For information about HHHS management, download the HHHS Organizational Chart below. A list of Executive Leadership Team members is also available at the bottom of this page, along with their contact information.
Board Member Recruitment for 2025/26
Haliburton Highlands Health Services is seeking strategic, experienced, engaged, and talented members of our community to join us in pursuit of this vision by participating as a voluntary member of our Board of Directors or as a Community Representative on one of the Board's Standing Committees. Recruitment for Board Community Members has begun. Applications to be received by March 1, 2025.
HHHS Board of Directors
The HHHS Board of Directors meets on a regular basis. More information about Board meetings and past Board minutes can be found on the Minutes page. Please note - all of the positions on the HHHS Board of Directors are unpaid, volunteer positions.
Irene Odell, Board Chair
Irene is a resident of Dysart et al and has been a member of the Board since 2018 having served as past Vice Chair and Treasurer. She brings knowledge and experience in the areas of business management, strategic planning, risk management, information technology, and public affairs & communication.
Diana McNiven, Vice Chair, Quality/Governance & Planning Committee
Diana is a resident of Dysart et al and has been a member of the Board since 2020. She brings knowledge and experience in the areas of HR & labour relations, strategic planning, board & governance, ethical decision making, and quality, safety & performance management.
Mark Bell, Treasurer, Chair Finance, Resources & Audit Committee
Mark is a resident of Minden Hills and has been a member of the Board since 2023. He brings knowledge and experience in the areas of finance & accounting, business management, legal, risk management, and information technology.
Kurtis Bishop, Director
Kurtis is a resident of Dysart et al and has been a member of the Board since 2023. He brings knowledge and experience in the areas of finance & accounting, healthcare administration & policy, political acumen, information technology, and education.
Jennifer Dailloux, Director
Jennifer is a resident and the Deputy Mayor of Algonquin Highlands and has been on the Board since August, 2024. Before her political life in Haliburton, Jennifer spent several years overseas as a human rights advocate and program manager, working on such issues as access to maternal health care in conflict and post-conflict countries. She brings knowledge and experience in the areas of program management, strategic planning, human rights, and ethical decision making.
John Herald, Director
John is a resident of Dysart et al. and has been a member of the Board since 2023. He brings knowledge and experience in the areas of business management, political acumen, strategic planning, public affairs & communication, and ethical decision making.
Dr. Sharon Kaasalainen, Director
Sharon is a seasonal resident of Minden Hills and has been on the Board since 2021. She brings knowledge and experience in the areas of healthcare administration & policy, clinical background, patient & healthcare advocacy, education, and quality, safety & performance management.
Dr. Donald Pierson, Director
Don is a resident of Dysart et al and has been a member of the Board since 2016. He brings knowledge and experience in the areas of healthcare administration & policy, clinical background, patient & healthcare advocacy, risk management, and ethical decision making.
Charlotte Snider, Director
Charlotte is a resident of Highlands East and has been a member of the Board since 2021. She brings knowledge and experience in the areas of business management, clinical background, strategic planning, education, and quality, safety and performance management.
Rev. Dr. Connie Phillipson, Director
Connie is a resident of Dysart et al and is a new addition to the Board, having served as a community representative in the previous year. She brings knowledge and experience in the areas of political acumen, patient & healthcare advocacy, education, board & governance, and public affairs & communication.
A.F. (Al) Aubry, Director
Al is a resident of Dysart et al and is a new addition to the Board. He brings knowledge and experience in the areas of finance & accounting, HR & labour relations, legal, information technology, and ethical decision making.
Michael Tambosso, Director
Michael is a resident of Dysart et al and Newmarket, and is a new addition to the Board. He brings knowledge and experience in the areas of finance & accounting, legal, risk management, board & governance, and quality, safety & performance management.
Dr. Clifford Ottaway, Director
Clifford is a resident of Dysart et al and is a new addition to the Board. He brings knowledge and experience in the areas of healthcare administration & policy, clinical background, patient & healthcare advocacy, ethical decision making, and quality, safety & performance management.
Mayor Warden Liz Danielsen, Director, County Counsellor
Liz is a resident and the Mayor of Algonquin Highlands and has been on the Board since January 2024. She brings knowledge and experience in the areas of political acumen, risk management, board & governance, and public affairs & communication.
Veronica Nelson, HHHS President & CEO, Board Secretary
Veronica Nelson is the President and CEO of Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS). Previously, Veronica held progressive leadership roles throughout her tenure at Ross Memorial Hospital, from 2015 to 2023, where she was the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Incident Commander of Voluntary Management Contract Caressant Care. Whether Veronica developed rollout strategies to connect local care, took the lead role on developing strategies to optimize human, financial and capital resources, or partnered closely with the community to re-establish trust following an emergency department consolidation, Veronica always puts the needs of her employees, physicians, patients, clients, volunteers, residents, and community first.
Dr. Keith Hay, Chief of Staff
Dr. Keith Hay practiced family medicine in rural Southwestern Ontario for 30 years prior to joining the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario as a Medical Advisor. He has been a full-time resident of Haliburton since 2015. Keith’s non-professional activities include environmental activism, hockey, and gardening.
Jennifer Burns-West, VP, Clinical and Community Programs, Chief Nursing Executive
Jennifer Burns West joined HHHS in September of 2023, as the VP of Clinical and Community Programs and CNE. As a nurse she has an interest in critical care and education. Jennifer believes in leadership through action with a focus on patient and family centered care. Jennifer has held a variety of progressive leadership positions, including COVID vaccination response in Kawartha Lakes and the development of a Women’s Clinic providing non-urgent care to women lacking to a primary health care provider.
Ulvi Iskhagi-Bayat, Chief Financial Officer
Ulvi brings a progressive employment history to HHHS with twelve years of healthcare leadership experience. Most recently, he was the Senior Director of Financial Services at Spectrum Health Care (SHC), one the largest Home Care providers in the GTA area. While at SHC, he developed and implemented several initiatives to streamline the processes and played an essential role in their growth. Before SHC, Ulvi was Director of Finance at Central Community Care Access Centre between 2012 and 2014. Ulvi is a graduate of the Odette School of Business, University of Windsor. He completed his Master of Management in 2009 and obtained his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) designation in 2012.
Dr. Norm Bottum, President of Medical Staff
Dr. Norm Bottum has been providing comprehensive family medicine in Haliburton County since 1987. In addition to his family practice his roles have included Emergency work, Obstetrics, Sports Medicine, Coroner work and Metabolic Health. His greatest pride and joy is bring up his 3 children here with his wife Janet and exploring the outdoors and participating in many sporting activities.
Pictured from Left to Right: Director, Charlotte Snider | Director, Rev. Dr. Connie Phillipson | President & CEO, Veronica Nelson | Director, Al Aubry | Treasurer, Mark Bell | Chair, Irene Odell | Chief of Staff, Dr. Keith Hay | Director, Michael Tambosso | Director, Mayor Warden Liz Danielsen | Director, Kurtis Bishop | Vice Chair, Diana McNiven | Director, Sharon Kaasalainen | Director, Dr. Don Pierson | Director, John Herald | Director, Dr. Clifford Ottaway
Photo Credit: Amanda Rowden Photography (@amandarowdenphotography)