Meet the Senior Leadership Team

President & CEO

Dr. Jennifer Zelmer is the inaugural President and CEO of Healthcare Excellence Canada, the new organization formed in 2020 through the amalgamation of the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and Canadian Patient Safety Institute to achieve safer, higher quality and more coordinated patient-partnered healthcare. Jennifer's long-standing commitment to improving healthcare quality and safety, as well as expertise in spreading and scaling innovations that deliver better outcomes, will help to create this new organization with an expanded capacity to improve healthcare for everyone in Canada. Jennifer previously joined CFHI as its President and CEO in September 2018. She has been a C.D. Howe Research Fellow for several years and is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Victoria, as well as a member of several health-related advisory committees and boards.

Previously, as President of Azimuth Health Group, Dr. Zelmer was a strategic advisor to leaders who sought to advance health and healthcare at local, national, and international levels. Before that, she held senior leadership positions with Canada Health Infoway, the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organization, and the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Jennifer served on the first (2004) Safer Healthcare Now! National Steering Committee convened by CPSI when she was at CIHI. She also served on CPSI's former Health System Innovation Advisory Committee, and more recently, Jennifer served on the National Patient Safety Consortium Steering Committee during her time at Infoway.

Dr. Zelmer received her PhD and MA in economics from McMaster University and her B.Sc. in health information science from the University of Victoria.

Vice-President, Strategic Initiatives & Programs

Maria Judd leads Healthcare Excellence Canada to accelerate change, working closely with colleagues and partners to shape the organization’s long-term strategy and identify and deliver new initiatives. Her portfolio includes cross cutting priority areas such as patient partnerships and Indigenous health.

A physiotherapist and epidemiologist by background, and NHS Quality and Safety Fellow, Maria brings a passion for healthcare improvement, and a patient-first perspective, that has evolved from her diverse roles within the health system as a community health centre board member, clinician, program manager and researcher. She was previously CFHI's Vice-President, Programs. In this capacity, Maria played a key role in CFHI’s evolution, including strategic planning, partnership development and the creation and implementation of new programs. 

Vice-President, Operations & Impact

Christine LaRocque has more than 25 years’ experience in leadership, communications and stakeholder engagement roles with not-for-profit and public sector organizations. During this time, she has had the privilege to collaborate with multi-disciplined teams on strategic opportunities to improve process and drive change. 

In her role as Vice-President, Organizational Performance and Corporate Services, Christine provides strategic leadership to Healthcare Excellence Canada’s operational planning, delivery and performance activities and key corporate functions including finance and information technology and knowledge management. She is responsible for the systems and processes that support organizational excellence and that are aligned with the HEC’s mission and mandate.  

Previously, as Executive Director Organizational, Planning Delivery and Performance, Christine led HEC’s integration strategy and organizational transition work as a newly amalgamated organization and established the organizational delivery management approach.  

Prior to joining HEC, Christine worked at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario on transformational change initiatives, at WaterAid Canada as Director of Communications and Engagement and at the Canadian Paediatric Society as the Manager of Public Affairs where she was responsible for the national media relations strategy and initiatives to engage internal and external audiences to advance organizational priorities. 

Christine is currently completing a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Political Science from the University of Ottawa and a Diploma in Public Relations from Algonquin College. 

Executive Director, Healthcare Transformation & Capacity Building

As the Executive Director, Healthcare Transformation and Capacity Building, Denise works to enable healthcare leaders and teams across Canada to enhance their ability to make improvements and to sustain them. Denise leads a team providing a focus for subject matter expertise and knowledge translation in key areas of Healthcare Excellence Canada’s mandate, such as patient safety and lived experience of patients, caregivers, and communities. Denise also lends her leadership to our team-based executive training program EXTRA and focus on leadership and governance.

Prior to joining Healthcare Excellence Canada, Denise worked at Interior Health as Director of Aboriginal Health and Mental Health and Addictions - Thompson, Cariboo. Her experience in healthcare leadership lends itself to understanding systems knowledge. Her lived experience as a Métis woman, patient and caregiver supports her passion for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Denise previously supported the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement as an Indigenous coach and has supported Healthcare Excellence Canada since its inception as an Indigenous advisor.

Denise has been recognized for her many years of leadership in the not-for-profit sector with a Champion Mental Health Award from the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH). Closer to home in Kamloops, British Columbia, the YMCA awarded Denise with a Woman of Distinction Award. 

Director, People & Culture

Joëlle is a People & Culture Leader with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a master’s degree in international human resources and 15 years of work experience. She is fluent in English, French and Spanish, and has managed HR operations in 19 countries across North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Joëlle previously served as the Director of Human Resources at the Youth Services of Ottawa, and as Manager of HR Services for Cuso International. Her experience also includes leading HR Operations for the IFRC’s Haiti Earthquake Response Operations.

Joëlle is curious about the future of work and modern People & Culture practices. She is passionate about fostering a vibrant workplace culture rooted in people-centric policies, respect and a drive for excellence. 

Director, Health Policy

Jan Byrd is passionate about co-designing policy that improves care quality and safety in healthcare systems and communities. Jan was an early adopter in the Canadian patient safety and quality movement, having worked at the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety (MIPS), and at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, as Manager of Quality, Patient Safety, and Patient Relations for several years. Jan holds a Master’s degree, focused in Sociology of Health, Illness and Medicine; a Lean Certification; and the Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL). In 2018, she was first runner up in The Great Canadian Healthcare Debate, at the National Health Leaders Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Jan served two consecutive Ministerial Appointments on the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Board of Directors, where she also Chaired the Board’s Quality and Safety Committee. Jan enjoys volunteering as the Chair of the Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian College of Health Leaders Board. Outside of work, Jan enjoys spending time with her two teens and their Australian Shepherd, Ace. Jan is also a classical soprano in Winnipeg’s premiere professional choir, The Winnipeg Singers.

