholders like Electrical Power Systems Construction Association (EPSCA) and the Provincial Building and Construction Trades.

In 2022, Jim joined Durham College as a Program Advisory Committee member in programs related to construction, engineering and architecture contributing to shape programs and students that will support the Ontario's electrification and climate change strategies.

Jim is a Structural Engineer who has been in the Design, Construction and Maintenance industry over 20 years working in civil structural design, non-destructive testing and reactor maintenance.

Kalyan Chakravarthy is the Chief Information Officer for the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).

As Chief Information Officer, KC is responsible for establishing and implementing a long-term technology strategy for the ESA. KC has over 22 years of experience in private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Before joining the ESA, he previously worked with the Region of Durham, General Electric, IBM, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

KC currently serves as a board member at Grandview Kids and other start-ups. He graduated with his MBA from Smith School of Business and did a certificate course in Artificial Intelligence from MIT.

Elizabeth Cowie is the Head, Adjudicative Tribunals and former Vice-President and General Counsel with CPA Ontario, the regulatory body for 99,000 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 the 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 leadership and front line positions with several 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.

Jeff Dornan is an accomplished entrepreneur and innovator in the craft beverage industry, with extensive experience in craft brewing.

Together with his business partner Eric Dornan, they have built a boutique group of companies in the sector over the past nine years, through a combination of self-creation and acquisition. Their companies are dedicated to aggressive growth and innovation in the craft alcohol space.

Jeff's contributions to the industry include serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Ontario Craft Brewers Association. The association represents the craft brewing industry in Ontario and has been instrumental in promoting the industry and its contributions to the Ontario economy. Through his role as Chair, Jeff has been able to make a significant impact in advancing the interests of craft brewers across the province.

In addition to his work with the Ontario Craft Brewers Association, Jeff is also the Co-Founder of All or Nothing Brewhouse, based in Oshawa, Ontario. He has been with the company since its inception in 2014 and has played a key role in driving its success.

Jeff's education includes a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ontario Tech and a business diploma from Durham College.

Kelly Doyle is the elected administrative staff member on the Board of Governors, and she is the Director, Organizational Effectiveness at Durham College.

Kelly began her career with Durham College in 1998 and feels fortunate to have had several rewarding roles at DC over the past 20 years. 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.

John Ecker of Whitby is a communications, marketing, branding and fundraising executive. Most recently, served as the Director, Family of Faith & Special Projects at Archdiocese of Toronto where he currently led Indigenous healing and reconciliation activities. In 2022 he was the Program and Production Lead for Pope Francis’ visit to Iqaluit, Nunavut. He also oversaw brand development and marketing for the archdiocese’s Family of Faith Campaign. Previously, he served as Vice President at Indspire (the former National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation) and held director-level positions at the Ontario Trillium Foundation, ECHO: Improving Women’s Health in Ontario, and the Toronto Board of Trade.

He also serves as Chair of the Ontario Heritage Trust, the province’s heritage agency that preserves, protects and promotes Ontario’s built, natural and cultural heritage. He is Chair of Ontario's June Callwood Awards for voluntarism. He is an ex-officio Board member of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund. Ecker previously served on the Board of Credit Canada and was chair of the Whitby Public Library Board, the Waterview Child Care Centre the Lynde Marsh Alliance, and Heritage Whitby (LACAC). Internationally, he established Bimini Bound, which sent over 10,000 books and learning resources to schools on the island of Bimini, Bahamas.

He received his Photography Diploma from Fanshawe College in London and his BA in Political Sciences from the University of Waterloo.

Ian Murray is the Vice-President Internal Audit at Great Canadian Entertainment.

At Great Canadian Entertainment, Ian 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.

Previously, 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 of 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.

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 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. He was also the former executive director for the CSSDA and former executive director for CSAAA.

Jerry is also an active community volunteer who chaired the world Junior A men's hockey championships when it took place in Ontario, and he has been involved with missionary work in Kenya, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Cuba.

