Committee Charting
| Audit Committee | Governance and Nominating Committee | Investment Committee | Human Resources Committee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Beesley | CC | |||
| Jane Craighead | CC | |||
| Kyle Hartlen | ||||
| Sarah MacDonald | ||||
| Doug Nathanson | ||||
| Vivek Sood | ||||
| Deborah Starkman | ||||
| Michael Vels | ||||
| Michael Waters | CC | |||
| Karen Weaver | CC |
Paul Beesley
Paul Beesley
Paul Beesley has served as a corporate director since 2019. He was Chief Financial Officer of Hudson's Bay Company from 2014 until his retirement in 2017. Prior to joining Hudson's Bay, he held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Empire Company Limited from 1999 until 2014. Paul sits on the Board of Orlando Corporation and the Board of Governors for Dalhousie University. He holds various designations including ICD.D, ESG.D, Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), an MBA from Saint Mary’s University and a B.Sc. from Dalhousie University in addition to having completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Committee Membership
- Audit Committee
- Governance and Nominating Committee
- Investment Committee
Jane Craighead
Jane Craighead
Jane Craighead has over 20 years of international experience with public company Boards of Directors, a strong understanding of corporate governance and board effectiveness, and a deep expertise in human resources including executive compensation. Jane has served as a corporate director since her retirement in 2019. Jane is a board member of Telesat Corporation and Wajax Corporation and was a board member of Intertape Polymer Group and Clearwater Seafoods LP until their privatization. Her prior roles include Senior Vice President Global Human Resources at Scotiabank, Global Practice Leader Rewards at Rio Tinto PLC, and Eastern Canada Business Leader for Human Capital Advisory Services at Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Previously, Jane held full-time faculty appointments at Queen’s University, Concordia University, and McGill University. Jane began her career with Ernst & Young and was a manager in audit before pursuing an academic career. Jane holds a PhD in Management from McGill University, an honorary Doctorate from Mount Allison University, a Bachelor of Commerce from Mount Allison University, and is a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).
Committee Membership
- Governance and Nominating Committee
- Human Resource Committee
Kyle Hartlen
Kyle Hartlen
Kyle S. Hartlen is a Partner at the law firm of Stewart McKelvey in Halifax, Nova Scotia, practicing primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate governance and securities since joining the firm in 2015. Kyle has extensive experience negotiating and executing transactions throughout Canada across a range of industries (both regulated and unregulated). Kyle sits on the Board of Governors of Huron University. Kyle holds an MBA (AMBA Gold Medal) from the Ivey Business School, as well as a combined Juris Doctor/HBA (Ivey Scholar) from the Western University Faculty of Law and the Ivey Business School.
Committee Membership
- Human Resource Committee
Sarah MacDonald
Sarah MacDonald
Sarah MacDonald retired in October 2025 as Chief Transformation Officer at Algonquin Power and Utilities, a position she began in August 2024. Before this, Sarah held the role of Chief Human Resources Officer from October 2024 and continued to oversee CHRO duties throughout her tenure. Prior to joining Algonquin, Sarah was Chief Operating Officer at EfficiencyOne - the first regulated energy efficiency utility in Canada. She also spent 19 years at Emera Inc. working in senior leadership positions, including President of TECO Services Inc, President and CEO of Emera Caribbean Inc, and Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Sarah earned her LLB from Dalhousie Law School and an MBA from Saint Mary's University.
Committee Membership
- Audit Committee
Doug Nathanson
Doug Nathanson
Doug is Executive Vice President, Chief Pharmacy & Development Officer and General Counsel of Empire and Sobeys Inc., having joined the company in April 2018. In addition to leading the company’s legal function, he has leadership accountability for Real Estate, Corporate Strategy & Development, Strategic Sourcing, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Government Relations, and Sustainability. Prior to joining Empire, Doug has held various senior roles at Canadian Tire Corporation from 2011 to 2018 and MI Developments from 2005 to 2009. Doug holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University (High Distinction) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law. He is a member of the Bar in both Ontario and New York State.
