Aileen is proud to be serving as Chair of the Board and is our past Treasurer. She retired from Education and served as her Union President. She brings with her a strong foundation in Governance and Finance having served as Chair of the Board of Governors for Durham College (DC) and chair of Audit and Finance for both DC and Ontario Tech University. Aileen is an active volunteer in her community in addition to her service for RMG, she is the Properties Manager for Oshawa Little Theatre and works trackside as a Marshall at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. She has done extensive work in the areas of Equity, Mental Wellness, and Health and Safety presenting workshops on these topics across the province within the education sector. She has a B.Sc in Physics but is passionate for all of the Arts, and delights in how the different disciplines may integrate and produce an important voice within our communities.

Philip is a solutions and results focused commercial, sales, marketing and business development executive with experience in start-ups, small-midsized companies and multinationals.  Philip puts his people first and dives headfirst into solving problems by putting customer’s needs first.   His teams have a reputation of achieving great results and driving revenue growth.

Philip’s career has been focused in the healthcare sector where he has led the commercial activities for a number of organizations.  He holds a Bachelor of Business from Ryerson University and a Masters of Business Administration from Dalhousie University.

Philip’s personal profile is shaped by strong family values, a superior work ethic, a passion to give back to his community and an integrity driven competitive nature that drives him to succeed and motivate those around him.  He is happily married, has two daughters and lives in the Durham region.

Steve Maddiss holds a diploma in Urban Land Economics from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, was granted the use of the AACI, P.App designation from the Appraisal Institute of Canada, and is employed with Schaufler Realty Advisors Limited as a commercial real estate appraiser. Past professional experience includes IT consultant and network administrator for Simcoe Engineering Group Limited and teaching French with the Durham Catholic District School Board.  Steve has served on a number of committees and non-profit boards including past President of Theater 3×60 and former chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarington where he was also a Big Brother in their one-to-one mentoring program.  Steve enjoys travel, playing guitar/piano, and woodworking. 

Michael joined the board in 2022, bringing over 20 years of fundraising expertise and creative thinking to support the RMG. Michael managed a team of sponsorship professionals responsible for generating multimillion-dollar revenues through private sector sponsorships, corporate and public sector grants, and foundations. Michael recently retired to pursue his personal passions, including photography, home improvements, travel and spending time with his dog Evie. Michael, who grew up in Oshawa, joined the board to give back to the city he once called home.

Audrey Forbes is an accomplished senior business executive (now retired), with over thirty-five (35) years experience in the broader public sector in Ontario. Her experience and skills include pension policy, communications, change management, innovation, and people development. 

She is an inquisitive lifelong learner and feels most fulfilled when she is writing, teaching, or coaching.  Her newly articulated (retirement), ambition is to inspire and uplift the human spirit through words, written or spoken. As such, shortly after retiring in 2023, she co-authored a children’s book with one of her daughters.

Audrey holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from York University and a master’s degree in public policy from Queen’s University. She is married and has three daughters. Audrey lives by faith. She serves on a variety of professional and community boards and is a defender of the common good.

Nicole recently joined Durham Region’s Economic Development and Tourism team as Business Development Specialist. Prior to, Nicole spent 5 years as the Executive Director of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade and an additional 6 years in various roles at the same organization. During her tenure here, Nicole was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, developing and implementing strategic plans, advocating for businesses’ interests, and promoting economic growth within Durham Region.

Driven by a passion to see businesses and communities thrive, Nicole is committed to creating opportunities for success through strategic partnerships and collaboration. Networking and connecting with individuals from diverse backgrounds is Nicole’s favourite part of her job. By leveraging her expertise and enthusiasm, she strives to contribute to the vibrant ecosystem of Durham Region, empowering businesses and individuals alike to reach their full potential.

She holds an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations from Durham College and currently resides in Clarington, ON.

Steven’s studio practice involves using photography as a means to collect day-to-day observations that highlight evidences of simple interactions between people, objects and space. Steven has received recognition and support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council through exhibition assistance and artist project grants. His work is represented by Tarantino Belli Gallery in Toronto.

