Board of Directors

Honourary Board Members

Roger Neilson House would like to recognize the tremendous support of our Honourary Board Members:

  • Gary Cardiff
  • Roy Mlakar
  • Dave Ready

Board Members

The Board is responsible for the overall governance of the affairs of Roger Neilson House.

Top Row from Left: Robert Houston (Secretary), Mike Lupiano (Chair), Caitlin Neil (Director), Ian Hendry (Vice Chair), Jacqueline Belsito (Ex-officio Director), Bruno Perrier (Manager), Helen Yoxon (Manager) Dr. David Creery (Director), Sonja Marshall (Coordinator, Strategic Projects and Governance)
Bottom Row from Left: Brad Weir (former Ex-officio Director), Ruth Hartanto (former Director), Jeff Polowin (former Director), Anne Huot (former Director), Megan Wright (Ex-officio Director), Les Bell (Past Chair), Alexa Brewer (Director). Missing from photo: Michelle Bouchard (Treasurer), Paul Lalonde (Director), Monique Lugli (Director), Brian Morris (Director), Janet Wilson (Director), Dr. Christina Vadeboncoeur (Medical Director), Nahal Yazdani (Manager)  

Click on any Board Member’s name to view their bio.

Mike Lupiano

Chair

Mike Lupiano is an Ottawa native who attended both the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, and graduated in 1977. Mike spent the first 30 years of his career in Human Resources leadership roles at Mitel, Cognos, Lumonics and Tundra Semiconductor and is currently a Partner in a boutique executive search firm.  Always appreciative of the fabulous city we live in here in Ottawa, a sense of community and “giving back” has always been a priority for Mike. He has served on the Board of Directors at St. Patrick’s Home and is presently on the Boards of the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County and Serenity House a substance abuse treatment organization. Mike is married to Kathleen, a retired high school science teacher and is blessed with two grown daughters and a grand-daughter, who keep him young.

Ian Hendry

Vice Chair

Ian is a partner of Hendry Warren LLP Chartered Accountants. A graduate of the Queen’s University School of Business in 1977 and was admitted to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario in 1979. Ian is also a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practicioners and a Certified Financial Planner.

Ian has been involved with many community organisations including the CHEO Foundation, The Kiwanis Club of Ottawa and is a past chair of the Roger Neilson House Board of Directors.

Ian was reappointed to the Board in June of 2014 and is a member of the Finance Committee.

Michelle Bouchard

Treasurer

Hailing from rural Northern Ontario, Michelle has proudly called Ottawa her home since 2009.  She came to the City to attend the University of Ottawa and has been in love with it ever since. During her studies at U of O, she completed co-op terms with Hendry Warren LLP where she began working with Ian Hendry, current Board member at Roger Neilson House.  She joined Hendry Warren LLP full-time in 2014 and obtained her Chartered Accountant designation in 2016.

After hearing of all the great work that Roger Neilson House does through Ian and seeing its amazing impact on the community, she joined the Finance Committee in May 2017 and subsequently joined the Board in June 2019.

Michelle has been involved with other community organizations including the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa and currently sits on the Board for the Heron Emergency Food Centre.

Robert Edward Houston, Q.C.

Secretary

Robert has been practicing with Burke-Robertson since 1992 and was with Soloway Wright from 1969—1992. His areas of practice include Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation and Supreme Court of Canada Agency.

Robert has been active in a number of professional associations and committees including: the County of Carleton Law Association – Trustee from 1979 – 1987; President 1986 – 1987; the Canadian Bar Association – Member of Council from 1982 – 1984; and 1986 – 1987; the Advocates’ Society – Director from 1977 – 1979; the Chief Justice’s Committee of the Bench and Bar (Province of Ontario) from 1984 – 1990; the Ontario Court Management Advisory Committee (Province of Ontario) from September 1990 to 1996; the Supreme Court of Canada Liaison Committee; (Canadian Bar Association from 1985 to 1990); the Registrar’s Ottawa Agents Practice and Procedures Committee (Supreme Court of Canada) from 1991 – present; Lecturer – University of Ottawa Law School – Trial Advocacy from 1982 – 1989; Lecturer – Bar Admission Course (Ottawa) – Criminal Procedure from 1979 to 1999; and Fellow American College of Trial Lawyers.

