CSA Group Leadership

Jane Peverett is a corporate director. Currently, she serves on the boards of CP Rail, where she chairs the audit and finance committee, CIBC, where she serves as chair of the governance committee (previous chair of the audit committee), NWNatural, where she chairs the finance committee, and Capital Power. Previous boards include Encana, where she chaired the audit committee, HydroOne, where she chaired the governance committee, BC Ferries Authority, where she chaired the board, Postmedia, and Aegis Insurance. Not-for-profit boards include The Stratford Festival, Junior Achievement BC, The United Way of the Lower Mainland, The Canadian Gas Association and the Canadian Electricity Association.

Jane was the President & CEO of BC Transmission Corporate from 2006 to 2009, and CFO from 2003 to 2006. She was the President & CEO of Union Gas Limited from 2001 to 2003 and CFO from 1999 to 2001. Prior to that, Jane held a series of increasingly senior roles within Westcoast Energy, including VP Finance.

Jane received a B. Commerce from McMaster University and an MBA from Queen’s University. She is a certified professional accountant and was made a fellow of the society in 1993. She is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, serves on the Advisory Board of the BC Chapter and completed the Institute’s Director Education course.

In a distinguished public service career that spans more than 25 years within the federal government, Yaprak Baltacioglu has shaped policy, directed programs, overseen operations, led transformation and had an impact on the direction of government affairs at the highest levels of decision making.

One of Ottawa’s most seasoned deputy ministers, Yaprak has served as a trusted advisor to four Prime Ministers and numerous ministers, Cabinets and departmental officials on programs, issues, legislation, and matters of policy focused on the economy, the environment, social issues, and government operations.

Yaprak was the Secretary of the Treasury Board from 2012 until her retirement in 2018. A respected negotiator, she led collective bargaining for 200,000 core public service employees. Yaprak spent three years as Deputy Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities where she played a key role in administering the government’s stimulus package following the 2008 economic crisis; two years as Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food; and almost five years at the Privy Council Office as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations) and as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet. Earlier in her career, Yaprak held executive level positions at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Environment Canada, where she led international climate change negotiations.

Yaprak holds a Bachelor of Law from Istanbul University, an ICD.D Designation (Institute of Corporate Directors), and a Master of Arts from the Carleton University School of Public Administration. In 2015, she received the Bissett Alumni Award for Distinctive Contributions to the Public Sector from Carleton University. Yaprak is currently the Chancellor of Carleton University, and is a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Toronto Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She sits on several boards including MDA, Canada’s largest space technology manufacturer and developer, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (where she chairs the strategy committee), Hydro Ottawa, the Institute of Corporate Directors (where she chairs the governance and human resources committee), and The Stratford Festival where she will chair the human resources committee in 2021. Yaprak was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2021.

Throughout his dynamic three- decade-plus career, Chris Curtis has earned a reputation as one of the top global leaders in technology and manufacturing. Today, Chris is a private equity advisor and investor, an independent board director for S&C (a $1B plus electrical equipment manufacturer), and Chairman of Macromatic, a privately held manufacturer of industrial controls.

From 2016 to 2020 Chris served as the CEO of Wencor, a private equity owned aerospace aftermarket specialist where he and his team were able to grow company profitability by 77% in three years. From 2014-2018 Chris served as Chairman of Munters AB, an air treatment equipment manufacturer, working closely with the CEO and his management team to orchestrate a successful transition from private equity ownership to a public listing on the Swedish Stock Exchange. From 2014-2016 Chris was also an independent director for two publicly listed US based companies, Kimball Electronics and Aegion.

From 2008 through 2013, Chris was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Electric North America. Under Chris’s leadership, Schneider Electric NA sales topped $7 billion, with industry-leading market share, profitability and cash-flow generation. He placed a particular emphasis on services activities and directed the North American region to develop the leading platform in the industry. Chris served as the Chairman of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (the electrical industry’s standards and policy organization (NEMA) in 2014 and was later recognized in 2016 for his contributions to the industry by receiving the Bernard Falk Award.

Chris’s experience with Schneider Electric spanned two decades as he oversaw all operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He was a member of the Corporate Executive Committee, and from 2008 to 2012, he also led Schneider Electric’s global Buildings Business ($2 billion) based in Sweden.
He has extensive strategic and operating expertise in general management, business strategy, M&A, industry/ government affairs, investor relations, manufacturing, sales/marketing, services and operations. Prior to his role leading North America, Chris was President, Schneider Electric USA, President of Schneider Electric Canada, SVP of Sales and Services, and VP of Marketing for the North American Operating Division.

A graduate of LeMoyne College where he is currently a Trustee, Chris has also studied at both the Harvard Business School and Guanghua School of Management in Beijing and is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).

Ian Giffen is currently Chairman of Kinaxis Inc. (KSX.TSX) and a Director of a number of private companies including D2L Inc. In addition, he is active in the not for profit sector and currently serves on the Boards of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and the Board of Governors of The Stratford Festival.

Ian has previously served as a Director of over 25 public and private companies including Macromedia Inc., (1997 – 2005) until it was sold to Adobe Systems Inc. for $4 billion. He has served as Chair of Audit for most of those companies and is known for his business acumen, broad financial perspective and unyielding commitment to value for shareholders. With extensive Board experience in both public and private M&A, Ian has led a broad range of transactions as Chair of the Special Committee and been involved in the sale of a number of public companies with a total valuation of more than $10 billion. Ian was previously Chairman of Descartes Systems Group Inc. (2004 - 2011), Vision Critical Inc., and 724 Solutions Inc.

He holds Chartered Accountant and Corporate Finance designations and was recently awarded the distinction of Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

Richmond (Dick) Graham retired as President and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority (YQR) in 2017 after a long career in President/CEO and senior management roles in national and international energy, pipelines, mining, energy storage, and transportation industries. He has and continues to serve on many international and Canadian private and publicly traded Boards and on the Boards of private for-profit companies and not-for-profit registered charities. He now runs a family owned business and provides governance consulting to other Boards. In addition to these activities he is actively involved on Boards of community foundations and charities.

Mr. Graham grew up in Canada’s far north and a grain farm and cattle ranch in NW Sask. He has made Regina, SK home for 25 years while working in seven provinces and territories. Dick and his wife and partner, Danelle, together have 5 children. He is of European and Native North American ancestry and embraces diversity.

He holds a Diploma of Technology (SK), Bachelor Engineering (ON), Masters of Business Administration MBA (BC), and has studied International Trade Law (UK). Mr. Graham is a Professional Engineer and also holds PMP and ICD.D (Corporate Director) designations.

Mr. Graham has been active in Standards development since the 1990’s and developed standards on CSA TCs, served as chair of the CSA PNGIS Strategic Steering Committee, chaired the CSA Standards Policy Board and CSA Standards Development Council and has served on the CSA Board of Directors since 2015. While on the Board of Directors he has held the position of Vice Chair and served on the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee, Human Resources & Compensation Committee, and the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee.

Having researched and published on the topic of applying sustainability to business he strongly believes that all that we do in business can be done while embracing the need to protect the environment and society. He has great admiration for the dedication, commitment and hard work of all current and retired CSA contributors, a keen appreciation for the rich 100+ year history of our great membership-based organization, and understands the value that the business of Testing, Inspection and Certification brings to CSA and the North American destined markets our many TIC customers serve.

Jimmy LaValley is the owner and CEO of JLV Consulting, LLC. He is a retired executive with over 35 years of experience in Human Resources for Mountain Bell, US WEST and Waste Management. Previously, as Waste Management’s Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer, Mr. LaValley was responsible for starting up and overseeing all human resource functions, including compensation, benefits, recruitment, development, retention, performance management and succession planning. He is widely considered an accomplished Human Resources leader, consultant, executive search expert and accomplished Board member.

Mr. LaValley has extensive knowledge and demonstrated accomplishments in all Human Resources disciplines, as well as a broad understanding of hi-tech and telecommunications industries. He is regarded as a high energy impassioned advisor and strategic business partner with a capacity for driving sustained optimal individual, team, and organizational performance, as well as promoting enhanced business development and operational effectiveness.

Mr. LaValley was appointed to the CSA Group Board of Directors in 2013. In April, 2015, he was appointed by the Board to lead the Interim Office of the Chief Executive and act as a facilitator to the Board during the CEO search process. Mr. LaValley is currently the Chair of the Human Resources & Compensation Committee.

