Our Leadership
Board Members
Ed Clark
Board Chair, Canada HealthLabs
Ed Clark retired as Group President and CEO of TD Bank Group on November 1, 2014 after 14 years a CEO. Following TD's acquisition of Canada Trust Financial Services in February of 2000, Ed joined TD Bank Group as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TD Canada Trust. In this role he oversaw the successful integration of the TD and Canada Trust banking operations. He then served as President and Chief Operating Officer starting in July 2000. Before joining TD, Ed was President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Trust Financial Services. In 1985, he joined Merrill Lynch, and three years later Ed was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Financial Corporation, a position he held until he joined Canada Trust Financial Services Inc. in 1991.
In 2010, Ed was named Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year. In 2012 and 2013, Ed was named to Barron's prestigious annual list of the World's 30 Best CEOs. Canadian Business awarded Ed CEO of the Year in 2013, and in 2014, American Banker named Ed a Lifetime Achievement Honoree. In 2014 the Harvard Business Review named Ed to The 100 Top Performing CEOs in the World. Most recently, he was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame for his "outstanding professional achievements and enduring contributions to Canadian society."
Board Chair, Canada HealthLabs
Ed Clark retired as Group President and CEO of TD Bank Group on November 1, 2014 after 14 years a CEO. Following TD's acquisition of Canada Trust Financial Services in February of 2000, Ed joined TD Bank Group as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TD Canada Trust. In this role he oversaw the successful integration of the TD and Canada Trust banking operations. He then served as President and Chief Operating Officer starting in July 2000. Before joining TD, Ed was President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Trust Financial Services. In 1985, he joined Merrill Lynch, and three years later Ed was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Financial Corporation, a position he held until he joined Canada Trust Financial Services Inc. in 1991.
In 2010, Ed was named Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year. In 2012 and 2013, Ed was named to Barron's prestigious annual list of the World's 30 Best CEOs. Canadian Business awarded Ed CEO of the Year in 2013, and in 2014, American Banker named Ed a Lifetime Achievement Honoree. In 2014 the Harvard Business Review named Ed to The 100 Top Performing CEOs in the World. Most recently, he was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame for his "outstanding professional achievements and enduring contributions to Canadian society."
Dr. Vivek Goel - MD, CM, MSc, SM, FRCPC
Vice-Chair, Canada HealthLabs
Dr. Vivek Goel is the President-Designate of the University of Waterloo and is currently a Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. He is the former Vice-President of Research and Innovation at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on health services evaluation, and he has an extensive background in teaching, research and university administration.
Dr. Goel previously served as the University of Toronto's chair of the Department of Health Administration, Vice-Provost, Faculty, and Vice-President and Provost. He was the founding President and CEO of Public Health Ontario from 2008 to 2014, and also served as Chief Academic Strategist at Coursera. He sits on Canada's Immunity Task Force, sponsored by Health Canada, and is the Science Advisor for the CanCOVID Research Network. Dr. Goel's five-year term as President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Waterloo will begin on July 1, 2021.
Vice-Chair, Canada HealthLabs
Dr. Vivek Goel is the President-Designate of the University of Waterloo and is currently a Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. He is the former Vice-President of Research and Innovation at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on health services evaluation, and he has an extensive background in teaching, research and university administration.
Dr. Goel previously served as the University of Toronto's chair of the Department of Health Administration, Vice-Provost, Faculty, and Vice-President and Provost. He was the founding President and CEO of Public Health Ontario from 2008 to 2014, and also served as Chief Academic Strategist at Coursera. He sits on Canada's Immunity Task Force, sponsored by Health Canada, and is the Science Advisor for the CanCOVID Research Network. Dr. Goel's five-year term as President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Waterloo will begin on July 1, 2021.
Dr. Indira V. Samarasekera - Ph.D., F.R.S.C, F.C.A.E., D. Sc., O.C.
Dr. Indira V. Samarasekera served as the 12th President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Alberta, from 2005-2015. She also served as Vice-President Research at the University of British Columbia from 2000-2005.
She is currently a Senior Advisor for Bennett Jones LLP and serves on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Nova Scotia, Magna International, TC Energy and Stelco. She serves on the selection panel for Canada's outstanding CEO of the Year sponsored by Caldwell Partners and Bennett Jones. Dr. Samarasekera is a member of the Tri-Lateral Commission.
