Board of Directors
OCINet is governed by a board of directors that includes Ontario-based hospital chief executives and leaders from other industries with complementary skillsets. OCINet follows a skills-based approach to create a highly effective board. With the scope and authority to make impactful decisions, voting board members actively represent – on a volunteer basis – the collective interests of contributing hospitals, integrated community health services centres (also known as independent health facilities) and, ultimately, all patients served.
Dr. Gary Newton, Chair
Dr. Gary Newton assumed the role of President and CEO of Sinai Health System in 2016.
A well respected physician leader, Dr. Newton previously held the position of Physician-in-Chief of Mount Sinai Hospital from 2013 to 2015 and was appointed to the role of Chief Medical Strategy Officer and Physician-in-Chief of the newly formed Sinai Health System in 2015.
As a practicing cardiologist, Dr. Newton was Head of the Division of Cardiology, University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital from 2009 through 2013. He has had an active research program in human physiology, focusing on congestive heart failure, most recently investigating nutritional issues in patients with heart failure. He currently serves as Chair of the Scientific Research Committee of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Dr. Newton is a graduate of the University of Toronto Medical School. He completed internal medicine at the University of Toronto and trained in adult cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. This was followed by specialty training in heart failure, combined with an integrative cardiac physiology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Dr. Newton joined the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto in 1996, where he has distinguished himself as a mentor to junior faculty. In 2016, Dr. Newton was awarded the Robert Hyland Award for Excellence in Mentorship by the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto.
Roy Butler, Vice Chair
Roy was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Joseph’s Health Care London in August 2021. A leader at St. Joseph’s for more than 20 years and a member of St. Joseph’s Senior Leadership Team since 2009, Roy has provided executive leadership to numerous portfolios.
Prior to being appointed President and CEO, Roy was Vice President, Patient Care and Risk Management (2014-2021). In this role, Roy provided executive leadership to the clinical operations at the Parkwood Institute Main Building and Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care, as well as corporate risk management, privacy, and patient relations. Roy played a critical role in the establishment of the Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity at Parkwood Institute and the opening of a new palliative care unit. In addition, he has championed significant improvements in staff engagement and quality outcomes across the organization. He was the executive sponsor for the Accreditation Canada survey when St. Joseph’s achieved its first two of now three consecutive awards of Accreditation with Exemplary Standing.
Roy has also held executive leadership roles accountable for strategic planning, corporate quality and patient safety, environmental services, food and nutrition services, pharmacy, clinical decision support, and health information management. During the pandemic, Roy played a critical lead role in St. Joseph’s pandemic response.
A collaborative and engaging servant leader, Roy is committed to partnering with patients, residents, and caregivers and has been instrumental in positioning St. Joseph’s as a leader in this area through his executive leadership of one of four provincial Change Foundation funded initiatives designed to enhance and elevate care partnerships.
Roy holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Queen’s University and a PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Western University.
Soumya Ghosh, Treasurer
Soumya has more than 21 years of experience within the technology, business consulting, and outsourcing industry and has worked with large global enterprise clients in various leadership roles across the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. His professional experience includes P/L management, business and go-to-market strategy, digital transformation, C-suite client relationship management, strategic program delivery, and organizational transformation.
Soumya has been working extensively in the banking and financial services market for the past 15 years and his areas of expertise include core banking modernization, digital transformation, payments, and wealth management. As a Canada Market Unit Leader of Banking & Capital Markets, Soumya has the responsibility to drive strategic partnership with clients and grow the Capgemini business footprint in Canada to make Capgemini a strategic partner of choice for Canadian financial services clients. Prior to this role, Soumya was instrumental in building a strategic relationship with one of the largest global FI in Canada with annual revenue of $150 million.
Soumya is a member of board of directors at Pine River Institute and also serves as chair of the Finance Committee. In addition, Soumya is also an active member of Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and previously held position as a member of the Executive Committee that focused on promoting corporate governance among not-for-profit and for-profit/SME organizations in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) West region. He also works as a mentor for the young entrepreneurs at Futurpreneur Canada.
Soumya holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), India, and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, US. Soumya also recently completed an Executive Leadership program at Booth School of Business.
Mike Baker, Director
Mike Baker is a senior leader with experience in the private and public sectors. In the public sector, Mike has held executive positions in both Healthcare and Post Secondary, including Vice President of Finance, Administration and Indigenous Services at Northern College.
Mike’s career in healthcare began in 2008 as the Integrated Director of Human Resources for the Kirkland & District, Englehart & District and the Temiskaming hospitals. His acute care experience was expanded to include primary care when he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the Englehart and District Hospital and the Executive Director of the Englehart and District Family Health Team. During his tenure, he was instrumental in integrating several positions and paving the way for the eventual integration of both Kirkland and Englehart hospitals to Blanche River Health.
