Board of Directors

Donna Alteen (Chair)

CEO, Time + Space

As the founder of Time + Space, Donna is a seasoned entrepreneurial executive, leading the business strategy for the organization. As well, she is an active consultant with organizations and internal teams providing strategic counsel grounded in measurable business outcomes. Her professional experience spans a broad scope of industry sectors; both nationally and internationally, including Tourism, Energy, Economic Development, Telecommunications and Consumer Packaged Goods. Donna leads the business strategy for Time + Space.

A dedicated lifelong learner, Donna holds a BBA with a major in Marketing, as well as a number of additional credentials in leadership, digital business models, coaching and corporate governance. Donna is a frequent speaker at colleges, universities and industry organizations. She is an active volunteer in the local and national NFP community serving on a number of committees and boards. She is also a recipient of the Women of Excellence Award for Entrepreneurship.

Patrick Fitzgerald (Vice Chair)

Partner, Cox & Palmer

Patrick is a senior corporate law partner in the Halifax office of Cox & Palmer, one of the largest law firms in Atlantic Canada. He has practiced business law and delivered strategic advice in Halifax and across the region for more than 20 years and has been involved in many transactions that have helped shape the economy in Halifax Regional Municipality.

Along the way, Patrick developed a particular interest in the technology industry and developed a client base centered on innovation based businesses in Atlantic Canada. He is actively involved in Nova Scotia’s start-up ecosystem having championed Cox & Palmer’s participation in a number of incubator and accelerator programs and hubs, as well as providing pro-bono advice to various start-ups across Nova Scotia.

Patrick has served in a number of leadership roles within Cox & Palmer and is currently the Chair of Cox & Palmer’s Board of Directors and a former member of Cox & Palmer’s Halifax Executive Committee with specific responsibility for leveraging its innovation culture and identifying, assessing and implementing innovative processes, improvements and technologies at Cox & Palmer. Patrick has completed the Director Education Program at University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management and holds an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

A firm believer in an active lifestyle, Patrick is a member of the Halifax Triathlon Club, is a running and cycling enthusiast and has completed dozens of cycling, running and triathlon events.

Dr. Alice Aiken

Vice President, Research & Innovation, Dalhousie University

Professor Alice B. Aiken, CD, PhD, MSc, BScPT, BSc, ICD.D

Dr. Alice Aiken is the Vice President – Research & Innovation at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, she was formerly the Dean of the Faculty of Health at Dalhousie. She is a full Professor in the Faculty of Health. Her research focuses on health systems transformation and evidence-informed policy-making with a concentration on military and Veteran health. Dr. Aiken is the Vice Chair of the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). She holds her ICD.D designation from the Institute for Corporate Directors.

Sarah Buckle

Partner | Sustainability & Climate, Deloitte

Sarah is an experienced sustainability leader with over 20 years effecting positive and transformative change through strategy and innovation. Sarah was recently appointed as the Executive Director and Chief Climate Investment Officer leading the newly established Halifax Climate Investment, Innovation and Impact (HCi3) Fund. HCi3 is one of seven Centres that make up the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) network, in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund. A subsidiary of EfficiencyOne (which provides cost-effective electricity efficiency and conservation services in Nova Scotia), HCi3’s goal is to help Halifax reach its full emissions reduction potential and unlock co-benefits for local communities.

Prior to joining the LC3 network, Sarah held a variety of private and public sector roles providing strategic direction and overall leadership in the development and implementation of sustainability programs, including climate action plans and low-carbon fleet strategies, carbon credit programs and the green bond and sustainable investing programs.

In 2019, Sarah was a recipient of Canada’s Clean50 award recognizing her leadership in sustainability. Prior to relocating to Halifax, Sarah served on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Urban Transit Research Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) and the BC Environmental Managers Association.

Carrie Cussons

President & CEO, Events East Group

Carrie Cussons is President & CEO of Events East Group managing the Halifax Convention Centre, a 120,000 sq. ft. Convention Centre in the heart of downtown Halifax, Scotiabank Centre, the largest multipurpose facility in Atlantic Canada with a seating capacity in excess of 10,000 and Ticket Atlantic, the region’s primary ticket provider.

