On April 1, Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's General Hospital merged to become Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren). Learn more about each member of the board members who governs WRHN below. In addition to attending monthly Board meetings, members also take part in several committees focusing on specific areas of the hospital’s activities.
Our 2025-26 Board Members include:
Sandra Hanmer, Co-Chair
Sandra has devoted her professional career to providing senior leadership in health and social service organizations locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. Her focus has been on enabling accessible, effective, integrated services that make a real difference in people's lives. Recognized as a visionary leader, collaborator, and strategic thinker, Sandra is an accomplished community builder. She currently is an Executive In Residence with Capacity Canada and a Councillor for the City of Waterloo, serving her second term.
Tim Rollins, Co-Chair
Tim is the EY Waterloo Region Office Managing Partner and Tax Partner for a number of public and privately held technology and advanced manufacturing and mobility companies located in the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation corridor.
Prior to re-joining EY in 2015, Tim held senior tax and finance leadership roles at Sandvine (2014-2015) and BlackBerry (2001-2014), including VP, Tax and VP, CFO Transformation and Governance roles at BlackBerry.
Tim is a CPA, CA who graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1996 with a BA, Honours Chartered Accountancy Studies and Master of Accounting. In addition to serving as Co-Chair of the Waterloo Regional Health Network Board, Tim is a Board member of Capacity Canada, an active mentor with the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance, past Chair of the St. Mary’s General Hospital Board of Trustees, and past Board member of the Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region Inc. Tim lives in Woolwich Township with his wife Leanne and two sons.
Andreas Laupacis, Director
Andreas is a general internist and palliative care physician who works as an editor at the Canadian Medical Association Journal. He retired from clinical practice in 2019.
He obtained his medical degree from Queen’s University and did post graduate training at Dalhousie, Western and McMaster universities. He has worked as a clinician, researcher, teacher and administrator at Western University, the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto.
He has served on the boards of Alberta Health Services, Cancer Care Ontario and Health Quality Ontario (Chair). Andreas is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an Officer of the Order of Canada. He lives north of Fergus, Ontario with his wife Karen and dog Sophie.
Angelo Loberto, Director
Angelo is an experienced Finance and Operations executive with over 25 years of experience in the technology sector. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Magnet Forensics, a software company founded in Waterloo. Magnet’s solutions are used by digital forensics professionals in criminal and corporate investigations. Prior to joining Magnet, Angelo held various executive positions at BlackBerry, formerly Research in Motion (RIM).
Angelo has also been a volunteer with the Cambridge Memorial Hospital and its Foundation for over 12 years, and has chaired both the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Board (2010-2012) and the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation Board (2017-2019) over that time. Angelo is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and earned an Honours Bachelor of Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Chartered Director designation from the MacMaster DeGroote School of Business. Angelo lives in Cambridge with his wife Monica and their two girls, Emily and Samantha.
Garth Cressman, Director
As CEO of WalterFedy and AEC, Garth is responsible for delivering on corporate strategy, growth and aligning business operations with the company’s values and vision. Garth was formerly a Partner and VP of Operations at Collaborative Structures Ltd. Garth’s governance experience includes being a past President of the Rotary Club of Waterloo and on the Board of Directors for Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) for the past 5 years. He has an MBA and is a Professional Engineer.
James Schlegel, Director
President and CEO of Schlegel Health Care which includes Schlegel Villages and Homewood Health. Schlegel Villages develops and operates continuum of care campuses for seniors across Ontario and Homewood Health provides a broad continuum of mental health and addiction services to Canadians which includes the nationally recognized Homewood Health Centre. He is Board Chair of the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging and a Board Member of the Homewood Research Institute. He has served as a Board Member at Grand River Hospital, University of Waterloo, and MEDA. He continues to serve on several committees of the Ministry of Long-Term Care and Ontario Health as well as the Steering Committee of the KW4OHT.