In 2015, Mike returned to his roots in his current role at the Temiskaming Hospital as President and Chief Executive Officer. A key driver for Mike was the creation of a health care campus at the hospital site, which now includes the Mino M’shki-ki Indigenous Health Team, Keeper’s of the Circle Day Care, Community Cancer Care and the Alzheimer Society. Extendicare will soon be building a 128-bed long-term care home at the hospital site. The development of the health care campus resulted in recognition from the NOEN Lights chapter of the Canadian College of Health Leaders in the form of a “Difference Maker” award. He is also the Co-Chair for the district’s Ontario Health Team, Équipe du Santé des Régions du Timiskaming Area Health Team as it moves towards full application.
In September 2022, Mike was appointed to the Board of the Ontario Hospital Association and is currently serving on both the Finance and Audit and the Labour Relations Committees of the Board.
Mike is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified General Accountant and holds two certificates from Queen’s University in Human Resources and Executive Leadership. In 2022, Mike obtained certificates in the LEADS program from the Canadian College of Health Leaders as well as the SAN’YAS Indigenous Cultural Safety program. Mike was also the recipient of a certificate of appreciation for his vision in advancing Indigenous education at Northern College.
Elizabeth Buller, Director
Elizabeth (Liz) brings more than 30 years of healthcare experience, both within Ontario and British Columbia, to the OCINet Board. She is a specialty-trained nurse and has served in executive and senior leadership positions for more than 25 years. She has served as President and CEO at several Ontario hospitals.
In July 2022, Liz transitioned from Scarborough Health Network (SHN) to St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Prior to joining SHN in July 2017, Liz was President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto, where she was instrumental in the voluntary merger of three hospitals to create Unity Health Toronto. Liz’s extensive background in healthcare leadership also includes four years as Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations and Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice, for the William Osler Health System, which is one of Canada’s largest multi-site community hospital corporations.
On the west coast, Liz served as Senior Operating Officer for Vancouver Acute, a multi-site, academic, health sciences centre within the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Canada’s largest integrated health region. Additionally, Liz has held positions of Executive Director, Program Planning and Services, and Director, Cardiac Sciences, for Providence Healthcare, also in Vancouver.
A native of London, Ontario, Liz obtained her Nursing Degree from McMaster University, graduating magna cum laude. She also holds a Masters in Health Administration from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Arts in Leadership and Organizational Training from Royal Roads University in Victoria, and is a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Jeanette Despatie, Director
Jeanette Despatie is currently President and CEO of Cornwall Community Hospital, an acute care facility operating in the city of Cornwall. She has more than 30 years of combined acute, rehabilitation, mental health and long-term health care management experience.
Over her career, she has twice led the amalgamation and merger of health care facilities; most recently the merger of two acute care hospitals to form Cornwall Community Hospital. She has also been recruited to serve as President & CEO of a neighboring hospital, while under provincial supervision. In past and current roles, Jeanette had direct responsibility for capital redevelopment of a Housing Corporation, Long Term Care Facility, Complex Continuing Care Hospital, Community Addictions & Mental Health Facility and an Acute Care Hospital.
Jeanette’s professional affiliations have included the Children’s Treatment Centre (founding Board Member/Treasurer); the Ontario Association of Non Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (Board Member); St. Lawrence College (Board Member/Vice Chair); the Children’s Aid Society of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (Board Member/Chair); the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association; Ontario Hospital Association Board of Directors (Board Member/Vice Chair); The Change Foundation/Proximity (Board Member/Chair/Vice Chair).
Jeanette has a Bachelor of Commerce, Honours degree from Queen’s University and Executive Leadership certifications from Queen’s University and McGill University.
Ann Ford, Director, Chair – Governance Committee
Embracing a passion for health system transformation, Ann is an astute relationship-builder and results-driven senior leader who firmly believes that partnerships and collaboration drive innovation, strengthen patient care and improve access to services.
In her role as Executive Vice President of Corporate Services and Integrated Health Systems at William Osler Health System, Ann actively leads and promotes strategic initiatives that reach across the continuum of care and focus on improving health system capacity.
Ann works closely with multiple stakeholders including provincial and municipal governments, academic institutions, community health services partners, peer hospitals, patients, caregivers and clinical teams to develop, implement and support the transformational initiatives that enable Osler to provide the best possible care to its community. She also leads Osler’s facility operations and redevelopment teams with a focus on providing safe health environments, as well as planning for the upgraded or new infrastructure that will best serve Osler’s patients now and into the future.
Ann holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Colorado State University and a Master of Science, Health Administration from the University of Colorado. She maintains membership in numerous professional societies including the Canadian College of Health Leaders and the American College of Health Executives.