Les Bell

Past Chair

Les Bell is a lifetime Ottawa Resident, a graduate of Brookfield High, Carleton University (BComm ’81) and earned his Chartered Accountant designation in 1984. Les owns and operates Lincoln Heights Ford and has been the Dealer Principal of the dealership since 1998. Les is inspired by the community spirit that is very prevalent in all corners of the Ottawa region and he is active in his many roles to contribute to that community spirit.

Les is happily married to Sheila who also a lifetime Ottawa resident and they are both very proud of their four children, Brendan, Evan, Ben and Emma. Les is a sports enthusiast. Les was first introduced to Roger Neilson House in 2008 as a member of RNH’s Finance and Audit Committee. Les was appointed to the Board June 2010.

Alexa Brewer

Director

Alexa Brewer brings extensive knowledge related to health systems and health policy to the Roger Neilson House Board. Alexa has significant governance experience within the healthcare sector, and has most recently completed two 3-year terms as a director on the Board of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network.

A nurse by background, her career also includes senior roles in the federal government, and she has significant expertise in the areas of health systems integration, governance and health policy as well as information management and technology. Alexa has a Bachelor of Nursing from McGill University and an MBA from the University of Ottawa.

Dr. David Creery MD MSc FRCPC

Director

Dr. David Creery is a Pediatric Intensive Care Physician and Medical Director of Patient Safety at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa, Ontario. He received his medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1989. He completed training in Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa (1994) and Pediatric Critical Care at the University of Toronto (1998). He was the Division Chief of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and Medical Director of the PICU at CHEO from 2002 until 2016. In 2010 he completed a Masters of Health Science in Health Administration with a focus on Patient Safety from the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Since 2011 he has been an Investigating Coroner for the City of Ottawa.

Paul Lalonde

Director

Paul was born and raised in Ottawa, and he graduated from Notre Dame High School in Ottawa’s West End.  Paul was an avid hockey player growing up, playing minor hockey for the Ottawa West Golden Knights and junior hockey for the Kanata Lasers, Cumberland Grads, and Perth Blue Wings.

Paul graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University and obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen’s University. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in July 2003, and joined a management-side labour and employment boutique in Toronto soon after his call to the bar. He returned home in January 2006 when he joined Emond Harnden LLP, and became a partner with the firm in 2013.

Paul represents both federally and provincially regulated employers in a wide range of labour and employment matters. He has considerable experience in the areas of employment and labour law, as well as occupational health and safety and workplace safety and insurance law.

Paul is married and is the proud father of three elementary school aged girls.  He spends much of his free time with his girls on the ski hill, at the dance studio, or at one of their many other activities.  He also continues to play men’s league hockey and in recent years has taken up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Paul served on the Board of Director’s for the Caring and Sharing Exchange from 2012 to 2018.  He was the President of the Board from 2015 to 2018.

Monique Lugli

Director

As Vice President of Child Development and Community Services at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Monique’s responsibilities include development and rehabilitation and autism programs located across the region, CHEO School, regional genetics program, palliative care, professional practice, integrated care delivery including CHEO’s role in the Kids Come First Health Team and the School-based Rehabilitation and Community Discharge Team. The provincial programs including Newborn Screening Ontario, BORN Ontario and the Kids Health Alliance fall within her portfolio as well. Monique is an experienced leader, warm and engaging and committed to CHEO’s vision, mission and values.

Monique started her career as a speech language pathologist and she has an impressive track record for her leadership across different sectors, including hospitals, home care, public health and government. She spent 14 years as a speech language pathologist in Ontario and British Columbia, working both for public provider organizations and a thriving private practice. Running her own successful business and having a passion for lifelong learning made her pursue an MBA, and after graduation she held the position of Executive Director, Community Services for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit for five years. There, she led community services in an area that included dozens of municipalities and nine First Nation communities. She returned to Ottawa, where years prior she had lived as an undergraduate student at uOttawa, to work for the federal government. Her most recent role there was as chief of staff to the Minister of Health.