Steven Laurie is a lens-based artist and museum professional who lives and works within the Greater Toronto Area. His education includes an Honours Diploma from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), and a Master of Fine Arts from Western University. He has over 20 years of professional experience working in the arts and culture sector and is currently an Exhibitions Project Manager at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Jacqueline is the Head of Organizational Effectiveness for the Corporation of the Town of Whitby. She is a general manager with over twenty-five (25) years of leadership experience with responsibility for Human Resources, Information Technology, and Corporate Communications. Jacqueline has volunteered at the Board level for numerous not-for-profit organizations across the Durham Region. Her work in the not-for-profit sector has focused on governance, Board excellence, change management, and operational effectiveness. As a passionate lover of art, Jacqueline believes that art connects us to each other, to history, to our community, and supporting the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in its vision to leverage art to cultivate caring communities is an honour and privilege.

Kelly is a seasoned corporate curator with 15 years of experience working in Canadian fine art. She holds a BFA in criticism and curatorial practice from OCAD University, an MA in art history from Western University, and is an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers specializing in fine art. She has worked in public and cooperative art galleries, owned and operated a private art advisory, and spent 9 years as Manulife’s full-time curator. Kelly brings extensive experience in collection management, investor relations, and non-profit governance. As a fairly recent transplant to Durham Region, Kelly is putting down roots with her husband and Labrador Retriever.

Catherine holds an MA in Art History and Visual Culture and is currently a PhD student in Cultural Studies at Trent University. A passionate advocate for the arts and inclusion, her primary area of research is cultural accessibility in art museums specifically focused on how sensory interventions can help make artwork and art experiences accessible to blind and low vision visitors. With a broad range of professional, community, and educational experiences—working in social services with marginalized youth, as an art therapist, teaching, and as an editor in educational publishing—accessibility and equity have always underpinned Catherine’s professional and personal life. Believing the arts and artists are essential to societal wellbeing and for creating engaged, caring, and resilient communities, she is honoured and excited to help support the RMG’s vision and mission in Oshawa and Durham Region.

Nicole Barrett is a respected community leader and public service professional with more than 20 years of experience advancing equitable outcomes for families and communities across Durham Region. Her work in social services has established her as a trusted advisor who helps individuals navigate complex systems while contributing to program improvement, stakeholder engagement, and effective, people‑centred service delivery.

Her commitment to community extends beyond her professional roles. Nicole has supported fundraising initiatives benefiting children and youth through church and French Immersion school communities, and she has contributed to arts‑based programming for children from at‑risk homes. These experiences strengthened her belief in the power of arts and culture to foster inclusion, confidence, and community connection.

A recipient of the Durham Region Award of Excellence for Innovation and an elected CUPE union steward, Nicole brings strengths in governance, collaboration, advocacy, and relationship‑building. She is passionate about building vibrant, accessible communities where residents can thrive.

Scott was raised from childhood in a house filled with music, the arts and theatre. He strongly believes that the arts are an important part of community connection. He has worked in the public sector for 18 years. He holds a Bachelor of Justice and Public Safety from the University of Guelph and is completing a Master of Public Administration at Dalhousie University. He is a certified project management professional and actively pursues knowledge in his spare time. He has applied to a Doctoral program commencing in 2027 with a focus on AI-enabled decision making and its impact on learning. Scott is active in several Canadian public administration and public service organizations, including IPAC and CAPPA-ACPAP. Scott’s long-term interests lie within public administration, specifically with a focus on technology and democratic governance. He enjoys spending time with his family and is a voracious reader.

With nearly four decades in post-secondary education, Don Lovisa served as President of Durham College (DC) for 16 years.

Under Don’s leadership, DC was named one of the Top GTA Employers for 13 years, one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for eight, and one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges for 10 years.

Don has received numerous awards, including the Business Achievement Award from the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and the Business Person of the Year Award from the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. Don’s contributions and impact were formally recognized earlier this year by naming DC’s Whitby campus’s main building the Don Lovisa Building.

Don was also recognized by the Ontario College Administrative Staff Association for his contributions to college education in the province and received the Doug Light Career Achievement Award. He was also honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary. Additionally, Don served on the Board of Colleges and Institutes Canada, was the Chair of Colleges Ontario, and was a founding Co-Chair of the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer.

In October 2024, Don was granted the President Emeritus designation for exemplary contributions to the College.

Don continues to work part-time helping other organizations with good governance, strategic planning, board retreats and also acts as a mentor for new leaders. He believes that by working together and with the community, organizations of all sizes can make a positive impact in the lives of employees and the communities they support and serve.

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