Since joining the organization in 2009, Carrie has been a strategic lead in all areas of the business with a core responsibility for ensuing the efficient delivery of corporate and operational initiatives to support business growth and success.

Prior to her appointment as President & CEO, she was Chief Financial Officer and led the Corporate Services group, including finance, human resources and technology. In this role, she was responsible for the strategy for the new Halifax Convention Centre and the lead executive who championed the development and activation of the organization’s approach to prepare its team and operations for a successful transition to the new corporate structure and opening of the new Centre. This included a particular emphasis on change management and process improvements. Having been involved since the new convention centre project began, she was instrumental in the facility’s design and has worked closely with the organization’s partners, and employees to ensure the facility meets client and community expectations.

Carrie brings a diverse business background, including over two decades of management experience with a concentration in financial and operational leadership. She has held executive leadership and finance roles in a variety of public and private sector organizations including the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, the CCL Group and Ernst and Young. She has played a lead advisory role on business strategy, measurement and financial reporting. A graduate of Acadia University, she received her CPA, CA designation in 1991, and in 2015, she completed the Director’s Education Program through the Institute of Corporate Directors. Carrie is currently a member of the Women’s Leadership Collaborative and the International Women’s Forum of Canada, Secretary of NAIG 2023 (North American Indigenous Games), and Past Chair of the 2020/21 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Carrie also holds international memberships in IAVM (International Association of Venue Managers) and AIPC (International Association of Convention Centre Centres) and ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association) and in 2020 was named a Canadian Progress Women of Excellence Award Winner.

Andrea Forbes-Hurley

Managing Partner, KBRS

Andrea is a Managing Partner with KBRS, a Halifax headquartered human resources consulting firm with over 70 professionals in offices in Halifax, St. John’s, Toronto and Moncton that provide support and trusted counsel to clients across Canada and the United States in executive search, academic search, recruitment, HR consulting, leadership development and career transition.

Andrea is committed to providing strategic advice and building lasting partnerships with her clients and has been instrumental in the successful completion of hundreds of executive search assignments over the past 14 years. While Andrea has worked with clients across both the public and the private sectors across Atlantic Canada and beyond, her particular focus is in the recruitment of leaders for post-secondary, government, health care and not-for-profit organizations.

In addition to leading and facilitating executive searches, Andrea provides strategic oversight to the firm’s executive and academic search practices and contributes to the day-to-day management of KBRS.

Andrea has a keen interest in effective board governance and is a member of the Maritime Chapter Advisory Executive for the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) of Canada and serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for 211 Nova Scotia. She also believes strongly in the importance of organizational diversity and inclusion and in supporting and welcoming new Canadians and volunteers as a professional mentor through the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS).

Andrea earned a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary's University and a Bachelor of Arts with honours in Psychology from St. Francis Xavier University. She obtained her CPHR designation through CPHR Nova Scotia in 2009 and completed the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate program with Cornell University in 2020. Andrea resides in Halifax with her husband Sean and their sons Kenny and Tommy

Mike Johnston

President & CEO, REDspace

Mike Johnston is the founder and CEO of REDspace, a 22 year old, 300 employee software engineering company based in Bedford. REDspace has become a global centre of excellence in digital video delivery, helping media networks like Paramount, Warner Media and Sony Pictures to create the streaming video experiences we all use to watch shows and movies on our many digital devices.

REDspace is in growth mode in the highly competitive IT industry, attracting talent from across Canada, and increasingly around the world. They have been recognized for their leadership in diversity, youth employment, export success, and innovation. REDspace was named the 2021 Halifax Business of the Year.

Mike hails from Truro, and launched REDspace as a small IT consultancy after returning home from an early tech career in Boston. He and his wife Angela have three young adult children who fill them with pride. Outside of work, Mike plays clarinet and saxophone in various community bands. He is a board member of the national Loran scholarship, the Atlantic Canada selections lead for Harvard, and a supporter of various medical research and youth technology programs. Mike holds a magna cum laude degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard University.

