Board of Directors

J. Robert S. Prichard

Chair of the RHF Board

J. Robert S. Prichard, OC, OOnt, is a distinguished Canadian lawyer and academic leader who served as the 13th President of the University of Toronto, later as President and CEO of Torstar Corporation, and now serves as Chair of Torys LLP and Chair of VIA HFR (Alto). He has held prominent corporate and public leadership roles including former Chair of the Bank of Montréal, Hospital for Sick Children and Metrolinx. He has been recognized as an Officer of the Order of Canada, Member of the Order of Ontario, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

The Honourable Janice Charette

Vice-Chair

The Honourable Janice Charette served as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet until she retired from the public service after serving nearly 40 years. Uniquely, Ms. Charette served in the role of Canada’s most senior public servant twice, under two Prime Ministers – the Rt. Honourable Stephen Harper (2014-2016) and the Rt. Honourable Justin Trudeau (2021-2023). Prior to rejoining the Privy Council Office, Ms. Charette was the High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 2016-2021. Before becoming Clerk, Ms. Charette held a number of key leadership positions, including Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet (2010-2014). She has worked in nine federal departments and agencies during her career. In addition, she worked closely with the founding Chairperson and Board as the first employee of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and as a principal in the consulting practice of Ernst & Young. Ms. Charette currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Rideau Hall Foundation, and as a member of the board of the Institute for Research on Public Policy. She has previously been a member of the Board of Directors of numerous organizations in Canada and in the United Kingdom.

The Honourable Rosalie Abella

The Honorable Rosalie Silberman Abella was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2004. She was the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court. She was appointed to the Ontario Family Court in 1976 at the age of 29. She subsequently chaired the Ontario Law Reform Commission and the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Justice Abella was the sole Commissioner and author of the 1984 Royal Commission on Equality in Employment, creating the term and concept of “employment equity” and developing a concept of discrimination and equality the Supreme Court adopted in its first decision interpreting the new equality provision of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She was the Boulton Visiting Professor at McGill Law School from 1988 to 1992, where she taught jurisprudence, administrative law, and constitutional law. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in classical piano, a former judge of the Giller Literary Prize, former chair of the Rhodes Scholar selection committee, has written over 90 articles, authored or co-edited four books, was a pioneer in judicial education, and lectures extensively in Canada and internationally. She has 42 honorary degrees. She was married to Canadian history professor Irving Abella from 1968 until his death in 2022. They have two sons, both lawyers. Since her retirement from the Supreme Court, she has been the Samuel and Judith Pisar Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School.

Dominic Barton

Dominic Barton is Chair of Rio Tinto and the Chair of LeapFrog Investments, an impact-investment firm focused on emerging markets. He is also a Senior advisor and partner at Radical Ventures a leading AI investment firm. Dominic completed his role as the Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China in 2021, appointed by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2019. He was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and served as Global Managing Partner for 3 terms from 2009 to 2018. Dominic was previously Chair of Teck Resources, from 2018 to 2019, and, in 2019, served as a Non-Executive Director at Singtel, and in June 2024, Dominic concluded his tenure as the Chancellor of the University of Waterloo.

James Baxter

James Baxter was the founding Editor and Publisher of iPolitics. Over a journalism career that spanned 30 years, Mr. Baxter has been an award-winning sportswriter, foreign correspondent, political journalist, bureau chief and editorial writer. He has degrees in journalism, international relations and business, and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 2007-8. In early 2020, he joined the Assembly of First Nations and has been advising the National Chief and his team on crisis communication during the Covid pandemic. Mr. Baxter has also been a long-time governor of Ashbury College and served as the chair of the school’s foundation through it’s recent $10-million capital campaign. The foundation also stewards the college’s endowed funds and oversees its financial aid programs. He has also served a Director of the Board of the Michener Awards Foundation for the past decade and his election to the RHF Board will help to strengthen our partnership. He lives in Ottawa with his wife, Sarah, and three children.

