Election 2026 Candidate Statements

I am seeking a position on the Board of Directors in order to further contribute to the profession of dietetics as well as ensure it’s integrity. The core responsibility of a dietitian is to interpret nutrition through a strong evidence-based body of knowledge/skills and to implementing it by developing nutrition care plans. The ability to do so while guided by a strong code of ethics and other regulatory frameworks is what distinguishes dietitians from all other nutrition professionals. In light of expanding nutrition advice through social media, CDO ensures that the public is protected by helping to earn and maintain the public trust.

The following reasons qualify me to fulfill this role. First, I have been a practicing registered dietitian for 15 years at large regional academic teaching hospital in Northern Ontario providing direct patient care in medicine, surgery and critical care. I also have experience working in a Long-Term Care Institution. I have supported dietetic learners every year since becoming a dietitian. In January 2025, I transitioned to management as the Allied Health Manager. This role has expanded my leadership and conflict management skills allowing me to focus on achieving results. Second, prior to working as dietitian, I obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration and worked in a variety of roles including human resources, employment counseling and financial aid. Finally, I have experience on a Board of Directors with a Nurse Practitioner led clinic for 5 years including 2 years as the Chair.

I believe that my business degree, my dietitian experience, my current role in management and my previous experience on a Board of Directors provide me with a unique perspective. I am familiar with rural practice settings and am fluent in French. I am committed to the fulfillment of my duties in the public interest.

I am seeking election to the Board of Directors of the College of Dietitians of Ontario to contribute to the College’s mandate of public protection through strong, accountable governance. With over 15 years of experience in dietetics, including the past eight years in healthcare leadership roles, I bring a balanced perspective grounded in frontline care, system-level decision-making, and organizational oversight.

I hold a Bachelor of Human Nutritional Sciences from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Public Health from Queen’s University, and a Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation through the Canadian College of Health Leaders. My career has included clinical practice, program leadership, and management within complex healthcare environments, where I have been responsible for quality improvement, risk management, financial oversight, and evidence-informed decision-making.

Through prior board experience, I have gained insights into governance, strategic planning, financial stewardship and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

If elected, I am eager to contribute to ongoing governance efforts, support the implementation of strategic priorities, and uphold the College’s mandate to protect the public.

With more than 35 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian, including leadership in healthcare food services across acute and rehabilitation hospitals and long-term care residences, I am committed to protecting the public through safe, ethical and high-quality nutrition services. As I transition toward retirement, I now have the dedicated time and focus to fully commit to responsibilities of Board service.

In my role as a District Manager, I oversee hospitals and long-term care homes throughout Ontario, with accountability for operational oversight, regulatory compliance, service quality, and risk mitigation. This work involves collaboration with clinical teams, public health inspectors, and administrators to ensure clinical nutrition care, food safety systems, and dining operations consistently reflect legislative requirements, standards of practice, and best-practice guidelines. This work strengthens my commitment to right-touch regulation and transparent, evidence-based decision-making, principles integral to the College’s mandate of public protection.

My long-standing academic experience at Toronto Metropolitan University has strengthened my commitment to preparing future dietitians for accountable, ethical and reflective practice. Supporting students as they navigate professional expectations, documentation standards and ethical decision making has deepened my understanding of how regulation supports public trust and promotes competence across the profession. In addition, my previous work with the College as an item reviewer and writer enhanced my understanding of competency-based regulation and the importance of clear, fair and transparent assessment processes that support safe and ethical practice.

I bring extensive experience in contractual oversight, quality improvement, system navigation and equity informed leadership. I approach complex situations with fairness, and value balanced collaborative dialogue, all qualities central to effective Board governance.

I am committed to contributing my experience and judgment to support the College’s regulatory mandate and its ongoing strategic direction including advancing governance practices that reinforce public trust and regulatory excellence.

As a Registered Dietitian with deep policy and regulatory experience at Lactalis Canada, I seek a CDO Board role to advance the College’s RHPA mandate: serving and protecting Ontarians through accountable self-regulation.

My corporate work translates evidence into standards and representing Global Nutrition R&D and IDF Canada, equipping me with subject matter expertise for risk-balanced governance and strategic oversight, always prioritizing public safety.

