Board of Trustees

Jason P. Shannon has been working with Shannex Incorporated since 1999. In 2001, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer and took over development and operating responsibilities for the organization. In 2006, he was appointed President and COO of Shannex which today serves over 4,000 seniors. Prior to joining Shannex, he practiced law with Stewart McKelvey. Jason also serves currently as a director of the Loran Scholars Foundation and is chair of their Investment Committee. He is a past director of Health Association of Nova Scotia, Chair of the Nova Scotia Continuing Care Council, Atlantic Institute of Market Studies and the Atlantic Institute of Aging. Jason holds both a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie.

Paul Beesley served as a corporate director since 2018. He was Chief Financial Officer of Hudson's Bay Company from 2014 until his retirement in 2017. Prior to joining HBC, he held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Empire Company Limited from 2000 until 2014. Paul sits on the Board of Orlando Corporation and holds various designations including ICD.D, CPA, MBA from Saint Mary’s University and a B.Sc. from Dalhousie University in addition to having completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Jane Craighead has over 20 years of international experience with public company Boards of Directors, a strong understanding of corporate governance and board effectiveness, and a deep expertise in executive compensation. In addition to Crombie, Jane is also a board member of Wajax Corporation and Telesat Corporation, chairing the Human Resources committees for both. Her prior roles include Senior Vice President Global Human Resources at Scotiabank, Global Practice Leader Rewards at Rio Tinto PLC, and Eastern Canada Business Leader for Human Capital Advisory Services at Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Previously, Jane held full-time faculty appointments at Queen’s University, Concordia University, and McGill University. Jane began her career with Ernst & Young and was a manager in audit before pursuing an academic career. Jane holds a PhD in Management from McGill University, a Bachelor of Commerce from Mount Allison University, and is a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

Kyle Hartlen is a Partner at the law firm of Stewart McKelvey in Halifax, Nova Scotia, practicing primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate governance and securities since joining the firm in 2015. Kyle has extensive experience negotiating and executing transactions throughout Canada across of range of industries (both regulated and unregulated).

Kyle holds an MBA (AMBA Gold Medal) from the Ivey Business School, as well as a combined Juris Doctor / HBA (Ivey Scholar) from the Western University Faculty of Law and the Ivey Business School.

Sarah MacDonald is Chief Transformation Officer at Algonquin Power and Utilities, a role she has held since August 2024. Prior to this, Sarah was Chief Human Resources Officer, starting in October 2023. In addition to leading the company’s utility operations, she maintains her leadership as CHRO for the company.

Sarah has more than two decades of legal and human resource expertise coupled with broad operational and change leadership experience encompassing safety, environment, regulatory, customer experience, communications and marketing, infrastructure, and IT.

Prior to joining Algonquin, Sarah served as Chief Operating Officer of EfficiencyOne, the first regulated energy efficiency utility in Canada. She also had a 19-year career with Emera Inc. in various senior leadership roles, including President, TECO Services Inc, President and Chief Executive Officer, Emera Caribbean Inc, and Executive Vice President, Human Resources.

Sarah holds an LLB from Dalhousie Law School and an MBA from St. Mary’s University, and currently sits on the board of Ocean Wise, a global conservation organization on a mission to build communities that take meaningful action to protect and restore our ocean.

Doug is Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer and General Counsel of Empire and Sobeys Inc., a role he has held since December 2022. Prior to this, Doug was the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Empire and Sobeys Inc. starting in April 2018. In addition to leading the company’s legal function, he has leadership accountability for Real Estate, Corporate Strategy & Development, Strategic Sourcing, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Government Relations, and Sustainability. Prior to joining Empire, Doug has held various senior roles at Canadian Tire Corporation from 2011 to 2018 and MI Developments from 2005 to 2009. Doug holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University (High Distinction) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law. He is a member of the Bar in both Ontario and New York State.

Doug currently sits on the boards of Sinai Health Foundation, Kids Help Phone, and the Retail Council of Canada. In 2024, Doug was recognized as one of The Globe on Mail’s Report on Business magazine’s top executives for his strategic and collaborative leadership.

Vivek Sood spent the last 25 years of his career with Empire and Sobeys Inc., where he held various senior positions, including Vice President, Finance & Administration, Senior Vice President, Pharmacy Group, and Executive Vice President, Related Businesses. Prior to retiring in July 2024, Vivek was a member of Empire’s Executive Committee and also Executive Sponsor of Empire’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy, as well as their Enterprise Resource Planning initiative. Vivek holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University. He received his Chartered Financial Analyst Designation in 2004 and completed the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program in 2021. In 2020, Vivek was named CEO of the Year by Atlantic Business Magazine and was inducted into their Business Hall of Fame in 2023. Raised in Crombie’s hometown of Pictou County, Vivek is a strong believer in the power of community and has dedicated much of his career and personal time to developing future leaders, enriching communities, and building partnerships, including various Board roles. He currently serves as Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) Regiment.

Deborah Starkman is a corporate director with over 30 years of experience across various industries, including real estate, capital markets, and asset management. Most recently, Deborah served as the Chief Financial Officer of Dream Unlimited Corp., a TSX-listed real estate development and asset management company with operations in Canada and the United States. Previously, she was the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of GMP Capital Inc. (GMP), a TSX-listed independent financial services firm in Canada. Before joining GMP, Deborah was a Managing Director, Product Finance at the brokerage arm of a major Canadian bank.

Deborah was born in Canada and has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor. She is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA) Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Director Education Program (ICD.D).

Michael Vels, now retired, is the former Chief Development Officer of Empire Limited and Sobeys Inc., where he was responsible for leading Empire's real estate, technology, strategic sourcing, enterprise project management and mergers, and acquisitions activities. Michael was previously Chief Financial Officer of Empire from 2017-2021. Prior to Sobeys, Michael was Chief Financial Officer of Hydro One, where he led that organization's Initial Public Offering in 2015. From 2004-2014, Michael served as Chief Financial Officer for Maple Leaf Foods, leading the company's finance, mergers and acquisitions, information technology and communications functions. In 2014, he was named Chief Transition Officer, leading the restructuring of senior management and back-office functions. Michael serves as Treasurer of Canada's National Ballet School. He was educated and earned his Chartered Accountant designation in South Africa and prior to joining Maple Leaf Foods, worked in public accounting and mergers and acquisitions in South Africa and the United Kingdom. He has also earned his ICD.D designation.

Michael Waters is President and Chief Executive Officer of Minto Group. Michael has over 25 years’ experience in real estate finance, investment and development, and financial advisory services. From 2018 - 2023 Michael also served as CEO of Minto Apartment REIT. Prior to joining Minto, he served in a variety of roles at Intrawest Corporation, a large resort developer and operator with a presence across North America. Earlier in his career, Michael worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and KPMG LLP. Michael completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of British Columbia and has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He was elected a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (FCPA, FCA) and is a CFA® charter holder.

Karen has over 20 years of experience in real estate, public financial accounting, reporting and corporate operations. Now retired, Karen was most recently President and CEO of MCAN Mortgage Company. Prior to that, Karen was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of publicly listed corporations DH Corporation (2014-2017) and First Capital Realty Inc. (2004-2014). She held previous positions as Senior Vice President and CFO at Brookfield Properties Corporation, Canadian Operations and Gentra Inc. Karen is currently a Trustee of Northwest Healthcare Properties REIT, where she also serves as an audit committee member, and a member of the Board of Directors for MCAP Commercial LP. She holds a BBA from Old Dominion University and an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a licensed, retired, public accountant (CPA) from Washington State, USA. Karen holds a NACD CERT in Cybersecurity Oversight.