BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board President

Graham has 40 years of managerial and executive-level experience in highly respected national and global enterprises in both the private and public sectors, along with over 10 years of board experience in the not-for-profit sector, including the boards of the United Way of Halton and Hamilton, Hamilton Community Foundation, Compassion Society of Halton, and Community Living Burlington.

Graham and his wife (along with their pet rabbit) live just steps away from the Burlington city limits in the east end of Oakville, having recently moved there after spending almost 20 years as residents of Burlington.

Vice President

Joanne is a Senior Project Manager with over 30 years of experience in healthcare and information technology.

Joanne has lived, worked, and has volunteer experience with individuals with special needs. For nine years, she owned and ran a homecare respite and social program for kids with special needs.

She served on the Board for a group home for adults with developmental disabilities. She was also a Board Director and Chair for a large organization that supports individuals with special needs and helped their families navigate services and funding. She actively participated on the Recruitment and Retention Committee with Children and Developmental Services, oversaw board retreats and strategic planning, and supported a board by-law refresh.

Joanne has extensive experience planning, executing, and monitoring strategic and complex projects and is fluent in English and French.

Treasurer

Kathy is a retired healthcare finance executive with over 30 years of experience. As VP Finance & CFO, she managed a $1.2B budget and 14,000 employees, addressing the challenges of increasing healthcare demands.

Kathy has served on many Boards in the Hamilton area, focusing on their Mission and Vision. She believes in the importance of people and culture and is committed to making CLB an employer of choice.

As a parent of three, including a daughter who has been supported by CLB for nearly ten years, Kathy is motivated to give back to the community.

Kathy holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University, an Executive MBA from Queen's University, and completed The Directors College Governance program at McMaster University.

Director

With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education and leadership, Anisa has dedicated her career to fostering inclusive environments where every individual is respected, supported, and empowered.

As the Executive Director of Downtown Montessori, a not-for-profit organization serving Toronto families, she leads a community committed to nurturing curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Her journey has included working in not-for-profit organizations to build and expand programs for children aged 0-12, leading multidisciplinary teams, and serving in municipal government roles.

Inclusion and advocacy are not just professional responsibilities for her—they are core personal values. She brings these principles to every aspect of her life, striving to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to participate fully in their communities.

She is deeply committed to the mission of Community Living Burlington and is excited about the opportunity to contribute her experience and passion to its Board of Directors. She believes that together, we can continue to build a community where everyone belongs.

Director

Gary is a recently retired professional with 15 years senior management experience in the corporate world, followed by over 30 years operating his entrepreneurial practice in the financial sector with CFP, CPCA, and RRC designations. He provided professional advice to businesses, organizations, and individuals in various disciplines including financial, investment, estate, and taxation planning, along with risk and debt management. He was often on talk radio as an industry expert and had authored many articles in numerous newspapers over the years. As a fiduciary, compliance and regulatory standards were imperative in all client relationships and dealings.

A graduate of McMaster University, Gary's familiarity with, and compassion for those individuals that Community Living Burlington serves goes back many years. As a special needs summer camp teenage counselor, supervising an inter provincial pilot exchange program with St John New Brunswick, volunteering for the Special Olympics, and growing up with my younger brother who greatly benefitted from the services and core values of this organization, he was fortunate to gain an early understanding and appreciation for the importance of the services and experiences provided.

Gary resides in Burlington and enjoys a broad range of experiences which include mentoring McMaster graduating students, coaching high school football, sitting on a Board with the City of Burlington, and now pleased to also commit his passion to the ongoing success of Community Living Burlington through this Board Director opportunity.

Director

Kerri is a transformational health care executive with over 15 years of progressive leadership experience in the senior living and community health sectors. She currently serves as the Vice President of Operations, Long Term Care where she leads strategic and operational oversight for high-quality, resident-centered care.

With a Master’s in Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Sociology, Kerri is known for her ability to foster inclusive teams, drive quality improvement, and align operations with mission-driven goals. Her governance experience includes serving as Co-Chair for the Central West LHIN Palliative Care Network and Meta Centre Board of Directors.

Kerri’s leadership philosophy centers on accountability, collaboration, and compassionate service delivery—making her a valuable contributor to boards focused on healthcare innovation, community well-being, and organizational sustainability.

Director

Prashant began his involvement with Community Living over 15 years ago when he was a volunteer support worker for the summer activity program to help support his neighbor. He has since participated in the Community on Campus program at University of Toronto, Summer Teen Activity Program, Coaching baseball, and as a support worker for a group home.

As an advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities, he has had the opportunity to meet and work with various members of Community Living and is passionate about serving the community through volunteering.

Prashant is a graduate of the University of Toronto and currently working in the Finance Industry. He enjoys road biking, playing soccer and travelling. 

Director

Aliya is an energetic community builder and leader, a developmental economist, a fundraiser and a not for profit professional with over 20 years of experience in organizational development, communications, strategy, poverty reduction programs and community development. Her work has focused extensively on key developmental issues such as education and training, poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, food security, livelihood programs, SMEs, and social integration—with a unique emphasis on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity.

She brings a combination of formal training, professional experience, and strong interpersonal intuition to her work with people from all walks of life. She has successfully managed volunteers, thrives in team environments, and is recognized as a collaborative and dedicated contributor.

Having lived, worked, and studied in multiple countries across Asia and Europe, she now lives and works in Canada. Her guiding principle is to add value through her work—ensuring that her efforts contribute to a larger purpose and help leave the world a better place than she found it.

Director

Mike joins the Board with first-hand knowledge of how positively Community Living Burlington can impact individuals and families. His late brother Tim spent years involved with the many programs and events offered by CLB.

 After graduating from McMaster University with a Labour Studies degree, Mike began his career as a police officer. He has a passion for serving his community professionally and personally through volunteering at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hamilton & Burlington as well as the Carpenter Hospice - Burlington. Mike recently earned designations in Project and Risk Management from the University of Toronto as well as a Masters in Public Safety from Wilfrid Laurier University.         

Mike is a member of the Risk and Ethics sub-committees of the CLB Board.  

Director

Cathy has previously served on Community Living Burlington's Board of Directors for two (2) terms, ending in 2017. Cathy's professional background is in education, teaching in both middle school and post-secondary level.

After retiring from teaching, Cathy worked for a private telecommunication company as the Director of Community Investment. Her role was to develop and oversee a nationwide scholarship program, develop a series of conferences for students from all provinces and territories, and to organize a volunteer force within the company. Cathy has always valued and embraced a collaborative approach to achieve desired outcomes.

Cathy has a sincere desire to give back to Community Living Burlington in gratitude for their many years of support of her son, Mark. Cathy strongly believes and practices the values of CLB, and is an avid supporter of programs and projects within the agency.

Cathy has completed the Governance Program offered through the Degroote School of Business and currently sit on the Board of two (2) private Family Foundations.