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Board of Directors

Michele Beals
Chair

Michele has extensive experience within the Ontario Health System having held progressively financial and strategic executive roles within three large Ontario Hospitals. She has a Chartered Accountant designation and Masters of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business and will be helping support financial and operational governance at Bethell. Michele currently holds the position of CFO, Vice President of Finance at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and resides in Brampton with her family.

Harmeet Brar
Treasurer, Chair – Finance Committee

Harmeet is a graduate from York University in Administrative Studies and has been working in finance for over 20 years, currently as a Finance Director for a large construction and materials multi-national. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant registered in Ontario. Harmeet looks forward to making a positive impact with her contributions to the Board. She resides in Caledon East with her husband, daughter, and son.

Emma Johnston
Director, HR Committee

Emma is an accomplished, results-driven strategic communications leader with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare, not-for-profit, and government sectors. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, she moved to Canada in 2005 and proudly became a Canadian citizen in 2022.

Currently, Emma serves as the Director of Public Relations and Digital Media for William Osler Health System. She is passionate about advancing her career in the healthcare sector, believing it to be her true calling.

Emma has a proven track record of helping organizations craft and tell their stories thoughtfully, develop and execute strategic communications plans, and build strong media relationships. She excels in crisis communications and change management communications. At Osler, Emma is particularly proud of her role as a team player, committed to building resilient and engaged teams that align with organizational strategic objectives and enhance the institution’s reputation.

In 2024, Emma is excited to complete her final module of the University of Toronto’s Rotman Excellence in Executive Leadership Certificate. In her leisure time, she enjoys family activities, traveling, eating, and some exercise—usually in that order!

Sylvia Langlois
Director

Sylvia is an Associate Professor Emerita in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Toronto. She has more than 40 years of experience in healthcare, education, research, and leadership. Her career includes clinical practice in hospital settings and extensive leadership roles at the University of Toronto and the Centre for Advancing Collaborative Practice and Education, University Health Network.

Sylvia has served in leadership roles focused on interprofessional collaboration, patient and family engagement, and improving healthcare delivery. She chaired and co-chaired several initiatives related to palliative care, dying and death, client empowerment, and patient/family/community partnerships. She brings experience in governance, strategic planning, program evaluation, and collaborative leadership, together with a strong commitment to compassionate, person-centred care and meaningful partnerships with patients and families.

Having lived in Caledon for 26 years, Sylvia has a strong connection to the community and is committed to contributing to the health, well-being, and quality of life of local residents and families. Sylvia enjoys time spent with family, hiking, reading, and travel.

Margaret Morrison
Director, Finance Committee

Margaret retired in 2019 from a 40-year career in finance in the retail sector. Prior to retirement Margaret was President and CFO of Bombay Company where she was responsible for Finance, M & A, IT, Logistics, Real Estate and E Commerce.

Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Margaret is a graduate of Cumbria University with a Masters in Business. She also holds a teaching Certificate from Ryerson and is a Certified Elder Planner (Retired).

Margaret has volunteered with both Hospice Dufferin and Headwaters Health Care Auxiliary as Treasurer for both organizations. She has held various volunteer positions with Town of Caledon as well as various organizations over the years.

Margaret lives in Georgetown. She has two children and three grandchildren and enjoys reading, knitting, golf and travel.

Ryan M. Prendergast
Director, Governance Committee

Ryan Prendergast has been a lawyer with Carters Professional Corporation since 2010, becoming a partner in 2018, with a practice focus of providing corporate and tax advice to charities and non-profit organizations concerning incorporation, ongoing corporate compliance, registration of charities, audits and internal appeals with Canada Revenue Agency, as well as the amalgamation and merger of charities. He is recognized as a leading expert by Lexpert, The Best Lawyers in Canada, and Chambers and Partners.

Ryan graduated from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, in 2009. Prior to attending law school, Ryan graduated from Glendon College at York University, First Class, with a B.A. in History and a Certificate in Law and Social Thought. He has co-authored papers for the Law Society of Ontario, and has written articles for numerous publications and is an assistant editor for the Charity and NFP Law Update.

Ryan has previously been a volunteer director for Hospice Dufferin, as well as volunteering with various other community and sports organizations.

Adal Simeone
Director, Chair – HR Committee

Adal Simeone is a Senior Human Resources Executive having dedicated her career to leading global strategic HR business transformations, M&A and implementing innovative talent, technology and DEI programs for the public & private sectors. With expertise steering C-Suite and board leaders, she is recognized for broad experience across all facets of HR disciplines and deep expertise in organizational effectiveness and leadership development.

Adal has held several executive roles consulting corporate leaders in defining corporate culture, strategic planning, policy development and crisis management. In her most recent role as Executive Human Capital Leader, she was an integral part of the Executive Leadership Team and HR & Governance Board committee. She played a vital role in defining the company’s strategies for people leadership, culture, talent attraction, compensation, succession, technology, and people analytics and scaling organizational development.

Earlier in her career, Adal held roles at the VP and Director levels traveling abroad across 3 continents, implementing best in class business & HR practices. Overseeing HR operational centers of excellence, engagement programs, disability/ accommodations, risk and compliance for organizations including Government, Professional services, Financial Services, Technology, Automotive, Telecom & energy. She led M&A change strategies and implementations of HRIS and people analytics, changes to total rewards, performance, and succession planning strategies as well as employment investigations and mediations.

Adal is a graduate of University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management. She is a Certified Human Resources Leader with the Human Resources Professional Association for the past 18 years as well as Certified workplace investigator and ProSci change management leader.