Victoria Belbin

Victoria Belbin - With a strong, national reputation as an effective and compelling leader, Victoria channels her experience, strategic thinking, and business acumen into her role as CEO for the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association (ACADA) and her many board positions. Since joining ACADA in 2021, she has been a driving force in fostering innovation and collaboration within Atlantic Canada’s aerospace and defence sectors. As CEO of ACADA, Victoria leads a team across all Atlantic Provinces with the goal of creating the climate for growth by ensuring industry members are prepared to grow and thrive locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Some of her board experience includes boards such as: Workplace Health and Safety Commission (WNL), NL Liquor Corporation, Habitat for Humanity, Cancer Care Foundation, TaskForceNL, Wonderbolt Circus and most recently, Victoria has been appointed to Rideau Hall Foundation, further cementing her influence and dedication to advancing leadership in Canada. Victoria holds a Master of Marine Studies from Memorial University and stays on top of governance practices through her commitment to continuing education through the Institute for Corporate Directors and ICD.D designation.

Tabatha Bull

Tabatha Bull is Anishinaabe and a proud member of Nipissing First Nation. She is the President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB), where she leads national efforts to advance Indigenous economic prosperity and economic reconciliation in Canada. With a background in electrical engineering, Tabatha is a strong advocate for Indigenous inclusion in Canada’s economy and energy sector. She is frequently called upon to advise governments and business leaders and has represented Indigenous business interests domestically and internationally. Tabatha serves on several corporate and non-profit boards and has been recognized nationally for her leadership, including being named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal and being honoured with the Freedom of the City of London.

Norie Campbell

Norie Campbell joined Thomson Reuters in 2023 as the company’s Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary. Prior to joining Thomson Reuters, Norie held a number of executive-level roles at a major Canadian bank. She has been recognized for her leadership by Catalyst Canada and the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. Norie is a Board Director for Toronto Metropolitan University and the Rideau Hall Foundation. She is also actively involved in United Way and has served as the Campaign Chair of Major Individual Giving for the United Way Greater Toronto Campaign Cabinet. She received her Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Dr. Elizabeth Cannon

Dr. Elizabeth Cannon is an Officer of the Order of Canada and Member of the Alberta Order of Excellence. She is president emerita of the University of Calgary after serving as president and vice chancellor. Prior to her term as president, Dr. Cannon was dean of the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary. Dr. Cannon is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Academy of Engineering as well as an elected foreign associate of the National Academy of Engineering. She served as co-chair of the Business-Higher Education Roundtable, was a past chair of Universities Canada, and was a member of the federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC) in addition to many other boards and advisory councils. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Trustees the Aga Khan University, Vice Chair of the Board of the Creative Destruction Lab and a Director of the Gairdner Foundation in addition to being a corporate director and seed-stage investor.

Heather Culbert

Heather J. Culbert has more than three decades of experience in Canada’s energy sector and previously served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Services at Enerplus. She has extensive board governance experience, including serving as Vice‑Chair of Export Development Canada and Chair of its Human Resources Committee. Heather currently serves on the boards of The Fraser Institute and Catapult Environmental, and has previously chaired the Alberta Research and Innovation Advisory Council and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, as well as serving as a director of Whitecap Resources. A committed community leader and philanthropist, Heather is co‑founder and Chair of Board Ready Women and Axis Connects. As Co‑Chair of the Calgary Cancer Centre campaign, she helped lead a fundraising effort that raised nearly $300 million. Her leadership and service have been recognized with numerous honours, including the City of Calgary’s 2024 Citizen of the Year award, induction into the Southern Alberta Business Hall of Fame, the Governor General’s Sovereign Volunteerism Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. She holds the ICD.D designation and an ESG certification (GCB.D).

Mark Cullen

Mark Cullen, C.M. has been broadcasting and writing about the gardening experience since the early 80’s. He has written 23 books, including two biographies. Mark began his professional retail career with his father Len Cullen in 1979. Together they created Cullen Country Barns in Markham Ontario, for which they won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the federal government in 1988. Mark is Director of the Barrett Family Foundation, and Chair of Canadian Trees for Life.