As a Hays Fulbright Scholar, she earned an MSc from the University of California in 1976. In 1980, she was granted a PhD in metallurgical engineering from the University of British Columbia. She has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Ceylon. Dr. Samarasekera is internationally recognized as one of Canada's leading metallurgical engineers for her groundbreaking work on process engineering of materials, especially steel processing. Dr. Samarasekera is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Engineering in the USA.
Dr. Indira V. Samarasekera served as the 12th President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Alberta, from 2005-2015. She also served as Vice-President Research at the University of British Columbia from 2000-2005.
She is currently a Senior Advisor for Bennett Jones LLP and serves on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Nova Scotia, Magna International, TC Energy and Stelco. She serves on the selection panel for Canada's outstanding CEO of the Year sponsored by Caldwell Partners and Bennett Jones. Dr. Samarasekera is a member of the Tri-Lateral Commission.
As a Hays Fulbright Scholar, she earned an MSc from the University of California in 1976. In 1980, she was granted a PhD in metallurgical engineering from the University of British Columbia. She has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Ceylon. Dr. Samarasekera is internationally recognized as one of Canada's leading metallurgical engineers for her groundbreaking work on process engineering of materials, especially steel processing. Dr. Samarasekera is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Engineering in the USA.
Janet M. Davidson - O.C., BScN, MHSA, LLD (Hon)
Janet Davidson works in health care consulting with a focus on strategy, organization management and design, and governance. Formerly, she served as Deputy Minister of Health for Alberta. Janet has over 40 years of experience in healthcare in the government, voluntary and hospital/community sectors in a number of Canadian jurisdictions and internationally. She is a former CEO of Toronto East General Hospital and Trillium Health Centre in Ontario, COO of Vancouver Coastal Health in BC, COO of Capital Health in Alberta, and Interim CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority. She also served as a memer of KPMG's Global Health Care team. Janet currently holds the positions of Chair of the Board of the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Canada's New Digital Research Infrastructure Organization. She is a Senior Fellow with the CD Howe Institute and sits on their health policy council.
Janet received a Bachelor of Nursing Science from the University of Windsor and a Master's in Health Services Administration from the University of Alberta. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Janet Davidson works in health care consulting with a focus on strategy, organization management and design, and governance. Formerly, she served as Deputy Minister of Health for Alberta. Janet has over 40 years of experience in healthcare in the government, voluntary and hospital/community sectors in a number of Canadian jurisdictions and internationally. She is a former CEO of Toronto East General Hospital and Trillium Health Centre in Ontario, COO of Vancouver Coastal Health in BC, COO of Capital Health in Alberta, and Interim CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority. She also served as a memer of KPMG's Global Health Care team. Janet currently holds the positions of Chair of the Board of the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Canada's New Digital Research Infrastructure Organization. She is a Senior Fellow with the CD Howe Institute and sits on their health policy council.
Janet received a Bachelor of Nursing Science from the University of Windsor and a Master's in Health Services Administration from the University of Alberta. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Allan MacDonald
Allan MacDonald is The Chief Executive Officer of the Bragg Group of Companies in Oxford, Nova Scotia.
Allan has been an advisor to both business and Government on a number of consumer, retail, logistics and sourcing initiatives. Most recently, he has served as the COVID-19 Pandemic Chief Procurement Advisor to the Province of Ontario, in addition to leading the Province's Central Task Force for Sourcing and Procurement through the pandemic.
Having spent the past 11 years at Canadian Tire, as EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Allan oversaw Canadian Tire Corporation's rise to Canada's Most Respected Brand in 2019.
Over the course of his career, Allan has held senior roles at Bell Canada, Aliant Inc. and British Telecom.
Allan holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Acadia University, a Master's degree in Business Administration from Henley Management College in England, is a Board Member of the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation and a past Vice Chair of the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Allan MacDonald is The Chief Executive Officer of the Bragg Group of Companies in Oxford, Nova Scotia.
Allan has been an advisor to both business and Government on a number of consumer, retail, logistics and sourcing initiatives. Most recently, he has served as the COVID-19 Pandemic Chief Procurement Advisor to the Province of Ontario, in addition to leading the Province's Central Task Force for Sourcing and Procurement through the pandemic.
Having spent the past 11 years at Canadian Tire, as EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Allan oversaw Canadian Tire Corporation's rise to Canada's Most Respected Brand in 2019.