Sheryl King, Director
Sheryl currently holds the position of Managing Director Strategy and Business Management for the Global Corporate Bank at the Bank of Montreal. This role has direct accountability for designing and execution of strategy. Planning, regulatory, financial, and operational oversight, including monitoring and forecasting constraining resources, are critical in the complex, highly regulated banking environment.
Through Sheryl’s international banking experience, she has held various diverse leadership roles heading up finance professional teams in both the capital markets and retails banking pillars. Her experience includes driving the enterprise-wide capital plan and capital target-setting process. Having served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Merchant Bank and led the stress-testing process, governance oversight and risk appreciation are strong skills that she has developed.
Sheryl served on the Board of Agricorp (a Crown corporation) for six years until September 2019. She served as a member on both the Finance and Audit Committee in addition to the Human Resource and Governance Committee. During her directorship, Agricorp undertook a significant technology replacement project.
As a seasoned professional, Sheryl holds a CA and MBA, completed an advanced program in Treasury Management, and is a Fellow of Canadian Bankers (FICB). She has also completed the corporate directors program through the DeGroote School of Business.
Cameron Love, Director
Cameron Love is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), one of Canada’s leading academic health sciences centres. He took on this leadership role as of July 1, 2020, in an unprecedented time as Ontario’s health system adapts to a new service model in the wake of COVID-19.
Cameron has a Master’s in Health Administration, and training at the Wharton and Telfer Schools of Business, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Psychology. In addition, Cameron is involved in many regional and provincial initiatives, committees, and task forces, and sits on several boards that promote the health and wellbeing of the people in the region.
Cameron is active in the education of aspiring health-care executives as a preceptor to residents in the Master of Health Administration program at the University of Ottawa, for which he received Telfers MHA Preceptors Award.
Away from his professional life, Cameron can be found coaching his children’s minor hockey teams, downhill skiing, mountain biking and spending time with his family.
Ali Mir, Director
Mr. Mir is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Sentrex Health Solutions.
Ali joined Extendicare in 2019 as the Vice President of ParaMed Operations. A former McKinsey and Co. consultant with a focus on public and private sector transformation and growth strategies, Ali has served as Vice President at eHealth Ontario and was most recently a Managing Principal at TELUS Health, where he managed the health outcomes, analytics, and innovation agendas.
Ali started his career as a Canadian Foreign Service Officer and served both in Ottawa and as a diplomat at Canadian embassies in Latin America and the Middle East. Ali believes deeply in community service and has served on the board of the Canadian Mental Health Association and currently serves on the Board of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Ali holds an M.Phil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge, and a B.A (Hons) Economics from McMaster University.
Janice Skot, Director
Janice Skot is the former (now retired) President and CEO of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie, Ontario. Under her visionary and progressive leadership, RVH became a recognized centre of excellence and innovation, providing specialized care closer to home with a strong culture of safety, transparency, accountability, and service excellence.
Throughout her career, Janice held a number of senior positions, including President and CEO of Laurentian Hospital in Sudbury as well as the CEO of the Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre under the auspices of Cancer Care Ontario. Prior to these appointments, Janice was a member of the Laurentian Hospital senior team holding a variety of clinical portfolios.
Janice currently sits as an independent board member of Plexxus and, previously, she chaired the COHPA Board of Directors. Janice is also a surveyor with Accreditation Canada. Janice has sat on a variety of Ontario Hospital Association committees and LHIN/regional councils.
Janice is a Certified Health Executive and holds a Master of Health Science, Health Administration, from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Queen’s University. Her continuing education includes the Harvard School of Business Advanced Management Program and the Independent Corporate Directors Program, Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto.
Janice is passionate about patient-centred care and the need to align the organization’s culture to witness sustainable improved outcomes. To this end, Janice has spoken nationally and internationally about how to define and drive culture to achieve strategic results.
Todd Stepanuik, Director
Todd Stepanuik is the President & CEO, Norfolk and West Haldimand General Hospitals, effective July 11, 2022.
Mr. Stepanuik served as President & CEO at the Middlesex Hospital Alliance in Strathroy, Ontario, for nine years.
Mr. Stepanuik is a Certified Health Executive and holds a degree in Hospital/Business Administration. He is immediate past president/chair of the Canadian Chapter of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE) and was recognized in 2020 with a service award for his commitment to the healthcare management profession. He was also the recipient of the senior healthcare executive of the year award in 2021.
Mr. Stepanuik brings with him an extensive background in healthcare, with over 30 years of executive leadership experience as President & CEO and demonstrated dedication to quality healthcare and patient safety.
Cathy Szabo, Director
Cathy Szabo is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Providence Care, the leading provider of aging, mental health, and rehabilitative care in southeastern Ontario.
Her experience has focused on health system improvement, creating organizational cultures of quality and excellence while delivering patient care that meets individual needs.
