- Services Overview
- Operations and Maintenance
- Facility Management
- Engineering Services
- Regulatory Advisory
- Emergency Response
- First Nations Services
- Training
Michael R. Garrett, Chair
Term (as Chair): June 2008 to June 2011
Michael R. Garrett has extensive experience as a senior executive in the public sector. Mr. Garrett has served in a variety of capacities including: Chief Administrative Officer for the regional Municipality of York, City Manager for the City of Toronto, Chief Administrative Officer for the regional Municipality of peel, Assistant Deputy Minister of the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources, Program Director for the South Nation Basin, and Director of Water resources with the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
Art Leitch, Vice Chair
Term: July 2007 to July 2011
Art Leitch is former president and CEO of Hamilton Utilities Corporation. prior to this, Mr. Leitch served as General Manager of Public Works for the City of Hamilton, Commissioner with Hamilton Hydro Commission, General Manager of Sarnia Hydro, Senior Vice-President of United Utilities International PLC, and Commissioner of Planning and Public Works for the region of Halton. Mr. Leitch serves his community as: Chair of the southern section of the Canadian Automobile Association, Vice-Chair for the Ontario Clean Water Agency, and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Link-Line Group of Companies. Mr. Leitch earned his Master of Environmental Engineering degree from the University of Toronto, and his Master of Business Administration degree from York University.
Term: August 2007 to July 2011
Juli Abouchar, of Toronto, is Partner and Environmental Specialist with Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers L.L.P. Ms. Abouchar was Assistant Commission Counsel at the Walkerton inquiry, served on the multi-stakeholder Source Water Protection Implementation Committee and was legal advisor to the Expert Panel on Regulating Safe Drinking Water on First Nations. She practices administrative law before environment and energy tribunals and has published numerous articles. Ms. Abouchar holds a Master of Laws from the University of London, U.K. and a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University
Term: August 2007 to July 2011
John Bergsma, of St. Catharines, is Commissioner of Corporate Services for the Regional Municipality of Niagara. As well, Mr. Bergsma sits on the Boards of St. Catharines Hydro Inc., Horizon Utilities Corp., CFM Corp and Quartet Services Inc. In the past, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Union Gas Limited and President of Lennox Canada Inc., Massey Ferguson Research Ltd., and Columbus McKinnon Limited. He has served on the University of Waterloo Board of Governors for more than 20 years, and the Boards of the Stratford Festival of Canada, the Ontario Great Lakes Renewal Foundation, the Canadian Urban Institute and various United Ways across Ontario.
Term: November 2009 to November 2012
Susan Fletcher, an accountant and consultant, has provided consulting services in a variety of businesses over the past 20 years, including financial services, health care, non-profit organizations and municipal government. Most recently, Ms. Fletcher has led or consulted on projects to identify and value municipal assets and infrastructure to meet capital asset requirements under the new Public Sector Accounting Board. Ms. Fletcher has previously held senior financial management positions in the automotive and research & development sectors, including with Gabriel of Canada and ORTECH International (Ontario Research Foundation), and has also worked in the aerospace sector with de Havilland Aircraft. She currently sits on the Board and is Treasurer of Theatre Orangeville and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queens University.
Term: August 2007 to January 2011
Charles Fox, of Thunder Bay, is an Ojibway-Cree Anishnawbe from the Bearskin Lake First Nation in northern Ontario. He has spent the last 29 years of his life working and advocating for First Nations people. Over the past two years, Mr. Fox has been retained by the Ministry of Health Promotion as a Consultant on Aboriginal matters dealing with public health. He is currently developing and delivering Aboriginal-specific programs in conjunction with the Ontario Power Authority, Conservation Bureau
Term: July 2007 to July 2010
Allan Gunn is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Corporate Services at the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. He is responsible for the corporate leadership of strategic and business planning, controllership and human resource management for an organization of over 16,000 staff with an annual budget of $1.8B. Mr. Gunn has been an executive in the Ontario Public Service for over 20 years including 5 years as Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ontario Ministry of Environment. He is an alumnus of Carleton University, Queen's University, and the Richard Ivey School of Business.
Term: November 2009 to November 2012
Doug Lawson has over 27 years of senior business and financial management experience across a diverse range of industries and size of businesses. During his career, Mr. Lawson has also worked as a consultant to a number of start-up companies. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Nexient Learning Inc., a public company traded on the NEX as "NXL.H". Mr. Lawson received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Chartered Accountant with a further Corporate Finance designation granted by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. He has also earned the ICD.D certification granted by The Institute of Corporate Directors.