Over the course of his career, Allan has held senior roles at Bell Canada, Aliant Inc. and British Telecom.
Allan holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Acadia University, a Master's degree in Business Administration from Henley Management College in England, is a Board Member of the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation and a past Vice Chair of the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Neil Yeates
Neil Yeates is a retired Federal Deputy Minister whose career spanned more than 30 years in the Government of Canada and in the Government of Saskatchewan. Graduating from Queen's University, Neil began his career as a policy analyst with the Saskatchewan Department of Health eventually serving as the Associate Deputy Minister. He also worked for a number of years in Saskatchewan Social Services in the young offenders and child welfare programs, and later as the Assistant Deputy Minister for all programs. He became a Deputy Minister in Post Secondary Education and Skills Training, and also served as Deputy Minister in the Department of Corrections and Public Safety. During this time Neil obtained an M.A. in Political Science at the University of Regina.
Moving to the Government of Canada in Ottawa in 2004, Neil worked in Industry Canada and Health Canada as an Assistant Deputy Minister, Indian and Northern Affairs as the Associate Deputy Minister and most recently served for four years as the Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Neil is Co-Chair of the C.D. Howe Human Capital Council, and member of the Justice Canada and Global Affairs audit committees.
Neil Yeates is a retired Federal Deputy Minister whose career spanned more than 30 years in the Government of Canada and in the Government of Saskatchewan. Graduating from Queen's University, Neil began his career as a policy analyst with the Saskatchewan Department of Health eventually serving as the Associate Deputy Minister. He also worked for a number of years in Saskatchewan Social Services in the young offenders and child welfare programs, and later as the Assistant Deputy Minister for all programs. He became a Deputy Minister in Post Secondary Education and Skills Training, and also served as Deputy Minister in the Department of Corrections and Public Safety. During this time Neil obtained an M.A. in Political Science at the University of Regina.
Moving to the Government of Canada in Ottawa in 2004, Neil worked in Industry Canada and Health Canada as an Assistant Deputy Minister, Indian and Northern Affairs as the Associate Deputy Minister and most recently served for four years as the Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Neil is Co-Chair of the C.D. Howe Human Capital Council, and member of the Justice Canada and Global Affairs audit committees.
Nathalie Bernier - FCPA, FCA
Nathalie Bernier has more than 30 years of experience in strategy, finance, governance, risk management and organizational transformation. Most recently, she was Senior Vice President, Strategic and Business Planning & CFO at PSP Investments. Prior to that she was Managing Partner at KPMG for the Quebec Region and member of the firm's Canadian leadership team. She was the first female Managing partner to lead a Region at KPMG as well as any professional service organization in Canada. Nathalie began her career at Arthur Andersen after graduating from McGill University with a commerce degree. She is committed to giving back to her community and serves on several charitable boards, including the Centraide/United Way of Greater Montreal Foundation.
Nathalie is the recipient of numerous awards, including Canada's CFO of the Year and Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100.
Nathalie Bernier has more than 30 years of experience in strategy, finance, governance, risk management and organizational transformation. Most recently, she was Senior Vice President, Strategic and Business Planning & CFO at PSP Investments. Prior to that she was Managing Partner at KPMG for the Quebec Region and member of the firm's Canadian leadership team. She was the first female Managing partner to lead a Region at KPMG as well as any professional service organization in Canada. Nathalie began her career at Arthur Andersen after graduating from McGill University with a commerce degree. She is committed to giving back to her community and serves on several charitable boards, including the Centraide/United Way of Greater Montreal Foundation.
Nathalie is the recipient of numerous awards, including Canada's CFO of the Year and Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100.
Management Team
John Gilmour
CEO, Canada HealthLabs
John Gilmour is Canada HealthLabs' CEO and leads a team of seasoned laboratory and health care operators. John has more than 30 years' experience in Board and Executive-level health care with major North American hospitals and health systems. He is an entrepreneur who has started, grown, and divested health care operating companies.
His primary experience is in laboratories. He has helped optimize and reconfigure more than 1,000 laboratories of all types in North America, with a primary focus on clinical testing laboratories. He has collaborated with several of North America's most prestigious academic health science centre laboratories and major private sector testing providers. John will lead the private sector management team of CHL to expand research testing and make it available to Canadian industry.
