Board of Directors

Michael Brown is currently the Director, Technology Development and Operations at Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology. Previously, he was the Manager of IT Services, and prior to that the Database Administrator at Canadore College. Hobbies include photography, history, exploring abandoned locations and travel.

David Cartagena (Director)

David Cartagena is a Sr. Program Manager with Ceridian with a background in the technology sector and experience working across multiple business sectors; from transportation and private aerospace to DNS registry and cybersecurity. He studied at Nipissing University where he obtained an Honours Bachelors of Science degree in Biology. He currently holds certifications as a Certified Scrum Professional and Certified Scrum Master, Agile Leadership, and Agile Certified Practitioner. He has a passion for driving employee engagement, continuous improvement and exploring innovative technologies. David was born in Lima, Peru and currently resides in North Bay with his family.

Mélanie Ciccone (Vice-Chair & Chair of Governance Committee)

Mélanie Ciccone is presently the Coordinator of Social Services for the Conseil Scolaire public du Nord East. Prior to this she was an Outreach Officer for the NE LHIN. She also worked as the Community Treatment Order Coordinator and as a Social Worker in the Out-Patient Mental Health Department at the Timmins and District Hospital. She has taught various courses in the social services program at College Boréal. Mélanie served as Board member and Director for South Cochrane Addiction Services. She holds her Master of Social Worker (MSW) from Université d’Ottawa and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from McMaster University.

Jessica Charette (Director)

Jessica Charette is a dynamic leader, lifelong northerner and proud member of the regional community. Born and raised in North Bay, Ontario, Charette has held positions in the private and public sectors and thrives in high-paced, results-driven environments. This is evident from her tenures at Northern Honda, Canadore College and FNTI (First Nations Technical Institute).

Charette has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, partnership development, government and public relations, as well as social innovation and student services in academia. Charette holds an Advanced Diploma in Automotive Marketing from Georgian College, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University. She also carries a host of other professional training, including government relations, mental health support and triage, Indigenous relations and cultural competency, professional leadership and wholistic health.

She currently serves as Director, Recruitment, Marketing and Community Partnerships at FNTI, preceded by over 10 years of working at Canadore College in the Office of the President. Charette has served on numerous boards, committees and organizations, including the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce and the Colleges and Institutes Canada National Planning Committee on Climate Action.

Charette is the proud mother of four great kids and as a lifelong local resident who believes in the power of community to fuel positive change.

Philip Geden (Director)

Phil Geden has been a Board member with the NBRHC since its inception in 2011, serving as the inaugural Board Chairperson from 2011 to 2014.  He also sat as a member of the Board of North Bay General Hospital (NBGH) before the amalgamation, from 2004 until 2011; and held the position of Chair on the Governance Committee from 2014 – 2018.  He is a former teacher of chemistry and physics who ended his career in education as a secondary school Principal.

Dr. Anthony Giordano (Ex-Officio Director & President, Professional Staff)

Dr. Anthony Giordano was born in Brantford, Ontario and studied Arts and Sciences at the University of Guelph, then attended the University of Ottawa where he received a bachelor’s degree in Education.

He taught math, science and English as a high school teacher in an Inuit community in northern Quebec for three years before returning to Ontario to start a family.  Dr. Giordano studied Medicine at McMaster University and completed his residency program in Family Medicine in North Bay. In 2017 he set up his practice joining the Northern Shores Medical Clinic.

Jamie Graham (Board Chair)

Jamie started his career working in public accounting and practiced audit assurance, taxation, general consulting and worked as an IT specialist. He was a senior administrator at Nipissing University for over 24 years. Jamie’s role as Registrar and Assistant Vice President, Institutional Planning and Quality Assurance commenced May 2013. Prior to this role, he was appointed Registrar and Institutional Analyst in October 2011. Jamie served as Director of Institutional Planning prior to this appointment. Jamie Graham brought to his position, an in depth understanding of the university budget and institutional revenues. He also played an important part in the selection, adoption and staff training related to Ellucian, the foundation of our academic information systems. Jamie has served as Nipissing’s representative on a number of provincial bodies associated with the Council of Ontario Universities (‘COU’) including, Council of Finance Officers – Ontario Universities, serving two years as chair, and Council of University Planning and Analysis.

In his spare time, Jamie enjoys spending time with family, is an avid curler and a recreational soccer player.

Paul Heinrich, CHE, LLM, C.Dir., CPA, CMA,  MEd, BBA (Ex-Officio Director, President & CEO)

Paul Heinrich is proudly serving since 2012 as President and Chief Executive Officer for the North Bay Regional Health Centre. Prior to this, he was President and CEO at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland and Penetanguishene and formerly Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine while also serving as Advisor to the Chief Clinical Officer of the Calgary Health Region. He has also held management positions at the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Huntsville Hospital and, Muskoka-East Parry Sound Community Care Access Centre. He has served as a board director for the Canadian College of Health Leaders Board, MedBuy and several shared service organizations.

Paul holds his Master of Education (MEd) from Nipissing University, as well as, a Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation though the Canadian College of Health Leaders, a Master of Laws degree (LLM) from OsGoode Hall Law School of York University, a Chartered Director designation (C.Dir.) from McMaster University, a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant designation (CPA, CMA), and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) (honours) from Nipissing University.