Janet Davidson, Director
Janet Davidson works in health care consulting with a focus on strategy, organization management and design, and governance. She recently completed a term as Administrator of the Nova Scotia Health Authority and formerly served as Deputy Minister of Health for Alberta. Janet has over 40 years of experience in healthcare in the government, voluntary and hospital/community sectors in a number of Canadian jurisdictions and internationally. Janet currently sits on the boards of SickKids, Bayshore Healthcare and Health Workforce Canada and is the immediate past Chair of the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Janet received a Bachelor of Nursing Science from the University of Windsor and a Master’s in Health Services Administration from the University of Alberta. She is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Education program at Rotman, the UC Berkeley School of Public Health’s Global Health Leadership program and has an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Windsor. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Janet Peddigrew, Director
Janet is a Consultant and Board Director with over 39 years of combined experience in the Banking and Insurance sectors, most recently served as President, Cowan Insurance Group.
She is an expert in leading diverse business lines including Personal and Commercial Banking, Wealth Management, National Retail Sales Programs, Insurance Brokerage, Pension and Benefits as well as Third-party Administration.
Janet is a Board Member at Enova Power Corp. and Alliance Metering Solutions, Chair. Janet has had previous Board Positions at: Grand River Hospital Operating Board; St. Mary's Hospital Operating Board; Waterloo North Hydro; Smilezone Foundation; Family and Children Services; Canada's Technology Triangle.
Melinda Gorgenyi, Director
Melinda is the Global SVP, ERP Program, Sodexo. She leads the Global ERP program as part of Sodexo Group's strategy to ‘refocus and accelerate’ to become a data-driven organization. She works closely with business, technology and data to strengthen Sodexo’s market position.
Prior to joining Sodexo, she held key positions at Halton Healthcare and the Vaughan Health Campus of Care (VHCC) in the development of two state-of-the-art, fully integrated healthcare facilities to coordinate health services across the continuum of care.
Melinda is a change agent, uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ long-term success, with a powerful vision to promote positive outcomes. She holds a Masters of Health Sciences degree from the University of Toronto and a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo. She is a licensed professional engineer and a Certified Healthcare Executive. She recently moved back to the KW area with her husband and two grown children.
Oluseun Olayinka, Director
Oluseun Olayinka is currently the Executive Director at Adventure4Change. She sits on multiple Boards and committees where she uses her strategic leadership lens to contribute to change and innovation in organizations.
Oluseun holds a Bachelor’s in Chemistry, a Master of Managerial Psychology both from the University of Lagos, as well as a Governance Essentials Program Certificate from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Oluseun previously worked as Business Development Manager (Africa) for ShiftIN Partners, a Strategy Consulting company in the United Arab Emirates, she also previously headed the Human Capital Development Unit of Paul Esther Consulting an Organizational Development consulting company in Nigeria. She is passionate about her faith in Christ and uses a Biblical worldview in her life choices and leadership.
Stephanie Ratza, Director
Stephanie Ratza is an experienced board director and CFO with over 20 years of leadership in public and private high-tech companies. She holds the ICD.D designation and brings deep expertise in financial oversight, enterprise risk, innovation strategy, and governance.
She currently serves on the Waterloo Regional Health Network, and formerly on the Board of Trustees for St. Mary’s General Hospital (2021-2025) with past committee roles spanning Mission & Governance, Resources Performance & Utilization, Resource Accounting and Finance and Culture and Human Development. From 2015–2021, she served two terms on the Board of Governors at Wilfrid Laurier University (2015-2025), chairing the Audit & Compliance Committee and contributing to Executive, HR & Compensation, and Governance Committees.
In the tech and innovation sector, she was Vice Chair of the Board at CENGN (Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks) from 2017–2024 and Audit Committee Chair for Good Life Networks (TSX:GOOD) from 2017–2019. Known for her collaborative style and rigorous oversight, she brings a unique cross-sector perspective to boardrooms, with a strong track record of driving accountability, enabling innovation, and building resilient organizations.