Norma McCormick is founder and principal of Corporate Health Works, Inc. She has worked in the fields of human services, systems evaluation and planning, health promotion, occupational safety and health and environmental management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and certification in Occupational Safety and Health through the University of Manitoba. She completed course work in Health Care Administration in the Independent Studies Program of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. In 1990 she was elected a Member of the Manitoba Legislature and served until 1996.

Norma was a member of CSA’s Strategic Steering Committee on Occupational Safety and Health and is now on the Public Safety Strategic Steering Committee. She participated on several CSA Technical Committees: CSA Z1000 - Occupational Health and Safety Management System, Z1600 - Emergency and Continuity Management, and Z1005 - Incident Prevention and Investigation. She chaired Z1004 responsible for developing a General Workplace Ergonomics standard. At the international level, Norma was Chair of ISO’s Consumer Policy Committee (ISO COPOLCO) from 2010 - 2013 and now heads the Canadian Delegations to two ISO Technical Committees: TC 292 - Security and Resilience and PC 283 that developed ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety Management System, adopted as CSA Z45001:19, a National Standard of Canada. She is now Convenor of ISO TC 283, Working Group 2, responsible for ISO 45003 - Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and Convenor of ISO TC292 Working Group 1 – Terminology. For her volunteer contribution to CSA standards development, Norma received CSA’s Award of Merit in June 2006. She was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977.

She was first elected to the CSA Board of Directors in 2013 and is currently a member of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee.

Bob Page has had a varied career including in the academic world, the private sector electricity business, 15 boards, advisory bodies to government, and chairing the board of two global business organizations.

Dr. Page holds a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University where he was the Mackenzie King Scholar in International Law and History. He is known for his writings and research on environmental policy, corporations, and energy. He has been an advisor to the Parliament of Canada and the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He has chaired key bodies such as the Canadian National Round Table on the Environment and Economy and the ISO 14000 international environmental standards body out of Geneva. He was a founder, the second chair, and is a current fellow of the International Emissions Trading Association (Geneva) and an active participant in the international environment and trade issues including NAFTA and the current border carbon adjustment negotiations. Bob was Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary (1990-97) and Vice President, EHS, TransAlta Corp., Calgary (1997-2007).

Dr. Page has been awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work on environmental management and the Erebus Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society for his work on arctic pipelines. He was a former Governor of the Society and is a current fellow. He was the Ottawa Government VCR Climate Leader of the Year in 2001.

His board experience includes the Enmax Corporation (Calgary) and CSA Group (Toronto) where he currently sits on the human resources & compensation committee. In addition, he has served on 3 NGO boards, 3 Science Boards, 1 Government Regulatory Board, 2 international business boards, and 4 government advisory boards. He has chaired nearly half of these. He currently hold 3 adjunct professorships in Ontario and Alberta and continues his writing career with another book out in 2022.

Bob and his wife Jocelyne Daw are active members of the Calgary community, and enjoy outdoor hikes in the mountains with their children and grandchildren.

Nathalie Pilon was President of ABB in Canada and member of the Executive Board of ABB Americas from October 2015 to end of 2019. Prior to her appointment, she was President of Thomas & Betts Canada from 2008, having been with the company since 1996 as Vice President, Finance and Information Technologies. Following the acquisition of Thomas & Betts by ABB in 2012, she was appointed Vice President of ABB in Canada’s Low Voltage Products Division. As leader of the largest manufacturing supplier of electrical products in Canada, she brought innovation, operational excellence and customer service to the forefront, achieving leadership in the Canadian marketplace. Prior to joining Thomas & Betts, Ms. Pilon served as Senior Manager, Professional Practice for KPMG LLP.

A nationally recognized business leader in Canada, Ms. Pilon brings thirty years of experience in industry and manufacturing, and a keen ability to bring people and technology together to drive Canada’s innovation ecosystem. She was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2011. In 2015 she received the distinguished Leadership Award from the Association of Women in Finance, and in 2018 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Concordia University for her innovation in business.

Ms. Pilon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from École des Hautes Études Commerciales at the University of Montréal and is a member of the Québec Order of Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA).

She is a board member of HEC Montreal, Montreal Port Authority (MPA), CSA Group, NanoXplore and Nouveau Monde Graphite. She is currently the chair of the audit committees of MPA and CSA. She is a Member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Karl Smith is a retired executive who worked for over thirty years with Fortis Inc, a diversified utility holding company with operations across North America as well as the Caribbean and Central America. Fortis is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and at the time of Mr Smith’s retirement had a market capitalization of approximately $20 billion Canadian. Mr. Smith’s last role at Fortis was as EVP and Chief Financial Officer, a position that he held for four years. Prior to that Mr. Smith was CEO for two Fortis operating subsidiaries, Newfoundland Power and Fortis Alberta. He served in these capacities for approximately ten years. Mr. Smith has served as the Chairman of the Canadian Electricity Association and as Treasurer of the Western Energy Institute and is a retired member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Smith is a dedicated contributor to his community and currently serves on the Boards of Young Adult Cancer Canada, Junior Achievement of Newfoundland and Labrador, Team Broken Earth and Chairs the Advisory Board of the School of Business at Memorial University. Mr. Smith also serves on the Board of the Genesis Centre which is Newfoundland and Labrador’s pre-eminent incubator for technology startups.

Wendy Tilford is a former Deputy Minister, Ontario Government, at the Ministries of Government and Consumer Services, Economic Development and Trade and Research and Innovation. Prior to joining the Ontario Public Service in 2010, Ms. Tilford held senior executive positions in public and private companies, large complex organizations, start-ups and mid-size companies including Bell Canada, Norigen Communications and Canadian Standards Group. Ms. Tilford served as the President of QMI, a former division of CSA Group and North America’s leading management system registrar.

Previous professional and board positions include the Ontario Public Service Executive Development Committee and Public Service Commission, Vice Chair of the Ontario Capital Growth Corporation Board, a member of the Executive Committee of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance Board and a member of the National Research Council for Emerging Technologies and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority.

Ms. Tilford was recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2014 by the Women's Executive Network. She is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a graduate of the Institute’s Director Education course at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business.

She was elected to the CSA Group Board of Directors in 2015 and is a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and a former member of the Human Resources Compensation Committee.

David Weinstein has been President and CEO of CSA Group since 2015.

As President and CEO, David Weinstein is responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of CSA Group – including both the non-profit standards development association and the commercial testing, inspection, and certification subsidiaries – with 2,000 employees, 10,000 members, and offices and labs around the globe.

Prior to CSA Group, Mr. Weinstein was CEO of ABS Group, a leading provider of consulting, inspection, and certification services to oil and gas, power, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and government clients – where he was responsible for leading the firm’s growth and success. Earlier, he was a partner in several management consulting firms, including Accenture and Oliver Wyman — assisting commercial, non-profit, and government agency clients with a range of growth and performance improvement challenges.

David Weinstein holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a dual concentration in Finance and Multi-National Management. He also has Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ms. Whelan is principal shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of Seafair Capital, a growth-focused company with investments in community and behavioural health, wellness and safety. Guided by the core values of integrity, entrepreneurship, community, action, and fun, the Seafair team aims to ‘do well while doing good.’

In addition to leading her group of companies, Ms. Whelan has served on the CSA Group board since 2015 and currently chairs the CSA corporate governance & nominating committee. She is also a board director for the Bank of Canada and was recently appointed as a director to the board of Nova Leap Health. She previously served as a board director for the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Newfoundland and Labrador Oil & Gas Industries Association (NOIA). She was chair of the board of directors of Newfoundland Power, a subsidiary of Fortis Inc, and was regional vice chair of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC). As part of a national committee with HSO, Anne helped develop standards for the Omentum health care accreditation program. Ms. Whelan brings her down-to-earth style and entrepreneurial passion to every conversation, contributing her time and talent to various other regional boards and community service initiatives.

Ms. Whelan has received many accolades for entrepreneurship and leadership at the national level. In 2017, she was named Startup Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year for an outstanding impact in Canadian entrepreneurship and was awarded the P.J. Gardiner Entrepreneurship Award from Memorial University. She was named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women, named Atlantic Business Magazine’s CEO of the Year in 2014, and in 2019 she was the Newfoundland and Labrador recipient of the Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Ms. Whelan holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Memorial University. She also completed advanced studies in Alternative Dispute Resolution and holds the ICD.D designation from the Directors Education Program of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business.