LiveWorkPlay Annual General Meeting Celebrates Resilience and Positive Change

On the evening of June 20, the LiveWorkPlay community met online for the 27th annual general meeting, which featured presentations by independent auditor Ross Holmes, Chair of the Board Daniel Spagnolo, Chair of the Governance Committee Kate Sherwood, Chair of the Stewardship Committee Robin McIntyre, Director of Operations Julie Kingstone, and Director of Communications Keenan Wellar. The entire meeting and annual report are available in text and video to members of the public.

After the AGM the newly elected Board of Directors (see below) featuring 6 returning members, and the addition of Judith Eigenbrod, met for the first time. Daniel Spagnolo stepped down as Chair after multiple years of service in that position, and Robyn McIntyre was elected as the new Chair of the Board of Directors.

"I want to thank Carole Sheppard for her service to the Board of Directors, especially her work with the Stewardship Committee, the outcomes of which were featured repeatedly during the AGM" said Mr. Spagnolo. "I welcome Judith Eigenbrod, who will be serving on our Governance Committee, and I am very pleased to have Robin McIntyre take up the Chair position."

Board member short biographies:

Daniel Spagnolo is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and graduate of the University of Western Ontario (B.A.C.S. – Finance and Administration and Economics). Since 2008, Daniel has worked at the Office of the Auditor General of Canada in the development of audit methodology and as an auditor specializing in the performance of special examinations of Crown Corporations.

Prior to his work in the federal government Daniel was a financial audit manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Toronto and Ottawa. In that capacity, Daniel developed industry knowledge and expertise in the Mining, Manufacturing, Software and Technology, Health Care, First Nations and Not-for-Profit sectors.

Andrea Saldanha is a Senior Advisor at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat at the Centre for Greening Government.  She has deepened her training in facilitation and communication. She uses this toolkit to engage with large public sector buyers across the country on green procurement. Andrea has worked on community-driven environmental initiatives for 20 years. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design and a Masters of Science in Rural Planning.

Andrea first became involved with LiveWorkPlay in 2007, where she participated in the Friday Night Activities. She has also fundraised for LiveWorkPlay in her workplace and supported member and volunteer participation in the Ottawa Race Weekend. She considers it a great privilege to contribute to this great organization.

Cathy Velazquez brings more than 30 years management experience spanning 3 highly regulated and competitive industries.  A dynamic people leader and customer advocate, she has successfully led teams through significant business change and transformations.  Cathy brings a positive approach to problem solving, creating win-win situations, strengthening relationships and enhancing the brand.

Cathy has built a solid reputation as a champion for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the community.  She first learned about LiveWorkPlay in 1998 through work placement initiatives, and first joined the Board of Directors in 2013, serving a six-year term, including time as the Chair.

Kate Sherwood holds Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Maine in International Affairs and French, including time studying in France and the French West Indies. Kate has spent over 20 years working in both corporate and non-profit arenas, primarily in business development and marketing roles. Her experience ranges from banking and financial services to the voluntary and social support sectors.

The brands and organizations Kate has partnered with through her professional roles include: some of the most recognizable names in professional sports in the US and Canada; colleges and universities across the US Northeast; major financial institutions; numerous corporate foundations; as well as international and regional non-profit agencies. Throughout her career Kate has excelled at developing rapport with her clients, understanding their goals for the partnership, aligning strategies and initiatives to achieve them and drive value for both parties. She is currently a consultant with Rise Up Strategies in Ottawa.

Kate has been a lifelong volunteer, and is proud to have been involved with LiveWorkPlay since 2015 as a member of the Employment Task Force and as a member of the board starting in 2019.

Robin McIntyre is a management consultant specializing in the area of service transformation and the implementation of large programs and projects. She is currently on an Interchange Assignment with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). In this position, she develops program and project management strategies in several functional areas, including risk management. She also supports the planning and delivery of complex transformation programmes to modernize services and IT systems for Canadians.

Robin graduated from the University of Waterloo and holds a US/European patent. In 2010, she received her ICD designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Robin dedicates her time to causes that promote healthy living and inclusion to build stronger and more vibrant communities.

Jon Doody is a lawyer. He is a graduate of the University of Windsor law school in 2013. He has spent his whole career working at Bayne, Sellar, Ertel, Carter doing criminal defence. He represents clients at all levels of court in the province, doing trials in the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice; and doing appeals in the Court of Appeal.

Jon represents clients from all socio-economic backgrounds and is passionate about ensuring that everyone enjoys their Charter-protected rights. Jon first became connected with LiveWorkPlay when his firm became an employer partner.

Judith Eigenbrod brings a passion for public health, equity and inclusion, and an interdisciplinary lens to the board of Live Work Play. Judith was born in Germany and grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She lives on the on traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation in Ottawa, Ontario with her husband and two children.

She works as the Director of Programs at the First Nations Health Managers Association, working to support capacity development and training for First Nations health leaders across Turtle Island. She has spent the past 8 years working for and with First Nations health leaders in Ottawa and BC and continues to learn and challenge herself throughout her work. Prior to her work in First Nations health, she worked as an environmental consultant as an aquatic biologist and project coordinator and is still happiest in a canoe. She holds a Master of Public Health and a Master of Science.