Under her leadership, Central CCAC developed a Medication Management Support Services program that was awarded Best Innovation Healthcare Practice in Canada by the National Research Corporation (NRC). Additionally, this program was recognized at the bronze level by the Institute for Public Administration of Canada (IPAC).
A dedicated advocate for healthcare, Cathy is a member of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, Osgoode Hall Health Law Program, GS1 Canada Health Care Advisory Council, and the HQO IDEAS Strategic Advisory Committee – Improving and Driving Excellence Across all Sectors. Cathy is past chair of HIROC – the Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada.
Cathy holds a Master of Public Health, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Diploma of Clinical Administration from the Ontario Hospital Association. She is a Registered Nurse and a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Eric Whaley, Director
Eric C. Whaley is a senior information technology executive with significant experience in oversight of large-scale technology programs and leveraging technologies to achieve business growth, improvements, and exceptional customer experience. He has a history of leveraging technologies and building inspired teams to renovate and propel businesses to the next level of growth and expansion. He is a very effective change agent and is recognized for leadership in identifying goals and instituting governance, methodologies, and approaches for collaboration.
Eric is currently the Chief Information Officer at Wolseley Canada, a leading distributor of plumbing, HVAC, waterworks, and industrial products. Wolseley Canada is part of the global Ferguson organization, which is the world’s largest trade distributor. In his current role, he is responsible for digital transformation and all aspects of technology across the organization, including technology operations, applications, ecommerce, data platforms, and innovation. Eric established and led the initial transformation of the organization leveraging cloud and SaaS at the core and modernizing the IT structure and skills to align with a digitally enabled world. He is also leading the organization in leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Prior to his current role, Eric was the Chief Information Officer at the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) from 2008 to 2014, where he led the technology efforts to deliver a modernized equity trading surveillance platform to transform from a single exchange trading market to a multi-exchange trading market and improved the security framework of the organization. From 2002 to 2008, Eric was the senior executive leading the IT function for the capital markets division of HSBC Bank Canada and was the Chief Technology Officer of the joint venture of Merrill Lynch and HSBC in Canada from 2000 to 2002. From 1996 to 2000, Eric was the Chief Information Officer for the capital markets division of Canada Trust.
Shafique Shamji, Board Secretary
Shafique Shamji is currently the President and CEO of the Ontario Clinical Imaging Network (OCINet). OCINet is an independent, not-for-profit corporation sponsored by Ontario Health in April 2022 with the merger of three diagnostic imaging repositories (i.e., HDIRS, NEODIN, SWODIN). OCINet enables the secure storage and retrieval of millions of image records across multiple repositories; supports hundreds of hospitals and independent health facilities; and connects thousands of physicians, and specialists province wide. This seamless and authorized sharing of clinical imaging supports the movement and treatment of patients, reduces repeat scans and harmful radiation exposure, and decreases wait times and overcrowding.
Mr. Shamji has over 25 years of experience in technology, business, healthcare, software development, telecommunications, and information services. Mr. Shamji was previously the EVP and CIO at The Ottawa Hospital; Chief Operating Officer at Macadamian Technologies headquartered in Québec with offices in Toronto, California, Armenia and Romania; President of Privasoft Corporation, headquartered in Ottawa with offices in Virginia and Brentford, UK; and President of Time iCR in Ottawa, which was acquired by Rogers Communications, where Mr. Shamji served as the Vice-President of Professional Services. Shafique has also spent several years in the US, where he was Chief Operating Officer of TeleHub Network Services in Chicago; President of LD Exchange in California; and Vice-President of Network Services for Fidelity in California. Prior to that, Mr. Shamji held several senior level positions in Toronto with AT&T Canada, Unitel Communications, and Nortel.
Mr. Shamji is an Associate Professor at the Telfer School of Business, a current Board member at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a former Board member for FOCUS Canada (provides global humanitarian assistance), and an active member of the Aga Khan Volunteer Corps of Ottawa. He has also served on many additional Boards, including: TeleHub Network Services, Time iCR, Privasoft, and The Ottawa Hospital.
Mr. Shamji has a Computer Engineering degree from McMaster University in Hamilton and received his Professional Engineering designation in 1991.
Management Team
With experience in hospitals, clinical imaging, electronic health records, and informatics, OCINet managers ensure uninterrupted support and continuous improvement for hospitals and integrated community health services centres (also known as independent health facilities).
S. Shamji
President and CEO
D. Veeneman
Vice President, Operations
S. Charlton
Sr. Manager, Architecture and Technology
S. Kanji
Procurement Lead
K. Sophocleous
Sr. Manager, Clinical Services
W. Zhang
Security Program Lead/CISO
E. Gaspirc
Chief Financial Officer
K. Campbell
Manager, Human Resources
D. Hall
Privacy Program Lead
M. Caddey Maclean
Communications Lead
S. Newell
Legal Counsel