Ken MacLean

Vice President & General Counsel Municipal Group of Companies

Ken MacLean serves the role of Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at the Municipal Group of Companies and sits on the Executive Management Committee for the Group.

The Municipal Group is a diversified group of companies operating in NS, NB, NFLD & Labrador, Quebec, Florida and the Caribbean, performing heavy civil construction, mining, waste management & environmental, logistics and transportation services through companies such as Dexter Construction, REgroup, Grey Rock Services, MBW Courier and others.

Prior to joining the Municipal Group of Companies, Ken was a Partner and Management Committee member at the law firm BOYNECLARKE.

Ken has sat as Board Chair for organizations such as the Waegwoltic Club, Shelter Nova Scotia, New Start Society, Metro Turning Point and as a Board Member for Regional Residential Services Society, Dalhousie Legal Aid, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, as well as serving on committees with organizations such as the NS Health & Safety Leadership Charter and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

Nicola Ray Smith

Senior Vice President, Atlantic Region, Scotiabank

Nicola Ray Smith is the Senior Vice President, Atlantic Region for Scotiabank. She assumed the position in June 2022 and provides senior leadership to our Scotiabank network across Atlantic Canada.

Nicola joined Scotiabank in 2002 from the consulting industry. She began her career on the trade floor, providing derivative financing solutions to institutional investors. Over the years she assumed increasingly senior leadership roles in sales, operations, and business control functions across our Global Banking & Markets division. In 2021, Nicola joined the Canadian Banking Team as Vice President, Commercial Banking, Atlantic Region.

Nicola currently sits on the boards of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Halifax Partnership, and is a member of YPO. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Queen’s University.

Nicola has lived and worked across Canada and in major financial centres around the world. She now lives in Halifax with her husband and their two children.

Chris Ronald

Regional President, Atlantic, RBC

Chris Ronald has been Regional President of Atlantic Canada since April 2024, a role he previously held from 2018 to 2021. As Regional President, Chris is responsible for setting the direction, developing the strategy and managing the overall performance and delivery of RBC’s products and services to more than 800,000 personal and business clients in NS, NB, NL and PEI.

Chris has over 30 years’ senior and executive leadership expertise in the financial services industry, both domestically and internationally. Between 2021 and 2024, he was the Head of Caribbean Banking for RBC where he led every aspect of the bank’s operations in 10 countries, which included operations, government and regulatory relationships and managing a team of almost 3000 employees.

Since joining RBC in 1988, he has held a wide variety regional and national office positions, with a concentration in Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Advice (Contact) Centres and Human Resources. His work with RBC has led him to call many cities home including Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Nassau and Halifax.

Chris holds a Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario. He also earned the ICD.D designation.

A believer in community service and giving back, Chris gives his time to numerous charitable causes, particularly the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. He has served on many boards over the years and most recently held a number of directorate positions with RBC subsidiaries in the Caribbean. He currently sits on the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital Foundation and Halifax Partnership boards.

Chris is married with two daughters and a stepson, and resides in Halifax, NS.

Chris Smith

Executive Vice President of Finance at Nova Scotia Power

Chris Smith, Certified Professional Accountant

Chris Smith is an accomplished finance professional with over two decades of experience in the energy industry. Currently serving as Executive Vice President of Finance at Nova Scotia Power, he has been a key member of the company's leadership team since 2017. Chris plays a pivotal role in shaping corporate strategy and propelling business priorities forward while overseeing the finance, technology, and procurement divisions of the company.

Prior to his tenure at Nova Scotia Power, Chris held the position of President at Heritage Gas Limited (now known as Eastward Energy), the primary natural gas distributor in Nova Scotia. His background includes various roles in financial management in the private sector.

As an avid runner, cyclist, and community leader, Chris actively engages in various boards and organizations. Presently, he is a board member for Athletics Canada and the Dalhousie University Faculty of Management. His past board memberships include the Canadian Gas Association, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Dalhousie University Board of Governors, where he also chaired their Audit Committee.

Chris earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Anita Swamy

Vice President, Operations, Medavie Blue Cross

Anita is an Executive with over 20 years of progressive experience in business transformation, operations, complex project management and process optimization. She is consistently recognized as an influential leader who creates high-performing teams through establishing a clear vision, collaborative partnerships, and effective communication.