Paul Davidson

Paul Davidson joined the Rideau Hall Foundation as a Board member in 2020 where he chairs the Governance Committee and serves on the Finance Committee. He brings over 30 years of executive leadership in the public, private and not for profit sectors. He is the former President of Universities Canada (2009-2023), where he helped advance research, higher education and innovation for Canada. Paul served as Executive Director of World University Service of Canada (2002-2009) a leading international development agency, delivering programs in 17 countries overseas and on 70 campuses across Canada. Paul also held senior positions in Canadian book publishing including as Executive Director of the Association of Canadian Publishers. Early in his career, served as a political advisor to Ontario’s Leader of the Opposition, Treasurer and Deputy Premier. He currently Chairs the Board of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and serves on the Boards of the Ottawa Hospital and the Aga Khan Museum. Paul is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal; the King Charles III Coronation Medal and a Doctor of Civil Law (Honoris Causa) from Saint Mary’s University, Halifax for his leadership and service.

The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell

The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, OC, is the longest-serving Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2014-2023). She carried out thousands of constitutional and ceremonial duties and encouraged Ontarians to think deeply about their role as residents of a province and as global citizens. She became known as Ontario’s “Storyteller-in-Chief”. Building a resilient and sustainable society was the focus of her mandate. Safeguarding democracy was her passion. Ms. Dowdeswell’s eclectic public service career has spanned provincial, federal and international borders and transcended disciplinary lines, engaging the public in complex issues of social significance. She contributed globally as Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. She was the founding president and CEO of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, and later the President and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies. She has served on the boards of Canadian and international corporate and non-profit organizations. Ms. Dowdeswell is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario and is the recipient of numerous distinctions and fellowships. She holds 11 honorary doctorates.

Dr. Paul C. Genest

Dr. Genest’s background includes government, academia and business. He has been Senior Vice-President of Power Corporation since 2016. He served in the Ontario Government in a number of portfolios as a deputy minister including intergovernmental affairs, francophone affairs, and deputy minister responsible for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games held in Toronto in 2015. In 2007 he became President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities. He also served in the federal government as director of policy and research for then-prime minister Jean Chrétien. Paul has a doctorate in Philosophy from The Johns Hopkins University. In 2022 he received a doctorate, Honoris Causa from the University of Ottawa.

Anne-Marie Hubert

Anne-Marie Hubert is a senior Fellow at the Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations (CIRANO). As a member of the sustainable finance forum, she builds bridges between the scientific diplomacy and the financial services industry to contribute to the global baseline of sustainability disclosure standards for the financial market and to the educational material and public policies required to enable their adoption. As a former member of EY Global Advisory Council and of EY Canada’s Executive Committee, she leverages her global and Canadian relationships to amplify the impact of the research projects and accelerate capacity building in support of sustainable growth. She currently chairs the board of the Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal (CORIM), the Institut de la Technologie pour l’Humain (ITH) and she serves on the Board of the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Fondaction and B2ten.

Aluki Kotierk

Originally from Igloolik, now residing in Iqaluit with her family, Nunavut Tunngavik President Aluki Kotierk leads by example. Throughout her career and to this day, Aluki is driven by her passion to empower and improve the lives of Inuit. After earning her master’s degree in Native and Canadian Studies at Trent University, Aluki worked for various Inuit organizations including Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (now known as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami), and Nunavut Sivuniksavut. She has also held management and Deputy Minister roles within the Government of Nunavut, Office of the Languages Commissioner and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. In her current role as President, Aluki is keen in how Inuit language and culture can be better incorporated into the way in which programs and services are designed and delivered in Nunavut. Aluki is currently one of two co-chairs representing Indigenous People’s Organizations on the Global Task Force for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) 2022-2032.

