Board of Directors
Meet Our Board
MedicAlert is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors responsible for organizational governance, public accountability, and setting strategic priorities.
Officers
Leslie Quinton is currently Vice President, Communications at global video game and entertainment pioneer, Ubisoft. Leslie has extensive expertise in culture and leadership, and has held senior roles in global strategic communications, stakeholder relations, corporate social responsibility, internal communications, CSR and issues, crisis and brand management. Leslie taught communications and PR at McGill University for eight years and at the Université de Sherbrooke in their Master’s program.
She was formerly the Vice-President Corporate Communications at BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) and at Air Canada, and was Senior Vice-President at SNC-Lavalin, a multinational engineering firm. She also spent seven years in global PR agencies where she advised several Fortune 500 clients such as IBM, Dyson, Home Depot, and Marriott, among others.
Leslie is involved in several non-profit organizations as a board member and as a volunteer, and is past president of IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Montreal and the International Women’s Forum, Canada. She is a frequent guest speaker and lecturer at business conferences and universities, as well as a guest podcast, web and radio contributor. Leslie has won multiple awards for communications and philanthropic leadership, and studied humanities at Concordia University.
Charlene McQuaid is a senior human resources leader with over 20 years of experience in human resources, leadership development, organizational development, talent management, employee/ labour relations, total rewards, performance management and health & safety.
In 2023 Charlene established a private HR consulting and leadership coaching practice. Prior to that, she was the VP, Human Resources at Nova Scotia Power where she established and implemented a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) strategy and developed a plan to achieve multi-faceted DE&I measures. This included equity targets, compensation equity, and community engagement.
Charlene is an avid volunteer and has held positions on numerous Boards, including the Electricity Human Resources Canada, Maine State Chamber of Commerce and the Outdoor Sports Institute. She also holds a Six Sigma White Belt and is PROSCI certified.
Stacey Myers is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Prince Edward Island. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Certificate of Accounting from the University of Prince Edward Island.
Working in the private sector for the duration of her accounting career, Stacey has held senior level management positions in both the healthcare and technology space. Prior to working in the private sector, Stacey worked for a federal government agency focused on creating economic growth. Stacey is an experienced CPA with an extensive background in accounting, strategic planning, financial reporting, financial analysis, contract management, and human resources.
Stacey is an active board member of other not-for-profit organizations, including being Vice President of the PEI Humane Society and Director of the PEI IT Alliance.
Committee Chairs and Directors
Danny Lew is Legal Counsel at global gaming giant Electronic Arts. Danny has specific expertise in employment law, human rights, privacy, general commercial law, and compliance. He is a member of the Barreau du Québec. He holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University, and a LL.L (Civil Law) and a LL.B (Common Law) from the University of Ottawa.
Danny is also the Chair of the board of Montréal Danse, a not-for-profit contemporary dance company based in Montreal.
Victoria Withers
With her extensive business background, Victoria Withers brings years of board governance experience to MedicAlert Foundation Canada. A senior executive at IBM Canada for 30 years, Victoria held the position of General Manager, Western Canada, and upon retirement formed VLW Solutions. At VLW Solutions, she provides consulting services to assist organizations in the development and implementation of technology solutions.
Victoria is currently a Director of the Pacific Pilotage Authority and BlueShore Financial and has served on the boards of Vancouver Coastal Health, the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, Canadian Internet Registration Authority, QHR Technologies, Vancouver Board of Trade, and the Telus World of Science.
Victoria holds the Institute of Corporate Directors' ICD.D designation and a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University. Victoria resides in West Vancouver and speaks English and French.
Farah is a nurse - lawyer and Senior Vice-President, Chief Legal, Privacy and Compliance at SE Health, one of Canada’s largest Home Health Companies and founder and principal of Intersect Consulting where she uses her unique expertise to navigate issues where healthcare and the law connect.
Farah holds a BSc.N and MSc.N from the University of Western Ontario and an LL.B from the University of Windsor. She is a skilled Privacy Officer and one of a select group who has attained a Fellowship in Regulatory Excellence (FRE) from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Farah is an avid volunteer and has held positions on the Havergal Board of Governors and as an Executive Board Member for the Inaugural Nurse Health Program in Ontario. She is the co-founder of Grayson’s Gratitude and currently serves as Governor for Excellence Canada, as Director on the Ontario Community Support Association Board and is also as Advisor to the Canadian Standards Association Group.
Edward Odumodu is Vice-President and Principal of Brighton Pharmacy Group in Woodstock, Ontario. He is an accomplished pharmacist and entrepreneur with a breadth of experience in retail pharmacy, benefits administration, and the pharmaceutical sector.
A pioneering thinker and strategist, Edward has been at the forefront of business and governance innovation, in both Canada and the United States. He holds an MBA from Duke University, a Bachelor of Science, Pharmacy from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Arts, Economics from McGill University.
Formerly the President of Calgary's United Way, Ruth Ramsden-Wood remains actively engaged in the Calgary community. Ruth is a graduate of the ICD Corporate Director's Education Program and a past Director of the National Institute of Canadian Citizenship, the Calgary Opera Board, and the RCMP Foundation Board. She is the Vice-President of the Alberta Champion Society and a member of the Advisory Board for the Canadian Centre for Advanced Leadership at the Haskayne School of Business. She serves on the Calgary Greenway Patrons Council.
Ruth has received numerous awards, including an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Calgary, the Strategic Leadership Forum's President of the Year, and Consumers' Choice Business Woman of the Year. A recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for volunteer service and the Alberta Centennial Medal, Ruth is committed to service to the community. She holds a Master of Arts degree from Teacher's College at Columbia University.