This aligns seamlessly with CDO’s right-touch approach of evidence-informed, proportionate regulation. Through my At Ease Nutrition platform (ateasenutrition.com), I deliver accessible, non-stigmatizing guidance rooted in standards, patient centric care, and cultural safety, empowering the public daily.

I am committed to act on Board duties: setting strategic direction, ensuring fiduciary oversight, and fostering ethical solidarity, distinct from operations or advocacy. With dairy industry ties, I’ll proactively declare conflicts, recuse when needed, and uphold collective decisions to safeguard public trust via the register, CPMF reporting, and quality assurance.

Grounded in my Applied Human Nutrition education, I’m eager to contribute to bylaws, standards, and vigilant risk monitoring for the College and public good.

I am seeking election to the Board of the College of Dietitians of Ontario because I’ve seen firsthand how vital professional regulation is to maintaining public trust in our healthcare system. My goal is to bring a practical, evidence-informed perspective to the Board’s governance, ensuring that dietetic practice across Ontario remains safe and ethical.

Currently, I serve as the Primary Care Lead for the Huron Perth & Area and North Simcoe Ontario Health Teams, seconded from my role as Manager of Integrated Care for Amplify Care. This role has given me a broad, strategic view of the provincial landscape and on how primary care is evolving in our province. Much of my work involves expanding access to team-based care and finding ways to better integrate dietitians into collaborative models. Through this, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the complexities of system governance –balancing financial stewardship with the diverse needs of the public.

Before moving into system-level work, I spent years in acute care as a specialized diabetes dietitian. That clinical background is what grounds me. It taught me that professional accountability isn’t just a concept; it’s a daily commitment to patient safety and sound decision-making.

I value honest, respectful dialogue and believe that the best solutions come from collaborative problem-solving. I bring experience working within governance structures, supporting strategic planning, and navigating complex health system environments.

I believe my combined clinical and system-level experience would allow me to contribute meaningfully to the Board’s work while supporting the College’s mandate to serve and protect the public interest.

I am committed to continuing to learn and develop in governance, and I welcome opportunities to deepen my understanding of regulatory oversight and how effective governance supports the public interest.

I am seeking election to the Board because I am deeply committed to maintaining public trust in the dietetic profession and strengthening the systems that protect the public interest.

With over 11 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian, including a decade in private practice and multiple consulting roles across clinical and community settings, I have developed a broad and practical understanding of the responsibilities, risks, and ethical complexities within dietetic practice. Building and operating a successful in-person and virtual practice has required rigorous adherence to professional standards, privacy legislation, and risk management principles, all central to public protection.

My clinical focus in disordered eating and behavioural change has strengthened my ability to assess complex situations, identify root causes, and apply structured decision-making frameworks. This systems-level thinking, combined with experience supervising interns and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, has refined my judgment, accountability, and respect for governance processes.

I bring strategic thinking, strong communication skills, and an ability to analyze issues from multiple perspectives. As a practice owner and consultant, I regularly navigate competing priorities while maintaining ethical integrity and client safety. I understand the importance of regulatory bodies remaining objective, transparent, and grounded in their mandate to protect the public.

I am committed to evidence-informed decision-making while gently pushing the boundaries to explore development within the profession as it related to public interest. I would be honoured to apply my experience, discipline, and dedication to public protection in service of the College’s mandate.

I am seeking election to the Board of the College of Dietitians of Ontario to contribute to strong governance, regulatory excellence, and the ongoing protection of the public. As a clinical dietitian working within a Family Health Team, I bring frontline experience delivering evidence-informed, patient-centered care in a collaborative environment.

I currently serve as a member of the Quality Improvement and Performance Team, where I support initiatives that enhance service delivery, accountability, and operational effectiveness. This role has strengthened my understanding of quality assurance, goal setting, program planning and evaluation, ensuring equitable access to care, and the importance of continuous advocacy for the public interest.

As the founder of the Sustainable Committee, I have led efforts to integrate environmentally sustainable practices with evidenced-based clinical practices, that support both patient health and planetary health. This work reflects my collaborative leadership skills and commitment to improving healthcare that supports both patients and future generations of Canadians.

My strengths include clinical expertise, strategic thinking, collaborative leadership, and clear communication. I am committed to ethical practice, transparency, and evidence-informed decision-making. I value regulatory processes that are fair, rigorous, and responsive to the evolving landscape of dietetic practice.

I would be honored to contribute to the Board’s mandate of protecting the public while helping to support the shaping of dietetic regulation in Ontario.

I am seeking election to the College of Dietitians of Ontario Board because I am committed to protecting the public through safe, ethical, evidence-informed dietetic practice and effective professional regulation. As a Registered Dietitian in good standing with the College and a PhD-trained researcher, I bring a strong appreciation for the Board’s role in governance, oversight, and accountability in the public interest.

My professional experience spans acute care, long-term care, home health care, outpatient, and community settings, allowing me to understand how regulatory requirements are applied across diverse practice environments. In these roles, I regularly apply professional standards, ethical decision-making, documentation requirements, and collaborative practice within interdisciplinary healthcare teams. This breadth of practice strengthens my ability to consider risk, public protection, and system impact when evaluating regulatory issues.

My doctoral training and experience as a Research Assistant at the University of Ottawa have developed my skills in critical analysis, evidence appraisal, and clear written communication. I have contributed to peer-reviewed publications, research protocols, and population-based studies, which support thoughtful, evidence-informed decision-making and continuous quality improvement. I also bring experience in education and knowledge translation, having designed and delivered programs for diverse populations using culturally responsive approaches.

I value integrity, objectivity, transparency, and respectful collaboration. I am comfortable engaging with complex issues, balancing multiple perspectives, and exercising sound judgment. I am motivated to contribute my skills, experience, and time to support the Board’s mandate of public protection and to uphold confidence in the regulation of dietetic practice in Ontario.

I am a Registered Dietitian with 20 years of senior leadership experience across food innovation, product development, and commercialization within major Canadian organizations. My career has been spent at the intersection of nutrition science, regulation, consumer behaviour, and large-scale food systems—environments where evidence-based decision making, regulatory compliance, and public trust are critical.

In senior leadership roles at Loblaw Companies Limited and Subway Canada, I led and collaborated with complex, multidisciplinary teams including dietitians, food technologists, and quality experts. My responsibilities included governance of product and ingredient standards, claims substantiation, front-of-pack labelling, sodium reduction initiatives, marketing to children, and quality and regulatory readiness. I had oversight of ingredient standards with a strong focus on risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and protection of public confidence.

I have worked directly with Health Canada and contributed to peer-reviewed research related to nutrition policy and regulatory frameworks. Earlier in my career, I worked in public health and health promotion, strengthening my understanding of population health and the real-world impact of nutrition guidance.

I am seeking election to the Board as a way to give back to the profession and contribute my knowledge and experience in service of the public interest. At a time when nutrition misinformation and unregulated practice are increasing, I am motivated to support strong, credible self-regulation and help safeguard the integrity of the dietetic profession. My career path has offered limited opportunities to participate in professional governance, and I view Board service as both a meaningful contribution and a valuable learning opportunity.

I am also motivated to engage more deeply with the dietetic community and collaborate with like-minded professionals committed to public protection. I bring strong communication and analytical skills, sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to ethical, independent decision making in support of the College’s mandate.

I am seeking election to the Board because I am committed to advancing public protection through ethical, evidence-informed, and accountable regulation of dietetic practice. Through my professional experience as a Registered Dietitian in long-term care, community, and consulting settings, I have observed how effective regulatory oversight supports client safety, quality of care, and public confidence in the profession.

I bring a strong understanding of dietetic practice, nutrition science, and the regulatory framework governing healthcare delivery, including practical experience working within Ministry of Health requirements and the Long-Term Care Homes Act. My roles have involved comprehensive nutritional risk assessment, development and monitoring of care plans for vulnerable populations, and collaboration within interdisciplinary teams. This work requires sound professional judgment, adherence to standards, and accurate documentation –key components of public protection.

I have contributed to organizational governance through active participation in professional advisory, quality, and clinical committees, where I review practices, identify risks, and support continuous quality improvement. I also have experience educating staff, mentoring students, and communicating clearly with residents, families, and care teams, reflecting accountability, transparency, and respect.

My professional background spans clinical care, public health, education, and management, supported by strong analytical skills and a commitment to ongoing learning. I approach decision-making with independence, integrity, and objectivity. As a Board member, I would contribute a thoughtful, informed, and balanced perspective in support of the College’s mandate to serve and protect the public interest.