CEO, Canada HealthLabs
John Gilmour is Canada HealthLabs' CEO and leads a team of seasoned laboratory and health care operators. John has more than 30 years' experience in Board and Executive-level health care with major North American hospitals and health systems. He is an entrepreneur who has started, grown, and divested health care operating companies.
His primary experience is in laboratories. He has helped optimize and reconfigure more than 1,000 laboratories of all types in North America, with a primary focus on clinical testing laboratories. He has collaborated with several of North America's most prestigious academic health science centre laboratories and major private sector testing providers. John will lead the private sector management team of CHL to expand research testing and make it available to Canadian industry.
Michel Picard
CFO, Canada HealthLabs
Michel Picard is a finance leader with nearly 40 years of audit and advisory experience. Most recently, he was a Partner in the Accounting Advisory practice of KPMG in Toronto and was the Power & Utilities national leader in KPMG's Accounting Advisory Services practice. Michel has extensive international experience having worked abroad for 24 years in various countries in Europe, the Middle East and Central Africa. He has also worked in various industries, including electricity generation, transmission and distribution across Canada.
Michel is a passionate supporter of charities and is currently a Board Member and the Treasurer of the Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases, which is dedicated to supporting research and sharing information about infectious diseases.
CFO, Canada HealthLabs
Michel Picard is a finance leader with nearly 40 years of audit and advisory experience. Most recently, he was a Partner in the Accounting Advisory practice of KPMG in Toronto and was the Power & Utilities national leader in KPMG's Accounting Advisory Services practice. Michel has extensive international experience having worked abroad for 24 years in various countries in Europe, the Middle East and Central Africa. He has also worked in various industries, including electricity generation, transmission and distribution across Canada.
Michel is a passionate supporter of charities and is currently a Board Member and the Treasurer of the Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases, which is dedicated to supporting research and sharing information about infectious diseases.
Dr. Anu Rebbapragada
Director, Laboratory Operations, Canada HealthLabs
Dr. Anu Rebbapragada is a Board Certified Clinical Microbiologist and Molecular Specialist (American Board of Medical Microbiology, Fellow Canadian College of Microbiology) whose professional experience spans diagnostic medicine in public and private laboratory sectors, medical device industry and academic research. She is also a certified Inspector for Lab Accreditation by the College of American Pathologists. Her past experience includes National Director of Scientific Affairs at Hologic, Director of Microbiology at Dynacare overseeing services across four high volume labs in Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec, Senior Scientist at Public Health Ontario and Research Fellow under a Gates Foundation funded project in Kenya.
Throughout her career she has leveraged emerging technologies, informatics and digital tools to design responsive solutions that enhance diagnostic access, elucidate epidemiology and ensure health system value. She earned Quality Improvement and Innovation awards from the Ontario Ministry of Health for her proven leadership in implementation of diagnostic infrastructure, molecular testing solutions, lab automation and digitized reporting. She led the specimen processing and biorepository functions for the Ontario Health Study. As the Lab Director for Canada Health Labs, Anu will be responsible for review and harmonization of scientific protocols, ensuring diagnostic accuracy and maintaining accreditation standards for Canadian Diagnostic Testing.
Director, Laboratory Operations, Canada HealthLabs
Dr. Anu Rebbapragada is a Board Certified Clinical Microbiologist and Molecular Specialist (American Board of Medical Microbiology, Fellow Canadian College of Microbiology) whose professional experience spans diagnostic medicine in public and private laboratory sectors, medical device industry and academic research. She is also a certified Inspector for Lab Accreditation by the College of American Pathologists. Her past experience includes National Director of Scientific Affairs at Hologic, Director of Microbiology at Dynacare overseeing services across four high volume labs in Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec, Senior Scientist at Public Health Ontario and Research Fellow under a Gates Foundation funded project in Kenya.
Throughout her career she has leveraged emerging technologies, informatics and digital tools to design responsive solutions that enhance diagnostic access, elucidate epidemiology and ensure health system value. She earned Quality Improvement and Innovation awards from the Ontario Ministry of Health for her proven leadership in implementation of diagnostic infrastructure, molecular testing solutions, lab automation and digitized reporting. She led the specimen processing and biorepository functions for the Ontario Health Study. As the Lab Director for Canada Health Labs, Anu will be responsible for review and harmonization of scientific protocols, ensuring diagnostic accuracy and maintaining accreditation standards for Canadian Diagnostic Testing.