Foundation Board of Directors

Carol Lynde was born and raised in Oshawa and returned to her homestead in 2017.  Carol is married and has three children. Carol is an investment professional, and holds the title of CEO at Bridgehouse Canada. She is well known for speaking about Mental Health & The Financial Advice Relationship. In 2016, Bridgehouse identified a correlation between mental health and sound financial decision-making, and partnered with Canadian Mental Health Association – Toronto for their mental health expertise. Carol enjoys fitness and believes in the positive impact of exercise on mental health.

Celina is the Executive Director of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network. She is also a bestselling author, business consultant, and PhD (neuroscience) candidate. Celina was a Member of Parliament for Whitby (2015-2019) and Parliamentary Secretary to the former Prime Minister. Throughout her career, she received numerous awards:  Chatelaine Magazine – Woman of the Year (2019), Champion of Mental Health Parliamentarian Award (2017), and Global 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent (Politics & Governance category) (2017) to name a few.   She is a respected speaker on issues of business change management, equity, and health. Serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors is part of her commitment of service to a community that has given her family and herself so much. She is honoured to be part of the Foundation. 

Russel White is a Toronto Metropolitan University graduate in Urban and Regional Planning. Russel spent several years in the public sector at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority before joining Fieldgate Developments in 2006. Russel is currently the Senior Vice President of Land Development covering the City of Brampton and the Durham Region where he is both professionally and personally invested in, so it is only fitting that he feels engendered to the community and the cancer campaign.

Vanessa Benedict was born and raised in Oshawa. She is a graduate of Queen's University with an honours degree in Life Sciences and a BA in Psychology. With a successful 20+ career in the financial sector, Vanessa is an award-winning portfolio manager with her CIM designation, and she is a partner with NBF SilverBirch Wealth Management. Vanessa is married and has two beautiful children. She is actively involved in the Oshawa Minor Hockey Association and loves volunteering with the OSCC. Vanessa takes great pride in being part of the Lakeridge Health Foundation, especially since her father has been practicing there for 50 years.

Andrea Freund joined Lakeridge Health Foundation’s Board of Directors in June 2024 and is excited to be on a board that includes dedicated members who are passionate about advancing healthcare in the region.   Andrea is an accomplished lawyer and a trusted strategic advisor, currently working in association with Caravel Law LLP.  She has headed legal departments of Fortune 500 healthcare companies in the past and has continued to support these global companies during her time at Caravel. Andrea is excited about what lies ahead for the Lakeridge Health Foundation, and what she can do to contribute to facilitating ground breaking innovations there. 

Andrew and his family have lived in Whitby since 2017. He has been an avid supporter of Lakeridge Health and Lakeridge Health Foundation, through his participation in fundraising events, raffles, and donations.  In November of 2024, Andrew was voted in by the Lakeridge Health Foundation Board to be a member of the Finance and Audit Committee. At the 2025 AGM, he was elected as a Board of Director.

Andrew is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a Certified Financial Planner, and Chartered Life Underwriter.  He began his career at BMO in 2007 and is currently a Senior Investment Counsellor and Portfolio Manager at BMO Private Investment Counsel, where he has worked since 2014.

In his spare time, when he is not playing with his kids or coaching their sports, Andrew loves to play hockey, softball, and to fish.

Shannon Trainor is a Thoracic Surgeon who has worked at Lakeridge Health since 2010.  She is chief of her division with a team providing regional care for lung and esophageal cancers.  She is very proud to work at Lakeridge Health and wants to give back to the community as she was shown by her parents when growing up.  She enjoys teaching yoga and kayaking to help find balance in life.

Hassan Farooqi joined the Lakeridge Health Foundation Board in 2024. An Executive MBA graduate from the Rotman School of Management, he is deeply connected to the Durham Region, having lived in Whitby for over 12 years. His passion for healthcare is personal, inspired by the exceptional care his mother received at Lakeridge Health. He also serves on the Canadian Learning Advisory Council and has contributed to the Rotman Executive Program Council, advocating for education and community impact. 

Justin Landry is an actor and producer with over 25 years’ experience in the Canadian and U.S. entertainment industry. He is actively engaged with many charitable organizations and is thrilled to be supporting the Lakeridge Health Foundation as a Board Director and member of the Development & Communications Committee. Besides his work with the hospital foundation, Justin is an accomplished event producer, emcee and public speaker. Justin also works for the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto in Special Projects, and coaches minor hockey. 

Zohaib Malhi has successfully raised over $3 million in support of various hospital foundations across Canada and has played a vital role in organizing donations for food banks in the Greater Toronto Area. He has received many awards including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award, the Spirit of Etobicoke award for Community Service and the Durham Community Champion Medallion. 

 

Zohaib was a Director for Mercy for Mankind from 2022-2024.  Presently, he is a Vice-Chair of Premier Ford's Council on Equality of Opportunity.  He serves on multiple boards as a director, an advisor, and a consultant, while remaining deeply engaged in civic, interfaith, and multi-faith initiatives.

 

At the 2025 AGM, Zohaib was elected as a Board Director for Lakeridge Health Foundation. He was also voted in a member of the Board’s Development and Communications Committee. He is excited to contribute to the healthcare initiatives in the Durham Region.

Charlie Morison was born, raised and has worked his entire career in the Oshawa area and so he wants to share his good fortune with his community. He practices law and is Counsel at Creighton Law LLP. He has been a Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court and was a Children’s Lawyer. Charlie joined the OHF Board of Directors in 2006. Charlie has a long history of serving on boards. He was both Director and President of Big Sisters Newcastle-Oshawa-Whitby. He served in many roles at United Way, including as Campaign Chair. He served as a Director and Chair of the Ontario Philharmonic and is now Chair Emeritas. He was also a Director and President of the Oshawa Ski Club and the Oshawa Golf Club. He was awarded the Ontario Volunteer Service Award for 10 years of service with Lakeridge Health Foundation. He was also named Business Person of the Year by the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. 

Margaret Stack is a longtime resident of Durham Region. She and her husband, have three sons. She is a current Professional Engineer and also a former Registered Nurse.  She is a visible community leader who is deeply engaged in Healthcare, Human Rights, Parenting, and Education (particularly STEAM). Hobbies: Art Appreciation and Architecture Preservation. 

Shiv Theyagamurti has called Durham home for the past 12 years, where he has built a deep connection to the community. With over 20 years of progressive project management leadership, he is a PMP-certified Senior Project Manager with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, where he leads complex transformation initiatives. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Science and a Project Management diploma.

A recipient of the Toronto Police Service Community Involvement Commendation for leadership in community safety, Shiv is honoured to join the Lakeridge Health Foundation Board, applying his expertise to help advance quality medical care locally. A lifelong passion for travel and aviation naturally led him to his career at the airport authority.

Dr. Shehla Arshad Khan is a dynamic medical leader, educator, and global health advocate dedicated to shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. As the Founder and CEO of the SKI Education Network, Dr. Khan leverages her deep, strategic ties with St. George’s University (SGU) to build vital pathways for aspiring students navigating the competitive North American medical landscape. Furthering this mission, she actively serves as a mentor for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), guiding future physicians through complex career development pipelines.

Her distinguished career features leadership roles with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, built upon a foundational medical education from the University of Sindh and Aga Khan University, where she earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). Committed to continuous growth, she expanded her institutional expertise in 2021 by studying Health Care Administration Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. Having recently moved to the Durham Region, Dr. Khan is thrilled to bring her international insights, medical expertise, and passionate advocacy to the Lakeridge Health Foundation to give back to her new community.