Chair 

Linda McGreevy 

Linda has been a resident of Carleton Place for over 25 years and a passionate advocate for quality health care and the value of community hospitals. Linda is a fundraising specialist with a career that spans 30 years. She believes strongly that successful fundraising is dependent on an organization’s ability to inspire others to invest through a compelling marketing and communications strategy.                                                               
Linda is the former Executive Director of three hospital Foundations, including the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre Foundation and the Sudbury Memorial Hospital Foundation, as well as Interim Executive Director of the Winchester and District Memorial Hospital Foundation. Linda has vast knowledge in all aspects of fundraising including capital campaigns, event planning, annual and planned giving programs, direct mail, as well as communications and marketing. She honed her direct mail expertise as the National Director of Direct Mail Fundraising for the Liberal Party of Canada. Linda’s background in health care fundraising also includes two national organizations, the Canadian Paraplegic Association and Independent Living Canada. These positions involved spearheading a national corporate campaign as well as creating the tools and training for grassroots fundraising programs. Linda is also experienced in strategic planning, operational assessments, board development, and feasibility studies.

Following retirement from full-time work in 2008, Linda worked as a fundraising consultant with a wide variety of organizations, including the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Almonte General Hospital and Fairview Manor Foundation and the Toy Counsel of Canada. Linda retired from consulting in January 2017 but has remained active in her community. A lifetime volunteer, Linda has been on the board of directors of ten organizations, primarily in the area of healthcare. 

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Vice Chair 

Having joined Invest Ottawa in 2018, Patrick is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications for Invest Ottawa, Bayview Yards and Area X.O, having moved into the position in 2019. Patrick also currently lends his expertise to various marketing and communications advisory committees, including acting as Chair for the Marketing and Communications Advisory Committee for Wrestling Canada as well as being named Communications Lead for Team Canada for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Previous roles have included Director of Marketing and Communications for the Canada Games Council, member of the Team Canada communications team for past Commonwealth, Pan-Am and Olympic Games and public relations consultant for some of Ottawa and the country's largest firms.

  Treasurer / Secretary

Directors     

Shauna Almas

Shauna Almas is a purpose-motivated Business Development professional.  She has
been driving revenue growth and profitability across commercial, public and not-for-profit industries for 13 years and counting.  

As a student, Shauna put herself through her undergraduate degree as an
entrepreneur. During her MBA she worked in East Africa to address the
need for better rural access to quality health care. In the early days of her
career in the pharmaceutical industry she was involved with one of the most
successful Canadian launches of a new pharmaceutical product in its class.  
Specializing in fostering innovative relationships and identifying new business
opportunities, Shauna is inspired by a favourite African proverb – “Alone, we go faster.  Together, we go further.”  

Currently, Shauna is establishing a new Business Development department as a member of the Leadership Team at the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.  

Shauna lives in Carleton place with her family and in her spare time she likes to be outdoors gardening, taking on sizeable DIY projects at home, and experimenting in the kitchen - sporadically successful at best, but certainly a lot of fun.  

Kent Blackburn

Kent Blackburn is a life-long resident of Lanark County, with deep family roots in the area. He has resided in Beckwith Township for the last 23 years with his wife, Jennie, and their three sons; prior to that, he lived in Carleton Place for 25 years. Kent was born in the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital and attended Carleton Place High School. He later graduated from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University in 1994 with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications Studies and Geography.

Previously, Kent has been privileged to serve on the Beckwith Township Recreation Committee for 10 years, as well as on the Carleton Place Minor Hockey Association Executive. Kent has been active in local sports, managing and coaching hockey, soccer, basketball, and football. He is a member of St. James Anglican Church. Kent has worked in the Information Technology industry for over 25 years and is currently the CEO of Tiree Consulting in Ottawa.

Kent is honoured to support the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital as a member of the Executive Board. He feels passionate about the Hospital and the dedicated people who work there. He believes our local Hospital has always been and should continue to be, a cornerstone of the community.

Matthew Henley 

Matthew Henley is the Chief Operating Officer of ai talos, a health technology company
using artificial intelligence to identify early stage cancers.