Tarique Plummer, Director
Tarique Plummer is a versatile leader and trusted legal advisor with a proven track record in law, politics, tech, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and business development. As the CEO and Senior Lawyer at FARI LAW Professional Corporation, he provides strategic legal counsel to a global clientele and practices in multiple areas of law. His academic credentials include a B.Sc. in Biochemistry & Biotechnology, an MBA from the U.S., and a Juris Doctor from the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. He holds professional designations in project and communication management (PMP, CMP) and Canadian immigration consulting, equipping him with a unique blend of legal, business, and operational expertise.
Beyond the legal sphere, Tarique has served as a Chief of Staff to prominent politicians, led multiple startups as CEO, and worked as an international consultant and board member for health institutions across the Caribbean. His dedication to education is reflected in his role as a professor at Centennial College and his past tenure as a Summer Instructor at Yale University. Committed to giving back, Tarique serves as Vice-Chair of the Board at Adventure4Change and contributes to environmental policy as a member of the Region of Waterloo Environmental & Ecological Committee. His notable recognitions include the Canada 150 Sesquicentennial Award of Recognition and Young Alumnus of the Year (2022) by Wilfrid Laurier University. Tarique is driven by a passion for problem-solving, mentorship, and meaningful impact, making him a sought-after advisor and collaborator across industries.
Dr. Gunit Kang, Ex-Officio Director, President, Professional Staff Association
Dr. Gunit Kang is an emergency physician at Waterloo Regional Health Network, where he has been a member of the medical staff since 2018. He currently serves as President of the Professional Staff Association, representing the interests of professional staff and working closely with hospital leadership to foster effective communication and collaboration. Dr. Kang holds an academic appointment as an Assistant Professor at McMaster University, where he contributes to the education and mentorship of medical students and trainees. He also serves as an Investigating Coroner in Ontario, providing expertise in death investigations to support public safety. His professional interests include systems-level collaboration, medical education, and physician wellness. Outside of work, Dr. Kang is a passionate nature enthusiast who enjoys backcountry hiking, sustainable farm-to-table gardening, golfing, snowboarding, and exploring the world through travel.
Kate Robertson-Cain, Ex-Officio Director, VP Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive
Kate is a highly accomplished healthcare executive with over 31 years of experience in nursing and clinical leadership. She has a proven track record of excellence in intensive care, surgical services, and oncology, with a strong focus on operational leadership, quality improvement, and patient-centered care. Kate holds a Nursing Diploma from Mohawk College, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ferris State University, and a Master’s Degree in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Administration. Before joining Grand River Hospital in 2021, she served as Associate Chief Nursing Officer at the Detroit Medical Center, Adult Central Campus, where she led strategic initiatives to enhance clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Peter Potts, Ex-Officio Director, Chief of Staff
Dr. Potts is the Chief of Staff for Waterloo Regional Health Network. He received his medical degree from McMaster University in 1986 and his Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology from UWO in 1991. He has been an active member of the joint medical staff at Grand RH and SMGH since June 26, 1991 and served as Chief of Reproductive Medicine from June 1, 2009 to August 31, 2015. From June 2014 to August 31, 2015 he served as Deputy Chief of Staff.
Ron Gagnon, Ex-Officio Director, Secretary of the Board, President and CEO
Ron was appointed President and CEO of WRHN in April 2025. He was the President and CEO of GRH from November 2018 to March 2025.
Ron is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of executive leadership experience including 18 years as a President and CEO.
He is a strategic and visionary leader who has successfully led organizational, system and cultural transformations resulting in significant people engagement, service, quality, financial, and governance improvements. He has also played a leadership role in large digital collaborations, hospital mergers, and major capital developments.
Ron has served as an advisor to the Minister of Health and as a member of a number of provincial advocacy and/or advisory panels and has served on a number of Boards of Directors in healthcare, public utilities, group purchasing, education, business leadership, and innovation related organizations.
He holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Laurentian University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant.