Board of Directors

Jerome Berthelette

Director

Jerome Berthelette is retired from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada where he was an Assistant Auditor General responsible for the performance audits of National Defence, Veterans Affairs, Health Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada and Indigenous Affairs Canada, as well as the three Territories. He was seconded to the Auditor General’s Office from Health Canada in 2001, joined the Office as a Principal in 2004 and was appointed Assistant Auditor General in 2009. He had previously worked for the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch in Health Canada. He has also served as Secretary to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and as Executive Director of the National Association of Friendship Centres.

Jerome’s volunteer activities have included serving on the board and executive of the N’Amerind Friendship Centre and the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres and on the board of the National Association of Friendship Centres. He also served on the board and executive of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and the Vanier Institute of the Family. He is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal presented to him by the Vanier Institute of the Family. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Nipissing University and a law degree from the University of Western Ontario. He is a proud member of the Sagkeeng First Nation.

In his spare time he is trying to learn to play the bass guitar, runs and walks his Poodle.

Thorsten Brost

Director

Thorsten Brost is a husband, father of three sons, a Professional Engineer and a long term resident of North Bay. During the first 20 years of his career, Thorsten maintained, operated and managed pulp and paper mills throughout Canada and the USA. Over the next 15 years, Thorsten owned an engineering firm which provided a breadth of engineering services throughout Northern Ontario. Most recently, Thorsten sold his firm to Quasar Consulting Group where he now serves as a Sector Lead responsible for Northern Ontario.

Thorsten holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta. He was a long-standing Board Member and Chair at Greenwood Avenue Baptist Church where he continues to serve actively. When Thorsten isn’t doing home renovations, he enjoys long distance motorcycle touring, fly fishing and playing his guitars.

Carrie-Lynn Carpenter

Director

Carrie-Lynn Carpenter is a passionate advocate for health and safety. She is currently the Manager of Operations, Support, and Control at Ontario Northland where she plays a crucial role in maintaining safe motor coach operations for employees and passengers alike. In 2023 the Board of Directors of the Infrastructure, Health and Safety Association awarded Carrie-Lynn the Maria (Felice) Mason Award of Excellence, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to occupational health and safety in the transportation sector. The award highlighted Carrie-Lynn’s critical work to raise awareness about the dangerous reality of human trafficking in Northern Ontario. She is also a certified facilitator and trainer in Non-Violence Crisis Intervention. She holds her Bachelor of Science from Laurentian University and received her A-EMCA in 2004. She now calls South River home, where she lives with her husband and daughters.

Mélanie Ciccone

Vice-Chair & Chair of Governance Committee

Mélanie Ciccone is presently the Executive Director of the Timmins Academic Family Health Team. Prior to this she, was the Director of Social Services for the Conseil Scolaire public du Nord East, an Outreach Officer for the NE LHIN, and a social worker 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 Chair for South Cochrane Addiction Services. She holds her Master of Social Work from Université d’Ottawa and an Honours Bachelor of Science from McMaster University.

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 tennis player.

Megan Johnson

Director

Megan Johnson is an accomplished human resources professional with over 15 years of progressive human resources experience. She currently serves as the Director of Human Resources of Workplace Safety North, providing strategic leadership and guidance to ensure implementation of best practices in human resources management.

She holds a Bachelor of Science from McMaster University, certificate in Advanced Human Resources from Queen’s University, as well as Queen’s Advanced Executive Certificate from Queen’s University Smith School of Business. She is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) through the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA).

Megan is proud to call North Bay home and enjoys spending her free time travelling, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Gisèle Hébert

Director

Gisèle Hébert retired from the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Nipissing and Parry Sound in 2024 with over 39 years of dedicated experience, having served as Executive Director for the past 20 years.

As a loving single mother to two sons and one furry Labradoodle named Lyla, Ms. Hébert has served as a board member for many prominent organizations including the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), Practice and Research Together (PART) and more recently the North Bay Regional Health Centre.

Ms. Hébert holds a Masters of Social Work from Laurentian University. She has been instrumental in providing exceptional leadership and fierce advocacy for children, youth and families on numerous community, provincial and sector planning tables. Her work has always focused on ensuring service excellence for children, youth, and families in the North.