Brendan Huston (Director)

Brendan Huston currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Nipissing First Nation (NFN). As CEO of NFN, he is responsible for the implementation of NFN’s strategic objectives and the overall management of community programs, services, and infrastructure. Prior to this, Brendan was the Chief Executive Officer for Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, a First Nation located in Northeastern Ontario. His previous experience also includes working as an Economic Policy Analyst for the Anishinabek Nation. Brendan holds a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Economics from Queen’s University.

Robert (Bob) Keech (Chair, Resource, Finance & Audit Committee)

Robert Keech is presently the Senior Director, Technology Innovation and Cybersecurity at Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology. Prior to this he was Chief Information Officer with Nipissing University and was previously responsible for IT Service Delivery for the Government of Ontario in Northeastern Ontario. Robert holds degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy from Laurentian University.

Dr. Scott Kerrigan (Ex-Officio Director & Chief of Staff)

Dr. Scott Kerrigan is the Chief of Staff. Born and raised in North Bay, Dr. Kerrigan studied Medicine at Western University and Pathology at the University of British Columbia. Building on rewarding experiences in North Bay as a medical student and later as a medical resident, he returned to North Bay as a full-time staff General Pathologist in 2005. Dr. Kerrigan has held multiple medical leadership positions, including Laboratory Director and Head of Service Laboratory Medicine, President of the Medical Staff, Pathology Regional Lead for Cancer Care Ontario, Medical Director Diagnostic Medicine and Trustee for the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation.

Angela Knight van Schaayk (Director)

Angela is the President of James C. Knight Creative Insurance Planners Inc. for over 30 years, third generation specializing in Group Life, Health and Pension Benefits for business owners throughout Northern Ontario.

She received an Hons. B.A. Geography from Laurentian University focusing on social and economic geography.

Angela served as past president and board director at the Rotary Club of North Bay.  She has recently served on the East Ferris Economic Development committee.  Currently, she serves on the Ontario Trillium grant committee, NECO (Community Futures Development Corporation) and CF Ontario.

In her spare time, Angela can be found on her boat on Lake Nosbonsing with her husband and her Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Moxie or travelling abroad.

Joanne Laplante (Ex-Officio Director & Vice-President, Clinical and CNE)

Joanne has been a dedicated Registered Nurse at the North Bay Regional Health Centre (originally at St. Joseph’s General Hospital) for 34 years. She has progressed through a variety of leadership roles, including Manager, Women and Children; Director, Surgery, Women and Children; Director of Emergency and Ambulatory Services and most recently, Vice President Clinical & Chief Nursing Executive. A passionate leader who is patient centred, Joanne has overseen a number of change initiatives both in organizational and system integration. Joanne holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Laurentian University and a Master of Nursing degree from Athabasca University. Born and raised in North Bay, Joanne is well-known and active in the community. She served on Nipissing University’s Board of Directors from 2017 to 2021.

Michael Lowe (Vice-Chair)

Michael was one of the original Directors of the NBRHC when it amalgamated in 2011, and has served on the Quality Care, Governance, Resource, Finance & Audit committees. Michael is a Board Representative for the NBRHC Foundation. Michael is also a member of the Board of Directors and treasurer of ATRI, a national association of treasurers of religious institutes as well as treasurer for the North Bay Spartans.  When Michael is not volunteering, he works as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with The Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie.

Sheila Parrish (Director)

Sheila Parrish is a retired Registered Nurse and State Certified Midwife. She worked in the North Bay Civic Hospital and St. Joseph General Hospital assuming many different roles, such as Nurse Manager, Clinical Instructor, Perinatal Bereavement Counsellor and Chief Nursing Officer.  In addition to her work, Sheila has sat on numerous provincial and community committees including the Joint Executive Committee, which was responsible for the building of the NBRHC.

Kerri Spooner  (Director)

Kerri Spooner is an experienced sales and business development leader who has worked in several industries, with the bulk in the telecommunications field where she worked with many of the larger players. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Honours from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication. She is both a past President’s Club and President’s Award winner due to her over achievements in the telecommunications field and a past recipient of the Jeanne Sauvé Award through Women in Communications. Her community contributions include more than eight years of fundraising efforts for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Save Heart Ball; supporting the Cardiac Care campaign and over seven years sitting on the Canadore College Foundation Board where she assumed the role of Vice Chair. Having lived in several locations across the Province, Kerri has called North Bay home since 2014 and still maintains an extensive network across the province of Ontario.

Dr. Erin Truswell  (Chair of Quality Committee)

Dr. Erin Truswell began her career with the Children’s Aid Society in 2012 while pursuing graduate studies at Nipissing University. Erin has held many positions over the years but her current portfolio includes oversight of Quality Assurance, IT, Privacy and Early Intervention Services. Erin focuses her volunteer, professional, and personal time on any and all activities that promote service delivery designed for the people. In particular, her main interests lie within creating trauma-informed systems of care and responses from service providers. Erin believes that every child and youth has untapped potential for resilience in the face of adversity and that its our job as service providers to create the conditions and opportunities that allow their strength to shine through.