Prior to joining ai talos, Matthew served as Managing Partner of a North American
public affairs firm, providing counsel and advisory services to businesses and
not-for-profits from across Canada. He served as a government relations
consultant to ALS Canada during the Ice Bucket Challenge campaign, successfully
advocating for changes to the Compassionate Care Benefit for people living with
ALS. His work with ALS Canada ignited a passion advocating for health care
initiatives and improved patient outcomes.

Matthew began his career in politics, working on Parliament Hill specializing in strategic communications and policy research. He holds an MBA with a specialization in Finance and in 2022 was recognized for Outstanding Service and Contribution to the Community to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen.

Tambrae Knapp

Tambrae Knapp retired from the federal public service in 2022, after serving in eight departments at the executive level in the areas of communications, program delivery, strategic planning and performance, corporate services, investment planning and real property management. She spent the final six years of her career as the Executive Director of Investment Management for Parks Canada, where she was responsible for planning and management of a $26B real property portfolio. She holds an MBA from Royal Roads University with a specialization on Public Relations.

Tambrae is excited to build on a career in public service by getting involved in, and serving, her community.

Tambrae and her husband Steve Walker found their dream property on the Mississippi River a few years ago and now enjoy rural living with their dog Sam. They have two wonderful adult daughters.

Dr. Esmail Merani

Esmail is an executive with over forty years’ experience who is no stranger to the health care field. He is the co-owner with his pharmacist son Karim Merani, of the IDA Carleton Place Drug Mart Ltd. in addition to owning IDA pharmacies in Stittsville, Richmond and Greenbank Hunt Club. His vast cumulative experience extends to pharmacy, drug and the healthcare business and he has practical experience leading project management and business development initiatives, as well as human resources, finance and change management. He also has a wealth of experience with board governance after serving on a variety of boards including: the President Ontario College of Pharmacists (2015); the Ottawa Carleton Pharmacists Association; Peace Camp Ottawa; Lions Club of Stittsville; Ashbury College; Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital as Board Trustee; Nipissing University; Somerset West Community Health Centre; and Green Shield Canada.

Esmail is extremely community-focused and has been has been the proud recipient of many awards like the Bowl of Hygiea (1985) which all speak to and highlight his “outstanding community service.” Loyally committed to our beloved hospital since moving to the area more than 20-years ago, he spearheaded a matching gift campaign for the hospital with his staff at the Carleton Place IDA. Each year, payroll deductions from staff members are matched dollar-for-dollar by IDA co-owners. To date, over $63,000 has been raised through this initiative for the hospital with Esmail and his staff continuing to renew their pledges each year!

“Joining the Foundation Board is a singular honour to give back to the community for a project near and dear to me.”

David Nephin

David is a long-time resident of Carleton Place. He graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1981 with a BA in Accounting and obtained his CA in 1983. He has been with the chartered accounting firm of Nephin Winter Bingley in Carleton Place since 1980 and a partner since 1988.

David joined the Hospital Foundation Board in 2016. He has always been an active supporter of the Hospital and the Foundation and joined the board to contribute to the future of the Hospital and community. His 20+ years as Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital’s auditor and his five years as the Hospital Foundation’s auditor give him hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of both entities.

David is an active volunteer. He has been involved in many board positions over the years, including Police Services Board, BIA, and Crime Stoppers, has served as treasurer of St. James Church for eight years, and coached boys and girls minor hockey for 10 years each and minor baseball for six years.

Peter Schaffer

Peter Schaffer joined the Military at the age of 17 and spent 29 years in service to his Country. Peter joined as an Infantryman and served with the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Canadian Airborne Regiment for the first 12 years of his career. He chose to further challenge himself and after completing selection, he became a member of Joint Task Force Two, Canada’s Elite Counter Terrorist Unit where he spent another 17 years until he retired as the Senior Sergeant Major of this Unit, which now falls under Canadian Special Operations Command.

Throughout his military career Peter was deployed in multiple tours overseas including, Somalia, Bosnia - Yugoslavia, Eritrea - Ethiopia and Afghanistan. Peter became a member of the Executive of the Royal Canadian Legion-Captain A. Roy Brown Branch 192 in 2015 assuming the role of Sgt. At Arms until 2017 when he was elected to his current position of Branch President. Peter is also a proud Life Member of the Branch.