Term: August 2007 to August 2010
Gino Nicolini is semi-retired from a career in engineering. Mr. Nicolini has served as: President of Nicolini Construction and Engineering Ltd., President of Val Nicol Construction ltd., and Project Engineer of Kilmer Van Nostrand Construction and Engineering Ltd. Mr. Nicolini serves as member of the Landfill and Waste Disposal Regulatory Policy Group of the Public Advisory Committee for the City of Ottawa. His previous contributions include serving as president of the Ottawa-Gloucester Rotary Club and member of the Committee of Adjustment for the City of Ottawa. Mr. Nicolini is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario.
Robin Kind, President and Chief Executive Officer
Robin Kind has been a member of the Agency's legal group since November 1994. Prior to joining OCWA, Ms. Kind spent several years in private practice in Toronto in the areas of corporate, commercial and environmental law. Ms. Kind held the position of Assistant General Counsel at OCWA from July 2000 to May 2003 and that of General Counsel up until September 2009, when she was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer.
Wilhelm Rinas, Acting General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Wilhelm Rinas was called to the bar in 1997 and worked in a private sector practice before joining OCWA in 2000. After a two-year secondment with the Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Rinas returned to OCWA, first taking on the role of Legal Counsel and then, in 2005, Assistant General Counsel. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a Master of Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Laws.
Dan Atkinson, Vice President, Operations - Southern Ontario
Dan Atkinson assumed his current role in Operations in March 2000. He has been with the Ontario Public Service for over 25 years and joined OCWA at its inception in 1993. One of the Agency's original officers, Dan has served as Corporate Controller and Area Vice President of Operations. Mr. Atkinson is a Certified General Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Master of Business Administration.
Brenda Baker, Vice President, Finance and Corporate Services
Brenda Baker joined OCWA in November 2002. She has over 25 years of financial experience in government including positions with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Auditor General's Office. Ms. Baker is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Master of Business Administration.
Nick Reid, Vice President, Business Development
Nick Reid joined OCWA in February 1995 with 15 years experience in environmental consulting and technical sales. He was instrumental in establishing a client services culture within OCWA and has held progressively responsible positions in Business Development and Operations. Mr. Reid has also served four years as General Manager of the South Peel facilities and two years as Chief Information Officer prior to assuming his current role with Business Development in February 2007. He has been an officer of the company since 2000.
George Terry, Vice President, Operations – Northern Ontario, First Nations and Integrated Systems
George Terry joined OCWA at its inception in 1993. Throughout his OCWA career, he has held successively more senior positions including Operations Manager, Operations Management Specialist, Vice President of Information Technology and Technical Services, Director of Operational Research and Development, and Director of Marketing and Sales. George is a certified Class 4 Water and Wastewater Operator. George is also an active member of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association.
Yarlene Frisani, Director - Risk, Compliance and Training
Yarlene Frisani joined OCWA in 1997 and oversees the Agency's Quality & Environmental Management System and Occupational Health & Safety System, as well as several programs including, Emergency Management, Operational Training and Enterprise Risk Management. Recently, Ms. Frisani was named to the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) Board of Directors and begins her three year term in 2010. She is designated as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental and Occupational Health Science. She is a proud advocate and volunteer for various organizations and community events.
David Edwards, Regional Operations Manager, South Peel
After leaving the Petrochemical Industry, David Edwards joined the Ministry of the Environment that later evolved into the Ontario Clean Water Agency. For the past 25 years he has held many challenging positions, including Biosolids Operations Manager and Maintenance Services & Asset Services Manager. Mr. Edwards has been in his current position since 2005 and holds several professional designations, including Certified Asset Specialist, Second Class Stationary Engineer and Level 4 Wastewater Treatment. He is a member of American Water Works Association and serves on a number of OCWA committees.
Tony Araujo, Director, Human Resources
Tony Araujo joined OCWA in July 2009, after working for 10 years as Director of HR for a large supplier of construction materials. He has extensive experience in all aspects of Human Resource management within a variety of organizations, including both the public and private sector. Mr. Araujo holds a Master degree in Human Resources Management, and is a Certified Human Resource Specialist (CHRP).