Board of Directors

The Board of Directors provides strategic and policy direction for the College. It makes decisions to protect and promote the public interest, as set out in the  Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991. Management carries out the Board’s direction and the day-to-day work of CDO, which is overseen by the Registrar & Executive Director.

Scheduled Board meetings are held four times a year — June, September, December and March — and are open to the public to observe virtually. Meeting details and materials, approved minutes and meeting highlights are posted to the College’s website.

The Board is composed of dietitians (professional directors), who are elected by registrants, and members of the public (public directors) who are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council.

At the first meeting of the term, the Board elects a Chair and Vice-Chair from among the directors. The Chair provides strategic leadership and serves as the most senior officer of the Board. The Vice-Chair assists in the leadership of the Board and College and fulfills the Chairs duties when they are unavailable. 

The Board’s duties include:

  • Governing the dietetic profession in Ontario in the public’s interest
  • Establishing CDO’s strategic direction and monitoring the progress
  • Managing risk
  • Providing financial oversight
  • Monitoring performance of the Registrar and the organization
  • Maintaining good governance
  • Operating within the laws, regulations and by-laws

Bylaw 1 outlines the operations of the Board with further guidance provided by the Governance Manual. 

Committees supplement the work of the Board by making recommendations for the Board’s considerations.

The College’s Board of Directors is currently composed of 12 members: seven directors who are Registered Dietitians elected by registrants of the College and five public directors appointed by order in Council as approved by the Provincial Cabinet. Together, they set the direction for the College’s work and make decisions in the best interest of the public.

Elected Directors

  • Denis Tsang, RD (Chair)
  • Ann Watt, RD (Vice-Chair)
  • Dawn Van Engelen, RD
  • Deion Weir, RD
  • Navita Viveky, RD
  • Teresa Taillefer, RD

Public Directors

  • Cheryl Lake
  • Galina Semikhnenko
  • Raynold D’Sa
  • Santhikumar Chandrasekharan
  • Susan Bodner

Governance Modernization

CDO has undertaken significant governance modernization in recent years to enhance public protection, accountability, and regulatory excellence. Key changes include implementing a Board competency framework, reducing the Board’s size, transitioning to a single electoral district, eliminating nominators for elections, and updating governance role terminology. These initiatives align CDO’s governance with best practices and government requirements for increased transparency and fairness.

Click on the infographic to the right to enlarge the image and view CDO’s governance modernization outcomes.

More information on specific governance modernization initiatives in available through our annual reports.