As Vice President of Operations at Medavie Blue Cross, Anita provides strategic leadership and oversight of Customer Experience and operational activities, including individual and group administration, claims and contact centre to deliver a superior customer experience as defined by shifting customer demand.

Over her distinguished career, she has led large-scale transformation programs, championed Customer Experience program design and implementation, and led Contact Centre and Back-office Operations. She has also consulted in the Financial Services, technology, utilities and telecommunications space on business transformation, M&A integration and project management.

A graduate of Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Commerce she holds the designations of Project Management Professional (PMP) and Project Management Institute’s Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP). She currently holds positions on the Board of Directors at Halifax Partnership and De-Cell Technologies.

Waye Mason

Councillor, Halifax Regional Municipality

Waye Mason is an activist, entrepreneur and educator and municipal councillor. First elected to Halifax Regional Council in 2012, re-elected in 2016, he is known for his social media savvy and relentless constituency work. Waye has grown businesses, led member organizations and developed the arts and culture sector in Nova Scotia for over two decades. His career in the music industry spanned artist development to live event production, and he has become a well-known business and strategic consultant both inside and outside the cultural sector.

As councillor, he currently serves as Chair of Halifax’s Community Planning and Economic Development standing committee and as a Police Commissioner, as well as being a member of several other boards and committees. Waye is currently Deputy Mayor as well as Vice President of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

Cathy Deagle Gammon

Councillor, Halifax Regional Municipality

A resident of Fall River for 28 years, Cathy Deagle Gammon was elected to represent District 1 – Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley on Halifax Regional Council in October 2020.

Currently Serving On the following boards:

• Regional Council

• North West Community Council

• Accessibility Advisory Committee

• Appeals Committee

• Audit and Finance Committee (Vice Chair )

• Environment and Sustainable Committee

• Grants Committee (Chair )

• North West Planning Advisory Committee

• Halifax Water Commission

After growing up in Inverness, Cape Breton, Cathy moved to Halifax to obtain a Bachelor of Child Studies degree from Mount Saint Vincent University, followed by a 40-year career in the non-profit sector. Cathy excelled at establishing and maintaining partnerships, negotiating with all three levels of government, and inspiring corporate and business communities to share in her vision of an inclusive society.

Cathy has held numerous leadership roles including founding President of the Social Enterprise Network of Nova Scotia (SENNS). Under her guidance, SENNS developed a Social Enterprise Strategy that was adopted as the paradigm through which the provincial government will engage with the sector.

Nominated for the RBC Canadian Women of Excellence Award Cathy was the 2017 Finalist for the Social Change Award. Cathy was named a Paul Harris Fellow by The Rotary Foundation, received The Workplace Diversity Award from Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. She was also named a Woman of Excellence: Health & Wellness by the Progress Club and was the recipient of the Canada 150 Award.

Cathy exemplifies life-long learning, leadership and advocacy. Her commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and giving back to her community make her a beacon of change in HRM, Nova Scotia, and beyond.

Chuck Maillet

Vice President, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency - Nova Scotia Region

Chuck Maillet was appointed the Vice-President for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for Nova Scotia in 2017. He joined the Agency in 2002 as a Community Economic Development Officer and, in 2005, became Manager of Community Economic Development. He was appointed Director of Community Development in 2008 and, subsequently, assumed the position of Director General for Regional Operations at ACOA Nova Scotia in 2010.

Before joining ACOA, Chuck spent a number of years working in both the private and non-profits sectors, where he gained valuable insights into the challenges of starting and growing businesses. Chuck is passionate about encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting innovation and technology development in Nova Scotia. He feels privileged to be helping businesses benefit from ACOA programs, and enhancing economic opportunities for the province.

Mike Savage

Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality

On October 15, 2016, Mike Savage was elected Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality for a second term based on a platform of sustained progress in making the Halifax region a place where residents can live, belong and thrive. Mayor Savage was first elected on October 20, 2012, running on a platform to make Halifax the most liveable, entrepreneurial and inclusive city in the country; principles that continue to shape his work at City Hall and in the community.

