Five New Directors Join RPRA Board
We are pleased to announce the election of five new directors to our Board, effective November 1, 2017:
Saqib Cheema is a partner with BCM Partners LLP, an accounting and management consulting firm based in Mississauga. Mr. Cheema is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Chartered Director. He also holds a Certified Practicing Accountant designation from Australia. Mr. Cheema has extensive experience in finance, strategic planning and business management including as Chief Financial Officer with Specialty Data Systems Inc., a Toronto-based broadcasting management software firm. Mr. Cheema also has extensive board experience, including as a director with the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network and as Board Chair of Compassion Society of Halton, a food bank and referral agency. He has volunteered with Futurpreneur Canada as a mentor for young entrepreneurs. Mr. Cheema is also member of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants and the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Andrea Nemtin is Founding President and CEO of the Inspirit Foundation, a national grant-making organization focused on building a more pluralist and inclusive Canada through Media and Arts, supporting young Change Leaders and an unprecedented 100% Impact Investment Portfolio. Recently, Nemtin was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal for the creation of Inspirit Foundation. Nemtin previously spent 15 years as President and CEO of PTV Productions Inc., an award-winning media company. Ms. Nemtin is currently Chair of Artscape Youngplace, a community cultural hub in Toronto’s West Queen West neighbourhood, and serves as a director for the Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, Philanthropic Foundations Canada and the Social Innovation Institute.
Robert Poirier is currently a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), a Canadian FinTech executive, chair of PortsToronto including Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport with a board composed of federal, provincial and municipal appointees and a director of Northern Trust Company Canada. Robert was previously the Managing Director of the Alternative Investments division at State Street and also served as a senior advisor to members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce from 1992 until 1999.
Rajesh Sharma has over 23 years of experience in financial services, specifically corporate and investment banking products, and client coverage. He is currently providing strategic advice to Canadian corporate and government sector clients, and financing advice to SMEs. Mr. Sharma was formerly Senior Vice-President at Export Development Canada and previously worked with Ontario Hydro International.
Mary Shenstone has over three decades of public policy, management and government relations experience gained through a distinguished public sector career. She was formerly an Assistant Deputy Minister and (Interim) Fairness Commissioner in the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade. Ms. Shenstone also served as an Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ontario Ministry of Intergovernnmental Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal. Ms. Shenstone also has extensive experience with board governance and the Administrative Authority model, having served on the boards of Vintners Quality Alliance Ontario, Real Estate Council of Ontario and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority. She also served as vice-chair of the board of Trinity College in the University of Toronto.
Additional information about the Authority’s Board of Directors is available on our Board page.