Brian Morris

Director

Brian Morris is a first-time member of the Roger Neilson House Communications Committee and is thrilled at the opportunity to be part of the Board of Directors.

Brian has spent the last 20 years working in Ottawa’s sports and entertainment industry, with the majority of that time focused on the fields of communications and media relations. A proud east-coaster and New Brunswick native, Brian moved to the Nation’s Capital to join the then-Major League affiliated baseball team, the Ottawa Lynx, and later progressed to the Ottawa Senators where he has acted as the head of the organization’s communications team for the majority of the past 15 years. He has had the wonderful opportunity to work with Roger Neilson House and CHEO as well as numerous other charities during his tenure with the Senators. His greatest personal achievements have come from using the hockey’s club profile to create unique and special experiences for young people dealing with difficult situations.

Brian volunteers his time coaching several minor sports in Kanata as well as enjoying an active life with his wife Annie and two boys, Connor and Cameron. The pandemic has introduced Brian to mountain biking and you’ll often find him in the evening or on the weekend traversing some of Ottawa’s most beautiful and challenging trails.

Caitlin Neil

Director

Caitlin became involved with Roger Neilson House six years ago when she and her husband Chris Neil were named the honourary chairs. Caitlin sat on the board of the Ottawa Senators Foundation for four years, where she was involved in various fundraising efforts. Caitlin and Chris reside in Ottawa with their three children, Hailey, Cole, and Finn. Caitlin has developed special relationships with the children at Roger Neilson House and is excited to further become involved with the activities in the house.

Janet Wilson

Director

Janet Wilson is a long time member of the Roger Neilson House Communications Committee and is thrilled to join the Board. Janet’s journey with Roger Neilson House began in 2006 when her son Patrick Hadden and family stayed there for several weeks during his illness.

Janet spent more than 25 years working in the media for the Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, The Hill Times and the Ottawa Business Journal. Prior to this, she helped launch Luxe Ottawa magazine, worked as a Senior Account Director for Hill and Knowlton and is now the premium content editor for Export Development Canada. She loves being in or on the water and has been a competitive dragon boat paddler for more than 20 years. With a love of adventure, Janet spent more than two years backpacking around the world, which included stints working on a sheep farm in Australia, an au pair in Switzerland and a grocery store in Belfast. She currently sits on the Board for Music and Beyond and Tunes and Spoons.

Jacqueline Belsito

Ex-officio Director

Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Jacqueline Belsito is a fundraising and marketing professional with over 28 years of experience.  After graduating from Algonquin College, Jacqueline began her career in the high tech sector with marquee companies such as Corel, Cognos and Mitel.  A career shift into philanthropy saw her providing leadership for hospitals, universities, and social organizations for over 17 years.  In her current position as VP of Philanthropy at the CHEO Foundation, Jacqueline feels privileged to support our areas most vulnerable population, our children and youth.  She is an aunt of five nephews, a hands on godmother and proud to be part of the lives of three beautiful step children. As an active advocate for CHEO and Roger Neilson House, Jacqueline’s proudest moments come when she finds donors who are interested in making a difference in the lives of children and youth and helps them start and build meaningful relationships through philanthropy.

Megan Wright

Ex-officio Director

Megan Wright is the Executive Director of Roger Neilson House and the Director of Palliative Care at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Megan started as the ED at Roger Neilson House in 2014 and has been a valued member of the CHEO Management team since 2003.

Megan received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Ryerson University, she also has her Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Toronto, and graduated from the Champlain LHIN Senior Leadership Program, among many other courses and achievements.

Prior to obtaining her position at CHEO, Megan worked at both the Credit Valley Hospital and at the Bloorview MacMillan Centre, where she was a nursing manager. She has 20 years of leadership experience in the health care environment.