Natalie Peers is the Vice President, Finance and Corporate Services, joining OCWA in 2023. She brings over 15 years experience in progressively senior roles at Sobeys Inc. and most recently at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment as the Sr. Director, Finance overseeing a variety of functions including controllership and financial planning & analysis. Natalie graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in 2007 (BBA), St. Mary’s University in 2010 (MBA) and received her CPA designation in 2010.
Iman Hashemi, M.Eng is OCWA’s Vice President, Innovation and Infrastructure Solutions. Iman has spent his entire career in the water industry, working for GE Water (now SUEZ) before joining OCWA in 2011 as a Process and Energy Optimization Specialist, South Peel Water System. In 2016, he became the Manager of the Arthur P. Kennedy Water Treatment Plant in Peel. Since then, he has led trials of innovative technologies in treatment facilities, managed state of good repair large budgets for clients, and implemented advanced facility maintenance programs. In his new role, Iman will be responsible for leading the Agency’s engineering, process optimization and energy management groups.
Mike Mortimer is OCWA’s Vice President of Operations, South Peel. Since joining the Agency in 2020, Mike previously served as Regional Hub Manager for both Conveyances Services and the Georgian Highlands Region. Prior to joining OCWA, Mike spent 18 years on the municipal side of water and wastewater operations across Ontario, where he used a combination of practical experience, leadership expertise, and innovative passion to drive programs and deliver efficient operations in both water and wastewater. Mike obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree (Environmental Science and Biology) from Western University and holds Class 4 certification licenses in Water Distribution and Supply, and Water Treatment, as well as Class 2 certification licenses in Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Collection.
Terry Bender has been with OCWA since its inception and has over 30 years’ experience in the water and wastewater sector across Ontario. Previously OCWA’s Vice President of Operations – and a member of OCWA’s Executive Management Team – Terry’s client-focused approach and years of experience in operating, maintaining, and managing water and wastewater treatment facilities and delivering on capital projects have made him a recognized leader in the Ontario water sector. Terry has led OCWA in the development of compliance, process and operational systems for optimization and regulatory reporting for the effective operation of water and wastewater facilities across Ontario. Through years of experience, he has grown the Agency’s competitive municipal client base throughout Ontario, and has contributed to OCWA’s current financial growth and success. Terry is the Ontario director sitting on the Board of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA), a not-for-profit organization that represents the common interests of Canada’s public sector municipal water and wastewater services and their private sector suppliers and partners.
Debbie is a registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario with more than 40 years’ experience in municipal engineering. She joined the OCWA Board in 2017. In 1991 she joined the Regional Municipality of York as a project engineer, and worked in several positions to eventually become the General Manager, Water and Wastewater in 2005. While at York, she served as a municipal representative on the CTC Source Protection Committee. She was also closely involved with implementation of policies under the Oak Ridges Moraine Protection Plan, the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and Source Water Protection Plans. Debbie left York Region in 2008 to pursue a broader career in Public Works with the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, where she worked with staff to develop a strategic plan for the newly formed engineering services department, combining roads, water, wastewater, development engineering and asset management and bringing in-house capital delivery. She joined Simcoe County and April 2013 as the General Manager, Engineering, Planning and Environment with overall responsibility for Transportation, Solid Waste, Planning, Forestry, Economic Development, Tourism and By-Law. Debbie retired from the County in 2021 and now devotes her time to OCWA and volunteer work.
Melanie Debassige has over 17 years of experience in Aboriginal Economic Development. She is currently employed with the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations as the Chief of Staff. She obtained a Diploma in Native Management and Economic Development from Trent University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario. She also has a certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo and is a certified Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer with the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers. Melanie held the elected position of Councillor with the M’Chigeeng First Nation Chief and Council for eight years and was appointed as a police commissioner with the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Police Services for seven years. She also holds a position as Director on the Mother Earth Renewable Energy Board that oversees the for-profit wind turbine corporation that is solely owned by M’Chigeeng First Nation. Melanie has also served on the Great Spirit Circle Trail Board of Directors, a not-for-profit destination marketing organization. Melanie was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor to the Ontario Clean Water Agency Board of Directors in October 2013, where she leads the Board’s First Nations Task Force. Melanie completed the Director’s Education Program at the Rotman School of Management and is now a certified corporate director. She also has a Master’s in Business Administration. Melanie was just recognized by the Canadian Board Diversity Council in the Diversity 50, which recognizes fifty Board ready candidates across Canada.
Richard Austin was born and raised in Toronto. He spent most of his professional career as a financial services lawyer and became increasingly involved in securities, and mutual fund dealer, financial planning and securities dealer matters in particular, over the last 20 years. He has held a variety of positions, including Senior Legal Counsel with the Ontario Securities Commission, Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs for Money Concepts, Deputy Head of Compliance, Wealth Management Scotiabank and Counsel at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. He works part-time as the General Counsel of Lending Loop, a peer-to-peer fintech lending organization.
Richard was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1983 after receiving his law degree from the University of Windsor in 1981. He received a B.A. (Honours) majoring in Economics in 1978 from the University of Toronto and an MBA majoring in Finance from York University in 1984. He has been a member of boards of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada, Scotia Securities Inc. and the Association of Canadian Compliance Professionals and the author of a number of courses and articles related to the securities industry. He currently is a member of Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada’s Hearing Panel and the Administrative Penalty Tribunal of City of Toronto.
Joseph Pennachetti’s storied career in municipal public service spans about four decades. He became Toronto’s Chief Financial Officer in 2002 and City Manager in 2008, where he was responsible for the city’s budget until his retirement in 2015. Of his many accomplishments at the City of Toronto, Pennachetti developed the City’s strategic plan for 2014-2018 in order to build on the city’s key achievements from the previous decade, advancing City Council’s vision, mission, and goals for years to come. Under his leadership, the City of Toronto was – and continues to be – recognized internationally for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services and is among the highest ranked cities for tax competiveness, business investment, labour attractiveness and livability.
Prior to joining the City of Toronto, Mr. Pennachetti was the Chief Financial Officer for the regional municipalities of Peel and York, held a senior financial position with the regional municipality of Durham and spent ten years at the City of Edmonton. Mr. Pennachetti was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Sponsors Corporation in January of 2016. He joined the University of Toronto as executive adviser to the Global Cities Institute and the World Council on City Data and as a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Municipal Finance and Governance in November of 2015.
Candice White is the Chief Administrative Officer for a rural municipality in Peterborough County. She is a results-focused Municipal Manager specializing in finance and executive leadership. While promoting balanced economic growth, she has demonstrated significant accomplishments in streamlining operations, maximizing efficiencies, driving strategic outcomes, and developing an effective communication plan for relationship building. After two decades in finance, she has taken specific interest in asset management and the benefits that program provides. Known as a proficient grant writer, she has successfully received millions of dollars for municipal infrastructure and community programming for her community. Candice also sat as a member of the York Region Wastewater Advisory Panel and is the Secretary-Treasurer for the Police Services Board.
Hao (Artie) Li is a Chartered Professional Accountant with years eight years of professional experience. Hao graduated from the University of Toronto in 2013 with a degree in Accounting. Hao started his professional career with Ernst & Young LLP where he worked as a senior accountant and serviced clients from a wide array of industries such as Medical, Manufacture, Government Agencies, and Non-For-Profit Organizations. Hao is currently the Chief Financial Officer of two publicly traded companies in the resources industry where he spearheaded multiple acquisition deals and manage operations from multiple foreign jurisdictions.