Paul Heinrich, NHF, LLM, MEd, C.Dir., CPA/CMA, CHE, BBA

Ex-Officio Director, President & CEO

Paul Heinrich has been proudly serving the North Bay Regional Health Centre as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2012. Prior to this, he was President and CEO at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland and Penetanguishene. He spent 10 years as 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 Home Care Program. Among several previous board roles, he served as director on the Canadian College of Health Leaders Board. He currently serves on the ONE Health Information Technology Services (ONE HITS) board.  He has been a professor in the Healthcare Administration Program at Canadore College since 2017.

In 2023, Mr. Heinrich completed the National Health Fellowship (NHF) through McMaster University, as part of the first ever cohort of 18 fellows from across Canada.  He 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.

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 & Chair of Quality Committee

Angela Knight van Schaayk 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 has served as board director and Past President of the Rotary Club of North Bay, the East Ferris Economic Development Committee and the CCAS.  She currently sits on the Ontario Trillium Grant committee, Community Futures Ontario, and is Chair of NECO – Community Futures Development Corporation.

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.

Dr. Taylor Lougheed

President of the General Medical Staff and the Chief of the Emergency Department

Dr. Taylor Lougheed is the President of the General Medical Staff and the Chief of the Emergency Department. Dr. Lougheed studied medicine at Queen’s University where he also obtained a Master’s of Science in Healthcare Quality. He then completed Family Medicine training at the University of Toronto and Emergency Medicine training at the University of Ottawa. He has additional certification in Sport and Exercise Medicine. Originally from Southern Ontario, Dr. Lougheed is delighted to have settled in North Bay with his family and spends his free time chasing after his three young boys along the shores of Lake Nipissing.

Frank Miscio

Director

Frank J. Miscio is an accomplished finance and telecommunications executive with 35 years of experience.

Mr. Miscio is retired from Bell Canada and BCE Inc., most recently serving as Senior Vice-President of Finance, where he was responsible for financial forecasting, reporting and budgeting for one of Canada’s largest companies ($25B Revenue). Frank was also Chair of the Investment Priority Council (IPC), responsible for BCE’s capital budgeting and prioritization, which recently peaked at $5B on an annual basis.

Frank served as Board Director for The Source Electronics Inc. and Sealink Sourcing Corporation.

Mr. Miscio holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Western University and an MBA from the Ivey School at Western University.

Born and raised in North Bay, Frank has returned to his hometown, and enjoys the arts, nature, and spending time with family and friends at his long-time home on Trout Lake.

Vivian Papaiz

Director

Dr. Vivian Papaiz, PhD, RN, CHPCN(C) is the Associate Dean for the School of Health Sciences for Canadore College and Nursing Director and Program Manager for the Collaborative BScN Program and the RPN to BScN Bridging program with Nipissing University and Canadore College.

Vivian has also been a nursing educator with various faculties of nursing and coordinator of International Nursing programs. Her experience also includes positions with VON Canada as their national palliative care lead, as practice educator for Ontario and Western regions, and manager of nursing and home support programs in Ontario.

Vivian has also held a number of governance positions over the years at the national, provincial and local tables in hospice palliative care. She is President of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA), Past Chair of the Board of Directors of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO), is an advisory member of the Palliative Care Consultants Network of Ontario, and locally is the Past Chair of the Board of Directors for Nipissing Serenity Hospice.

Vivian is a registered nurse and completed her undergraduate education at Western University, her master’s degree in nursing with a concentration in teaching from Athabasca University, and her doctorate from Nipissing University in Educational Sustainability, with a focus in palliative care nursing.

Her interests lie in supporting students to have a strong academic experience and has a particular focus of fostering palliative care education in the health science programs.

Lena Ross

Director

Lena Ross’s career has been dedicated to supporting the delivery of health care and health solutions. Beginning in medical office administration and transcription, Lena then gained experience in project management, business analysis, change management, quality assurance, data analysis, and leadership.

Lena maintains a strong commitment to professional development and has obtained a Certified Associate in Project Management certification from the PMI, an Entry Certificate in Business Analysis from the IIBA, a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt from the ASQ, and Medical Unit Clerk/Medical Administrative Assistant certificates from Seneca College.