Hélène Laurendeau

Hélène Laurendeau worked in the federal public service for over 30 years. She held various positions as Legal Counsel and Senior Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice and various senior management positions at the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Privy Council Office and the Public Service Commission. She held successively the positions of Associate Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and oversaw the creation of the Department of Crown Indigenous-Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and acted as its first Deputy Minister. She most recently held the position of Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage. She was raised in the beautiful region of Lanaudière while keeping deep roots in the Bas Saint-Laurent.

V. Paul Lee

V. Paul Lee is Founder and Managing Partner of Vanedge Capital, a $400M venture capital fund based in Vancouver, B.C. Mr. Lee was a Principal of Distinctive Software that merged with Electronic Arts to become EA Canada and he went on to become President of Electronic Arts worldwide where he was responsible for all product development within its Worldwide Studios Group. Mr. Lee has also received numerous awards for his community service including the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 and the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. In 2005 he was recognized as an Honorary Fellow of UBC’s Sauder School of Business and in 2009 he was awarded an Honourary Masters Degree in Digital Media from the Centre for Digital Media. Mr. Lee is currently Chair of the Quantum Gravity Society, a member on the Faculty Advisory Board for UBC’s Sauder School of Business, and on the boards of Rideau Hall Foundation and Vancouver Police Foundation. He is also a member/observer of the boards of SensorUp, Cogniac, Index Biosystems, Alice Technologies and Vendasta.

Wade MacLauchlan

Wade MacLauchlan, CM, OPEI is the former Premier of Prince Edward Island, serving as the province’s 32nd Premier, and is currently Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick and President Emeritus of the University of Prince Edward Island. He served as Chair of the Independent Advisory Board for appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2022 and 2023. An academic leader and lawyer by training, Wade was the longest serving president in UPEI’s history. Prior to that role, he was Dean of Law at the University of New Brunswick and a professor at Dalhousie University, where he also directed the Civil Law–Common Law Exchange Program. During his time in government, he held several senior cabinet portfolios, including Attorney General, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Aboriginal Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs, Francophone Affairs, and, for an initial period, Minister of Finance. Wade currently serves as a director of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery and is a member of the advisory boards of the Law Commission of Canada and the Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy at the University of Alberta. He also serves on the boards of a number of private enterprises, including technology start ups and established family businesses.

The Honourable John Manley

The Honourable John Manley, P.C., O.C., became Chair of Jefferies Securities Inc. on December 1, 2023, having served as Senior Business Adviser at Bennett Jones LLP since September 2019. He served in the Canadian Parliament from 1988 to 2004 as M.P. for Ottawa South. From 1993 to 2003 he was a Minister in the governments of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, serving in the portfolios of Industry, Foreign Affairs and Finance, in addition to being Deputy Prime Minister. After a 16-year career in politics, Mr. Manley returned to the private sector in 2004. He is Fellow of the CD Howe Institute, the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, and the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is a founding member of the Wilson Center Global Advisory Council, a founding member of the Advisory Council of the Center for North American Prosperity and Security of the MacDonald Laurier Institute, a past member of the Brookings Institution International Advisory Council and served as Chair of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) Advisory Council from 2012-2023. In the private sector Mr. Manley has practiced law, and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada (from 2010 to 2018). He has been a very active corporate director and currently serves as Chair of the board of directors of TELUS. He is past Chair of CAE and CIBC, including CIBC USA. He has been active in the not-for-profit sector with CARE Canada and is now a director of Rideau Hall Foundation and an adviser to the Juno Beach Centre. A Companion of the Order of Canada, Mr. Manley is the recipient of many other awards and honours, including honorary doctorates from 6 Canadian Universities. He is also proudly an honorary chief of the Blood Nation of Alberta.