Committee Membership
- Investment Committee
Vivek Sood
Vivek Sood
Vivek Sood is the President and CEO of Nova Scotia Power, a role he was appointed to in February 2026. Prior to joining Nova Scotia Power, Vivek spent 25 years with Empire and Sobeys Inc., where he held various senior positions, including Executive Vice President Related Business, Vice President, Finance & Administration and Senior Vice President, Pharmacy Group. Prior to retiring from Sobeys in July 2024, Vivek was a member of Empire’s Executive Committee and Executive Sponsor of Empire’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy, as well as their Enterprise Resource Planning initiative. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee), a director for Nova Scotia Power Inc., and as Board Governor for Saint Mary’s University (member of the Audit and Risk Committee). Vivek holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University. He received his Chartered Financial Analyst Designation in 2004 and completed the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program in 2021. Vivek is Honourary Lieutenant-Colonel of 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery, RCA Regiment.
Committee Membership
- Investment Committee
- Governance and Nominating Committee
Deborah Starkman
Deborah Starkman
Deborah Starkman is the former Chief Financial Officer of Dream Unlimited Corp. (“Dream”) a position she held from 2020 to 2024. As CFO, Deborah oversaw the financial management and planning, as well as the Shared Services function, including Information Technology, Human Resources, Legal, and Compliance activities, before retiring in 2024. Prior to her time at Dream, Deborah served as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary at GMP Capital Inc., a Canadian independent financial services firm from 2012 to 2020 and held various positions of increasing seniority from 2006 to 2012. Deborah also held various roles at RBC Capital during her career, including Managing Director of Product Finance. Deborah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western University and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Windsor. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (FCPA, FCA), a certified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Director Education Program (ICD.D). Deborah is a Board member of International Petroleum Corporation and a former Board member of IAMGOLD Corporation.
Committee Membership
- Audit Committee
- Investment Committee
Michael Vels
Michael Vels
Michael Vels retired in December 2022 as Chief Development Officer of Empire and Sobeys Inc. He joined Sobeys in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer where he was responsible for leading the finance, real estate, technology and enterprise project management, and merger and acquisition activities. Prior to joining Empire, Michael was Chief Financial Officer of Hydro One from 2014 to 2017, where he led their Initial Public Offering and before that he was Chief Financial Officer at Maple Leaf Foods. He was educated and earned his Chartered Accountant designation in South Africa and worked in public accounting and mergers and acquisitions in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Canada. He has earned his ICD.D designation.
Committee Membership
- Governance and Nominating Committee
- Human Resource Committee
Michael Waters
Michael Waters
Michael Waters is the Chief Executive Officer of The Minto Group ("Minto") and served as Chief Executive Officer of Minto Apartment REIT from its IPO in 2018 until April 2023. Michael has over 30 years’ experience in real estate finance, investment and development, and financial advisory services. Prior to becoming Minto's Chief Executive Officer in 2013, Michael served as president of Minto Communities Canada from 2011 to 2013 and as Chief Financial Officer of Minto from 2007 to 2011. Prior to joining Minto in 2007, he served in a variety of roles at Intrawest Corporation, a large resort developer and operator with a presence across North America. Earlier in his career, Michael worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and KPMG LLP. Michael previously served on the board of REALPAC and on the board of governors of Algonquin College, and the board of the Algonquin Foundation. Michael completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of British Columbia and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He was elected a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (FCPA, FCA) and is a CFA® charterholder.
Committee Membership
- Audit Committee
- Governance and Nominating Committee
- Investment Committee
Karen Weaver
Karen Weaver
Karen Weaver retired as President of Timberlane Group, a private family office where she worked in an advisory capacity since October 2020. She retired as the President and CEO of MCAN Mortgage Corporation on June 1, 2023, after having been appointed in May 2019. Prior to that, Karen was Interim CEO of MCAN Mortgage Corporation since October 2018. Karen was a Director of MCAN Mortgage Corporation from 2011 until her retirement. Karen was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of D+H Corporation from 2014 to 2017 and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Capital Realty, Inc from 2004 to 2014. She served as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at Brookfield Property Corporation from 2000 to 2003. Karen was a Trustee of Northwest Healthcare Properties REIT until 2021 and also previously a member of the Board of Directors for MCAP Commercial LP. Karen holds a BBA from Old Dominion University and an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a licensed public accountant, retired, from Washington State, USA.
Committee Membership
- Investment Committee
- Human Resource Committee