In the fall of 2015, Mayor Savage became president of the World Energy Cities partnership, an international organization of cities with significant energy sector interests. Prior to his election as Mayor, Mike Savage served as Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour from 2004 until 2011. Mayor Savage has also had a career in business as General Manager of S. Cunard and Co., Director of Sales and Marketing for Nova Scotia Power Inc., Vice President at Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette, and Vice President at M5 Communications.

Mayor Savage has demonstrated community leadership in social, health and cultural organizations, as a board member for the IWK Health Centre and Neptune Theatre, as a former President of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, and through his involvement with Junior Achievement, The Red Cross, Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the United Way. Mayor Savage and his wife Darlene have two children, Emma and Conor, and continue to make their home in Dartmouth where Mayor Savage grew up and attended school before graduating from Dalhousie University.

Cathie O'Toole

Chief Administrative Officer, Halifax Regional Municipality

Cathie O’Toole, as of January 1, 2023, is the first female Chief Administrative Officer of Halifax Regional Municipality, since amalgamation. Cathie is known for her inspiring, collaborative leadership, and has a proven track record of effective financial and operational management.

Cathie brings more than three decades of leadership and public sector experience to the role. Most recently she was the General Manager of Halifax Water, a role she had held since 2019. From 2011-2019, Cathie was the Director of Corporate Services/CFO for Halifax Water. Prior to joining Halifax Water, she worked with the Halifax Regional Municipality for 10 years in a variety of roles, including Director of Finance/CFO and Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management.

Cathie has a Master of Business Administration from Laurentian University and a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University. Cathie is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has been recognized as a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA) of Nova Scotia. Cathie is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and currently services on a number of Boards.

Captain(N) M.S.A. Fortin, CD

Commander, Canadian Forces Base Halifax

Originally from Trois-Rivières, Québec, Captain(N) (Capt(N)) Annick Fortin joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1991. Following initial training as a bridge watchkeeper, she joined the fleet as a member of HMCS Huron in 1998 and participated in the intercept of the GOLDEN BRIDGE, a vessel smuggling illegal migrants.

She specialized in Above Water Warfare and subsequently was posted to HMCS Vancouver. In response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, Capt(N) Fortin deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation APOLLO where Vancouver was an integrated unit within the USS JOHN C. STENNIS Carrier Battle Group. In 2006, Capt(N) Fortin deployed to the Persian Gulf as the Deck Officer in HMCS Ottawa and operated with the USS BOXER Expeditionary Strike Group in support of Operation ALTAIR.

As an Operations Room Officer aboard HMCS Algonquin, she led the team through Operation PODIUM, Canadian Naval Centennial Pacific Fleet Review, Missile Readiness Inspections and RIMPAC 2010. From 2010 to 2013, Capt(N) Fortin was posted to Sea Training Pacific as the Operations and Combat Officer.

Capt(N) Fortin was appointed Executive Officer of HMCS Ville de Québec in 2017 and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Canada’s ongoing contribution to NATO mission in central and Eastern Europe under Operation REASSURANCE and Operation SEA GUARDIAN.

She has served at the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Vancouver, Naval Fleet School Esquimalt as the Fleet Support Training Officer, as well as within National Defence Headquarters in the Strategic Joint Staff, Director Naval Strategic Management, Director General Naval Force Development as Staff Officer Arctic/Capacity Building Strategic Framework in the Directorate of Naval Strategy and served as the Director Current Operations of the Canadian Fleet Pacific.

Capt(N) Fortin was Naval Fleet School Pacific Commandant from July 2019 until May 2021. She assumed Command of HMCS Regina in June 2021. In March 2022, Capt(N) Fortin assumed Command of HMCS Winnipeg, participated in RIMPAC 2022 and deployed to the Indo-Pacific for Operation PROJECTION.

Capt(N) Fortin is a graduate of Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston (Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Commerce, 1997), Canadian Forces College in Toronto (Master of Defence Studies, 2016), and has completed the Canadian Forces College’s National Security Programme (2024). On July 24, 2024, Capt(N) Fortin assumed command of CFB Halifax.