Additionally, Jerry is an accomplished International Dart Competitor and his accomplishments include receiving two Governor General awards, three exemplary awards of distinction from The Queen. Jerry re-introduced self sustaining wild elk in Ontario and he was responsible for developing Ontario’s Classroom fish hatchery program and the establishment of the sex offender’s registry.

Peter Pryce is the Senior Operations Manager of Lakeside Performance Gas Services.

Peter was raised in the Toronto area and relocated to the Durham Region in the early nineties, where he raised two sons with his wife, Sheryl.

Peter's career in the pipe trades led him to his current position as Senior Operations Manager for a large natural gas utility contractor. In this role, he is heavily involved in planning and executing large natural gas projects throughout Ontario. Peter prides himself on having a thorough knowledge of the industry and the codes and procedures that govern it. With a background in training, Peter enjoys working with new and younger workers coming into the trade whenever he gets the opportunity.

Peter now resides with his wife in the Ashburn area of Whitby, where they enjoy taking care of their home and gardens and travelling to warmer climates when they can.

Dwight Townsend is the Principal Director of Gomedics Health, a medical transport and health services company.

Dwight 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 in Toronto's teaching hospitals.

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. Dwight is also the 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 Bachelor of Health Studies degree from York University; Masters of Leadership & Interdisciplinary Studies, Royal Roads University; and is currently completing a Masters of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School.

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.

Nathan is a full-time Durham College professor with the Faculty of Liberal Studies. Since 2013, he has taught communications, general education, and preparatory subjects. He previously served as Co-Chair of Academic Council and was a member of College Council; he is the current Program Coordinator for General Arts and Science.

Outside of the college, he previously sat on the Boards for Learning Essentials of Durham Region – a non-profit volunteer organization that works to increase adult literacy in the Durham Region – and the College Association of Language and Literacy. In those roles, he provided governance, reviewed finances, facilitated communication, and oversaw quality assurance processes.

Nathan holds a Carleton University Bachelor of Journalism degree and a Dalhousie University Master of Arts. He is 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 Routledge published.

Dr. Elaine Popp is an impactful, proven and strategic post-secondary leader. With 25 years of successful and progressive post-secondary sector experience, she started her role as President of Durham College (DC) in March 2024.

Prior to serving as President, Dr. Popp led DC’s core business of teaching and learning as Executive Vice President, Academic, for more than eight years. During this time, she skillfully demonstrated her passion for student success and her rare ability to leverage higher education's emergent trends to create relevant programs meeting student needs and anticipating industry expectations.

Leading DC's high-performing teams, Dr. Popp spearheaded the launch of several successful strategic frameworks, including the Academic Plan, Enrolment Management Plan, Internationalization and Global Engagement Plan and the five-year New Program Development Plan, emphasizing how she leverages the importance of systems thinking, effective planning and thoughtful resource management.

Under Dr. Popp’s strategic leadership, with her teams, she has launched over 50 academic programs, including six degrees, to reflect our changing world, introduced new work-integrated learning opportunities, established five applied research centres supporting DC’s recognition as one of Canada’s Top Research Colleges and thoughtfully and intentionally focused on strategic enrolment management.

As a testament to her in-demand leadership and deep roots in the college sector, Dr. Popp served as Vice-Chair of the Coordinating Committee of Vice-Presidents, Academic (CCVPA), member of the executive committees for CCVPA and the Coordinating Committee of Vice-Presidents, International (CCVPI) and the College of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT) Coordinating Committee. She is currently a member of the Chair Academy Advisory Board. Dr. Popp has also contributed provincially by serving on the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association, Ontario Colleges Library Services, Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer, and the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service Boards for the maximum terms.

A proven lifelong learner and distinguished academic, Dr. Popp holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Science, Honours Biology and Kinesiology from York University.

MEMBERS OF THE 2023-2024 BOARD OF GOVERNORS ARE: