Board of Directors

Sonia Yung

Sonia Yung has more than 30 years of legal, governance and strategic planning expertise. She retired from her position as general counsel and chief compliance officer at Bloom Burton & Co., an investment banking firm dedicated to accelerating returns in the healthcare sector for both investors and companies. Prior to that, she was a partner in the global law firm Baker McKenzie where she led their corporate and securities law practice group in Toronto. Sonia’s law practice focused on the capital markets in both the mining and healthcare sectors. Currently, she is the CEO of Kilkenny Media Inc., a Canadian independent book publishing company.

Sonia previously served as chair of the board and of the Governance Committee for The Neighbourhood Group Community Services, a not-for-profit organization that works with people affected by poverty, isolation and/or marginalization in the Greater Toronto Area. She also served as a director on the boards of Neighbourhood Link Homes and The Neighbourhood Group Foundation. Prior to that, she was chair of the Quality Committee and vice-chair of the board for St. Stephen’s Community House. Sonia currently serves as board chair for Diabetes Canada and is a member of all the board committees. She is also a board director for the National Diabetes Trustee Corp., as well as on the boards of three privately held companies. Sonia was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2017, prompting her avid interest in advancements in the detection, treatment and management of diabetes, and in advocacy for a better quality of life for people living with the condition.

Robert Screaton

Robert Screaton, PhD, is senior scientist in Biological Sciences at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and professor of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. His expertise is in cell and molecular biology with a focus on the use of robotic technology to identify the genetic program that governs function and regeneration of adult human insulin-producing beta cells. The goal of his work is to identify strategies to help promote replication and improved function of beta cells to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

He is a founding member of the Canadian Islet Research and Training Network (CIRTN) and co-coordinator of the National Graduate Course in Islet Biology hosted at University of Toronto. He also serves as chair of the Mentoring Committee for the CIHR National MyROaD Training Platform. He has been a professional volunteer at Diabetes Canada since 2007 and was co-chair of the National Research Council (2017-2024). He is currently a member of the People & Culture Committee and Fund Development Committee.

Patricia Li

Patricia Li is an accomplished senior executive in the public and non-profit sectors. She was an assistant deputy minister with the Government of Ontario responsible for delivering a diverse portfolio of front-line government services ranging from consumer and business services to health care, and leading reform initiatives to improve programs to Ontarians. Her senior executive roles at EHealth Ontario, Royal Botanical Gardens and CPA Canada focussed on operational excellence and leading business transformation through large-scale projects. She has a passion for board governance and has been an independent director in a number of organizations across Canada. At Diabetes Canada, she is chair of the Audit, Investment & Risk Committee and a member of the Fund Development Committee and Governance & Nominations Committee.

She is a director at the board of the Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace, a not-for-profit sourcing partner for Ontario’s education sector, broader public sector and other not-for-profit organizations. At the Yee Hong Center for Geriatric Care, one of the largest senior care organizations in the Greater Toronto area, she is a director and member of the Governance and Resources committees. She is currently appointed as an independent member of the Departmental Audit Committee of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the federal regulator of nuclear power and materials in Canada. She was previously a director with the Ontario Pension Board, a trustee with the OPSEU Pension Trust, a commissioner with the Niagara Parks Commission and vice-chair of the Catholic Women’s Leadership Foundation. Patricia Li is a graduate of the Ivey Business School, Western University, a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and an Institute-Certified Director (ICD.D).

Lynne Bridgman

Lynne Bridgman is a demonstrated leader and business professional with a diverse background in both the private and public sectors over her career. Lynne has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto; a Bachelor of Arts (BA, business and economics) from Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Que.; and, a certificate in adult training and development from OISE, University of Toronto.

With a long tenure of community involvement, Lynne has developed grassroots-level programs to help not-for-profits and charities improve their revenue, streamline their operations and grow their donor base. As a volunteer with Diabetes Canada for more than 12 years, Lynne and her son founded Put a Squeeze on Diabetes (2014 to 2019), a national fundraising program to help send children with type 1 diabetes to D-Camps. Lynne is a member of the Diabetes Canada board’s Mission Committee, and Fund Development Committee. She is also a board member of the Bishop’s University Foundation where she is chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee. Her past philanthropic involvement includes Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, JDRF, SickKids, and Children’s Hope Orphanage in Beijing. Lynne is most interested in helping others and supporting them to succeed.

Lawrence Davis

Lawrence Davis is an experienced finance and technology executive who served as chief financial officer and consultant for several organizations undergoing operational and technology transformation mandates. His current professional experience includes providing advisory services to several investment and wealth management organizations on technology-related projects. Prior professional experience includes chief financial officer roles for British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, a provider of investment management services for British Columbia’s public sector and one of the largest asset managers in Canada; and the Workplace Safety Insurance Board, one of the largest insurance organizations in North America.

His governance experience includes board, audit committee chair and chief financial officer roles for publicly listed corporations (NASDAQ, TSX, TSX-V), public sector financial institutions and not-for-profit organizations. His community involvement includes guest lecturer (on the development and use of complex financial models) for the Rotman School of Management MBA program. Lawrence is a chartered professional accountant (fellow), Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professional (CIRP), and member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D). He is a member of the Diabetes Canada board’s Audit, Investment & Risk Committee.

Gary Howard

Gary Howard is a business, marketing and communications professional. Previously the senior vice-president of marketing and communications at CAA Atlantic, Gary has more than 30 years of experience in building, designing, and implementing business-driven marketing, communications and partnership strategies using a collaborative enterprise-wide approach with demonstrable results. As a senior business leader, he has progressive experience in corporate strategic planning and implementation, as well as extensive experience and proven success in developing partnerships and leadership with all stakeholders. He offers creativity in innovative and engaging marketing, with extensive experience in understanding consumer behaviour and trends. Gary has experience working in all marketing and communications channels, including direct, digital, broadcast, consumer loyalty strategy, public relations and media relations. He currently works as a consultant, with a primary focus on marketing, communications, project facilitation, media relations, and consumer loyalty strategy development.

Gary’s community involvement includes the YMCA of Saint John (chair and board member), JDRF (cabinet member of the Walk for the Cure), and the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation (director and secretary of the board and chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee). Gary has a personal connection to diabetes: his daughter Regan was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 16 years ago at age five. He is chair of the Diabetes Canada board’s Governance & Nominations Committee and a member of the People & Culture Committee.

Mark Lehman

Mark Lehman, CPA, CA, is an audit partner with KPMG in Toronto. He specializes in consumer and industrial market practice with public, private and multinational companies, and is a seasoned finance professional with more than 30 years in public accounting. 

Throughout his career, Mark has gained significant experience in many different boardroom settings and has developed a strong understanding of board governance. He has worked at large and small companies, including not-for-profit organizations and family foundations, as well as pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical, consumer goods, transportation, service sector and manufacturing companies. 

Mark understands the challenges of working with volunteer boards through personal volunteer experience, including religious, academic and advisory boards. He is a member of the Diabetes Canada board’s audit, investment & risk committee, and is the board chair of the National Diabetes Trustee Corp.

Lorraine Lipscombe

Lorraine Lipscombe, MD, MSc, FRCPC, is a practicing endocrinologist and diabetes researcher. Her current roles include staff physician and senior scientist, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Women’s College Hospital; professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, management and evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto; senior adjunct scientist, ICES; and executive director of the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations at University of Toronto.

Dr. Lipscombe has developed new clinical programs to enhance the care for patients with diabetes, and advocates for more effective, efficient and person-centred healthcare models for persons with or at risk of diabetes. Her current research is testing interventions for new mothers to help lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. As executive director of the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations—a cross-disciplinary research network at the University of Toronto—she is leading a multi-pronged research program to address the burden of diabetes and related conditions in the Peel region.

She has received funding from Diabetes Canada and been a member of Diabetes Canada’s professional section since 2001. Dr. Lipscombe has volunteered with the organization in various roles, including as speaker, grants and awards reviewer, consultant, and the lead author of the chapter on pharmacotherapy for type 2 diabetes for the Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada and the 2020 update. She is chair of the board’s mission committee.

Nafisa Merali 

Nafisa Merali is the founder of Naz Pharmacy and co-founder of Wellness Pharmacy. Since 1996, she has been a consulting pharmacist and served in various capacities within the NAZ Wellness Group, which consists of several pharmacies in Vancouver’s lower mainland area.
 
She has been a certified diabetes educator and a diabetes case manager since 2013. Her current engagements include being a patient advocate for people living with Crohn’s and colitis, and a committee member for Fraser Health. She was previously part of a working group for Vancouver Coastal Health. 
 
In 2018, Nafisa received Diabetes Canada’s Charles H. Best Award that recognizes a health professional who has made a significant difference across Canada in improving the quality of life for individuals living with diabetes. In 2016, she received the Outstanding Health Care Professional Award from Diabetes Canada’s Vancouver Coastal Region. She is a member of the board’s governance & nominations committee.

Gloria Pakravan

Gloria Pakravan is the vice-president of people & culture at CreateTO, an agency of the City of Toronto charged with managing the city’s real estate assets. With more than 8,000 properties, the agency is one of the most expansive, diverse, and valuable real estate portfolios in North America.

Gloria is a visionary HR leader acknowledged for her transformational leadership in aligning culture to drive employee engagement and impact business outcomes. She is a recognized expert who has been profiled in trade publications, and a seasoned speaker at national and global HR conferences and symposiums. 

Prior to CreateTO, Gloria held progressively more senior roles at such organizations as University Health Network, Toronto Police Service, Royal Sun Alliance and Scotiabank. 

Gloria is the chair of the Diabetes Canada board’s people & culture committee.

Catherine Pennington

Director of Indigenous Advisory Services for KPMG’s Global Infrastructure Advisory Services, as well as a professional counsellor and psychotherapist, Catherine Pennington lives on the traditional territory of the Lheidli T'enneh known as Prince George, B.C. She is a proud citizen of the Métis Nation, born and raised in Duck Lake Saskatchewan on Treaty Six territory and the Metis Homeland. Catherine has observed the devastating impacts of diabetes within her own community and family, making the work of Diabetes Canada personally important to her. Catherine is a member of the Diabetes Canada board’s Fund Development Committee.

Esther Tailfeathers

Born and raised on the Blood Reserve in Alberta, Dr. Esther Tailfeathers graduated from University of North Dakota School of Medicine, and completed her family medicine residency in Edmonton at the University of Alberta. She has worked in many Native communities, including The Blackfeet Reservation emergency room, the Blood Reserve, and the remote northern community of Fort Chipewyan. Dr. Tailfeathers was the medical lead of the Indigenous Wellness Core for the Alberta Health Services until June 2023. Esther is a member of the Diabetes Canada board’s Mission Committee.
 

Faeron Trehearne

Faeron Trehearne, B.A., LL.B., ICD.D, is Chief Legal and Risk Officer and Corporate Secretary at Moneris Solutions. She has also worked at the Toronto-Dominion Bank, Oracle Corporation, Torys LLP, Goodmans LLP and Stockwoods, and recently served on the Board of SPRINT Senior Care. Faeron was named one of the Best Executives 2021 by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. She obtained her law degrees from the University of Windsor Law School and the University of Detroit Mercy Law School. Faeron is a member of the Diabetes Canada board’s Governance & Nominations Committee, and Audit, Investment & Risk Committee.
 

Ben Voss

Ben Voss, P.Eng, ICD.D, is an agricultural and bioresource engineering graduate from the University of Saskatchewan and has worked in executive leadership roles throughout most of his career. Born and raised on a farm near Spiritwood, Sask., he has farmed part-time since 2011. A recognized business leader, Ben works as an executive, board member, farmer, engineer, technology expert and community volunteer. He has dedicated a significant portion of his life to philanthropy and community volunteering, specifically as a board member with STARS, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the University of Saskatchewan Alumni. He currently works at Calian Group, alongside several other advisory roles. He is on the board of directors of Plannera, a pension fund management and benefits company in Saskatchewan; and GRIPP.AG, a U.S.-based startup company. He is chair of the Diabetes Canada board’s Fund Development Committee.