John Montalbano

John Montalbano is the retired CEO of RBC Global Asset Management which managed $370 billion in assets. He serves as Director of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Aritzia Inc., AbCellera Inc., Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals, and Chairs White Crane Capital, a Vancouver-based hedge fund. He also served as Chair of the UBC Board of Governors, Killam Trusts Trustee, co-Founder of Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation and Chair of the Vancouver Public Library Capital Campaign. Mr. Montalbano is a director for The Gairdner Foundation, The BC Achievement Foundation, and Windmill Microlending, serving as the current Chair of the Windmill Microlending Capital Campaign, and a member of the UBC Sauder Faculty Advisory Board. He holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and holds an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

Dr. Yves Pelletier

Yves Pelletier is currently the Associate Vice-President, Francophonie, at the University of Ottawa, a role he has held since 2021. In this role, Dr. Pelletier is responsible for the outreach and strategic positioning of the University of Ottawa’s Francophone mission in all its spheres of activity. Prior to joining the University of Ottawa, Dr. Pelletier was Associate Vice-President, Academic and Francophone Affairs, and Associate Professor of History at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. He also taught Canadian history at the Université de Moncton. Throughout his career, Dr. Pelletier was the founder and president of a consulting firm specializing in supporting governments, universities and colleges through program and policy review and indigenization and internationalization activities. He also served as the Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Post-Secondary Education with the Province of New Brunswick after more than 15 years working at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Many of these positions provided a singular focus: strengthening educational outcomes in Canada. Dr. Pelletier holds two undergraduate degrees in biology (Laurentian) and history (Ottawa), as well as a Master’s (Ottawa) and PhD (Queen’s) in Canadian History.

Abdullah Snobar

Abdullah Snobar is the Executive Director of DMZ and CEO of DMZ Ventures. Committed to leveling the playing field for all entrepreneurs, Abdullah has championed several initiatives for underserved founders designed to meet them where they are. Through DMZ’s Black Innovation Programs, Women Innovation Programs and catered streams for Indigenous founders, DMZ offers curated support — ensuring everyone has a fair shot at success. Under Abdullah’s leadership, the global startup ecosystem has significantly expanded its impact by establishing global hubs across North America, Latin America, Africa, and Asia; broadening its support to serve upskilling professionals in tech and business foundations; and launching DMZ Ventures’ investment fund for pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups. Beyond his work at DMZ, Abdullah serves on the Board of Directors for the Rideau Hall Foundation, the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, and the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation. Recognized globally and nationally for his leadership in business and innovation, Abdullah is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 and serves as a member of the Forbes Tech Council.

Malik Talib

Malik Talib was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, educated at McGill University and trained as a lawyer at the Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. He is an entrepreneur and corporate director leading the Talmont Group based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has served as Chair or Board Member for various organisations, including the King’s Trust Canada, the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation, United Way for the Lower Mainland Cabinet, Vancouver Foundation, Mulgrave School and LIFT Philanthropy Partners. For more than 30 years, Mr. Talib has served in various leadership positions within the Ismaili Community, including President and Vice-President of the Aga Khan Council for Canada, by appointment from His Highness the Aga Khan. In addition, he is a Director on the Board of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto and a member of Global Centre for Pluralism corporation in Ottawa. Most recently, he was appointed by His Highness the Aga Khan as the Chairman of the Ismaili Leaders’ International Forum (LIF) as well as a Senior Official of the Ismaili Imamat.

Dr. Annette Trimbee

Dr. Annette Trimbee is the sixth president and vice-chancellor of MacEwan University, and was recently reappointed to her 2nd term starting in August 2025. President Trimbee’s professional journey has taken her from the water’s edge to the city's core, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge as a leader in both the post-secondary and the public sectors. Prior to joining MacEwan in 2020, Dr Trimbee served as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Winnipeg. She also had a distinguished, 25-year career with the Government of Alberta, including serving as deputy minister with Advanced Education and Technology as well Treasury Board and Finance. Dr Trimbee currently serves on the boards of Edmonton Global, World Universities Service Canada (WUSC), The Conversation Canada, and the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF). In 2022, Dr. Trimbee received the Indspire Award in Education, and in 2024, received a WXN Top 100 Award recognizing her as one of Canada’s most powerful women.