Board of Trustees

Jason Shannon is President of the Shannex group of companies, one of Canada's leading seniors living companies serving over 5,000 residents in over 70 residences across the Maritimes and Ontario. Under his leadership, Shannex, a private family-owned company, has designed and built over 5 million square feet of state-of-the-art facilities across the seniors living continuum. Jason has been President of Shannex since 2006, and prior to that held progressively senior roles with Shannex Incorporated since joining in 1999. Prior to joining Shannex, Jason practiced law with Stewart McKelvey. He is currently a member of the board of Atlantic Corporation Limited and advises several other private technology companies. Over the years he has also volunteered on many educational, and not-for-profit boards that focus on seniors aging well. Jason holds both a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University.

Paul Beesley has served as a corporate director since 2019. He was Chief Financial Officer of Hudson's Bay Company from 2014 until his retirement in 2017. Prior to joining Hudson's Bay, he held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Empire Company Limited from 1999 until 2014. Paul sits on the Board of Orlando Corporation and the Board of Governors for Dalhousie University. He holds various designations including ICD.D, ESG.D, Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), an 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 human resources including executive compensation. Jane has served as a corporate director since her retirement in 2019. Jane is a board member of Telesat Corporation and Wajax Corporation and was a board member of Intertape Polymer Group and Clearwater Seafoods LP until their privatization. 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, an honorary Doctorate from Mount Allison University, a Bachelor of Commerce from Mount Allison University, and is a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).

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 Nathason 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 retired in 2024 as Executive Vice President Related Business for Empire and Sobeys Inc. He spent the last 25 years of his career with Empire and Sobeys Inc., where he held various other senior positions, including Vice President, Finance & Administration and Senior Vice President, Pharmacy Group. 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. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee), a director for the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (Chair of Human Resources/ Governance Committee), a director for Nova Scotia Power Inc., and as Board Governor for Saint Mary’s University (member of the Audit and Risk Committee). 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. Vivek is Honourary Lieutenant-Colonel of 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery, RCA Regiment.

Deborah Starkman is the former Chief Financial Officer of Dream Unlimited Corp. (“Dream”) a position she held from 2020 to 2024. As CFO, Deborah oversaw the financial management and planning, as well as the Shared Services function, including Information Technology, Human Resources, Legal, and Compliance activities, before retiring in 2024. Prior to her time at Dream, Deborah served as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary at GMP Capital Inc., a Canadian independent financial services firm from 2012 to 2020 and held various positions of increasing seniority from 2006 to 2012. Deborah also held various roles at RBC Capital during her career, including Managing Director of Product Finance. Deborah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western University and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Windsor. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (FCPA, FCA), a certified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Director Education Program (ICD.D). Deborah is a Board member of International Petroleum Corporation and a former Board member of IAMGOLD Corporation.

Michael Vels retired in December 2022 as Chief Development Officer of Empire and Sobeys Inc. He joined Sobeys in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer where he was responsible for leading the finance, real estate, technology and enterprise project management, and merger and acquisition activities. Prior to joining Empire, Michael was Chief Financial Officer of Hydro One from 2014 to 2017, where he led their Initial Public Offering and before that he was Chief Financial Officer at Maple Leaf Foods. He was educated and earned his Chartered Accountant designation in South Africa and worked in public accounting and mergers and acquisitions in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Canada. He has earned his ICD.D designation. Michael serves as a Director and Treasurer of Canada's National Ballet School.

Michael Waters is the Chief Executive Officer of The Minto Group ("Minto") and served as Chief Executive Officer of Minto Apartment REIT from its IPO in 2018 until April 2023. Michael has over 30 years’ experience in real estate finance, investment and development, and financial advisory services. Prior to becoming Minto's Chief Executive Officer in 2013, Michael served as president of Minto Communities Canada from 2011 to 2013 and as Chief Financial Officer of Minto from 2007 to 2011. Prior to joining Minto in 2007, 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 previously served on the board of REALPAC and on the board of governors of Algonquin College, and the board of the Algonquin Foundation. Michael completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of British Columbia and 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® charterholder.

Karen Weaver retired as President of Timberlane Group, a private family office where she worked in an advisory capacity since October 2020. She retired as the President and CEO of MCAN Mortgage Corporation on June 1, 2023, after having been appointed in May 2019. Prior to that, Karen was Interim CEO of MCAN Mortgage Corporation since October 2018. Karen was a Director of MCAN Mortgage Corporation from 2011 until her retirement. Karen was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of D+H Corporation from 2014 to 2017 and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Capital Realty, Inc from 2004 to 2014. She served as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at Brookfield Property Corporation from 2000 to 2003. Karen was a Trustee of Northwest Healthcare Properties REIT until 2021 and also previously a member of the Board of Directors for MCAP Commercial LP. Karen holds a BBA from Old Dominion University and an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a licensed public accountant, retired, from Washington State, USA.