Peter has lived in Carleton Place for the last 24 years and since his retirement from the military he felt motivated to become further involved within his community. Joining the Foundation Board provided that opportunity as the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation has been involved with veterans since its inception. As President of Branch 192, Peter feels that this partnership with the Carleton Place Catch the Ace fundraiser and his position on the board will serve to further maintain and strengthen this relationship. Facta, Non Verba- “Deeds, not words.”

Melanie Adams

Melanie Adams is an experienced leader in the philanthropic sector with over twenty years of progressive executive level experience, Melanie has earned her reputation as a poised and highly collaborative, innovative thinker and influencer.

Melanie has enjoyed a successful 20-year career as an executive in the not-for-profit sector with a focus in healthcare fundraising. Developing strategy, cultivating boards, attaining goals, and building teams, and inspired by donors, Melanie has raised in excess of $100 million supporting vital healthcare needs and ground-breaking research in the Ottawa region. She has successfully led and completed multiple multimillion-dollar capital campaigns which have resulted in transformational physical redevelopment, the acquisition of cutting-edge healthcare technology, increased capacity and ground breaking research, and the build of new and renovated long term care homes. Successful campaigns and annual programs are a result of outstanding passionate staff and volunteers - Melanie is proud to have worked with, and learned from the best over the past two decades.

With her core belief that credibility is built through accountability and transparency, Melanie led the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation through the process of the Imagine Canada’s Standards Program resulting in the achievement of Accreditation, the first healthcare organization in Ottawa to achieve this coveted demonstration of governance excellence.

Melanie is focused on supporting organizations and leaders in identifying and reducing organizational risk, building strategy and plans, improving operational and governance practices, and sometimes just lending an ear to leaders who need to process through challenges and opportunities.

Melanie finds inspiration and motivation in helping others maximize their personal and professional success through professional coaching, working with clients in a thought provoking and creative coaching exchange. Melanie is committed to partnering with clients who have a sincere desire to remove barriers or propel toward goals and is working toward her International Coaching Federation Certification – the gold standard in ethical and professional standard in coaching.

Melanie is committed to all aspects of her community and family life. Melanie is a volunteer with the Melanoma Network of Canada as a Peer Support Coach, serves as a Director on the board of the Ottawa Art Gallery and is Vice President and Director of Kindness Canada Genereaux, mentors within the charitable sector and through public speaking she delivers a message with humour, sincerity, and vulnerability.

Toni Moffa 

Toni Moffa joined the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Board of Directors in June 2018 and also serves on the Resource Planning and Utilization Committee and the Board Quality Committee. After a 30-year career in many executive leadership roles in the national security and intelligence sector of the federal government, Toni retired in 2016 from the Communications Security Establishment as an Assistant Deputy Minister. She would like her experience in areas such as strategic visioning, business planning, policy development, client services and change management to benefit the hospital during its period of growth and transition. Toni resides in Carleton Place with her husband and daughter. In other community activities, Toni is involved with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 192 in Carleton Place and enjoys assisting backstage with the Mississippi Mudds theatre group. Toni was elected to the Allied Boards of Directors in June 2022.

Dilhari Fernando 

Dilhari Fernando is a sustainability/ESG professional with a 25-year career that includes leadership roles in the public, not-for-profit and commercial sectors.

During her public service career, Dilhari contributed to strategic policy in over six federal government departments and agencies, primary focusing on the environment. She also served as the Executive Director of the Invasive Species Centre, a non-profit nature-based organization. Being passionate about helping businesses to become more environmentally and socially aware, Dilhari joined Canada Post where she led the organization’s environmental, climate and accessibility strategies. She then joined the PSP Investment Board to contribute to its climate and sustainable finance strategies, and to embed sustainability and ESG into the firm’s brand and corporate communications. Dilhari is the current founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Sitka Group, a boutique consultancy that helps companies to develop and execute sustainability and ESG strategies and communications.

Dilhari holds degrees from Western University, University of New Brunswick and the Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa), in addition to graduate certificates in sustainability and a Board designation in ESG. Dilhari has previously served on the Boards of the Bateman Foundation and the Rideau Trail Association.

Dilhari has lived in Ottawa for over 25 years, primarily in Kanata and Stitsville, where she and her husband raised three wonderful children and a beautiful Golden Retriever.

CPDMH Integrated President & CEO

Mary Wilson Trider