Director, Health Innovation Programs 

Neil brings over 20 years of broad health system expertise to Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC). Most recently, he oversaw the pan-Canadian quality improvement collaboratives at the former Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI), including the Connected Medicine, INSPIRED COPD Scale and Advancing Frailty Care in the Community programs. Prior to this, Neil managed the Quality Improvement Program at Canadian Forces Health Services. He also delivered education and client support in rehab and mental health at the Canadian Institute for Health Information, where he also supported strategic initiatives, including the secondary use of health information in the electronic health record environment. He has extensive clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist in inpatient, ambulatory and community settings, and has been actively involved in quality improvement initiatives throughout his career.  

Neil was previously chair of the Quality Improvement Committee at the University Health Network, and a past co-chair of Emerging Health Leaders Ottawa. Neil holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from McGill University and a Master of Health Science in Health Administration from the University of Toronto. He continues to be a registered Occupational Therapist and is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. 

Director, Innovations & Strategic Development

Colleen is passionate about making a difference in the healthcare system. She has practiced nursing clinically in addition to working in health program administration and policy environments over the past 15 years with different organizations including the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, the Canadian Nurses Association, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). At CIHR, she held several senior level positions including team lead of the Strategy for Patient Oriented Research at its inception and Director General of Governance. Colleen’s clinical, academic and real-world policy experience drives her ability to bring about innovative and integrated changes in complex environments.  Colleen holds a Master of Health Studies and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and is bilingual in English and French.

Director, Northern & Indigenous Health

Over the past 12 years, Nicole has worked in Indigenous health and wellness for a variety of Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, including the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and National Aboriginal Health Organization. Nicole’s work at these organizations focused on relationship building, partner engagement, governance, strategic planning, program implementation and knowledge mobilization. She has built and nurtured a broad network of relationships with national and regional First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments and organizations across Canada, partnering in the co-creation and implementation of strategic plans and funded initiatives. 

Nicole completed her undergraduate studies in anthropology and biology at the University of Toronto and Carleton University. She has a Master of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from Carleton University where her thesis focused on culturally safe Indigenous social work practice. She began her career in the field of knowledge translation and patient safety research with positions at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, Canadian Institutes for Health Research and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. As a woman of Métis and European descent with experience supporting Indigenous health and wellness in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, Nicole is dedicated to supporting our collective journey towards reconciliation in Canada. 

Director, IT & Digital Transformation

As Director, Learning Programs & Systems, Ali leads the design and implementation of Healthcare Excellence Canada’s learning systems strategy.  

Ali joined the former Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) in 2007 and held the Web Manager, Information Manager and Information & Technology Manager roles. Ali was also a member of CPSI’s Virtual Learning and Design Team.  

Ali holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from Boston University.  

Outside of work, Ali enjoys spending time with family and volunteering within the community. Ali has also been a landlord since 2005 and shares his learnings, experiences, and best practices with other landlords to help them overcome the learning curve in their rental property businesses.  

Director, Measurement & Evaluation

Melissa is a strong value-based leader, recognized for her ability to engage others and achieve results through strong partnerships and transforming the healthcare system. Melissa has two decades of extensive leadership experience across the continuum of care in both rural and urban settings in Newfoundland and Labrador. Throughout her career, Melissa has held progressive leadership roles, most recently, she was the Senior Director responsible for Primary Health Care and Community Services in the Eastern Urban zone of Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services. 

Melissa is a Certified Health Executive, LEAN green belt certified, Team Stepps Master Trainer and LEADS faculty member. Melissa was recognized for her leadership abilities as the recipient of the Eastern Health CEO Award of Excellence in Leadership in 2018 and 2022. In 2022, she received a Chapter Award for Distinguished service from the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Melissa brings her system level thinking and broad experience in healthcare operations and strategy to tell the story of Healthcare Excellence Canada’s impact through measurement and evaluation. 

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy) from Dalhousie University as well as a Masters in Health Studies from Athabasca University and is in the process of completing a Masters in Business Administration in Executive Management from Royal Roads University. Melissa was born and raised in Labrador City, NL and now calls St. John’s, NL, home with her husband and two young daughters.

Director, Finance

As Director of Finance at Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC), Zivanayi (Zi) is responsible for providing vision, leadership and direction in formulating strategies, programs, policies, and procedures relating to HEC’s financial affairs. He is also responsible for ensuring that HEC’s finances are managed in accordance with legislation, funding agreements, policies and procedures, and generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, he coordinates activities that are related to HEC’s Finance Investment and Audit Committee. 

Zi is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of progressive accounting experience, both in large complex finance environments and in several not-for-profit organizations. Zi worked at Canada Post for several years before taking on a senior management position in the Finance Business Partner Services area with the Canadian Institute for Health Information. He joined the former Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement in June 2019. 

Director, Patient Safety, Equity, & Engagement

Carol has a unique mix of skills and experience in the healthcare system, spanning front-line clinician, educator, academic, leader and caregiver. She seeks to build and strengthen relationships, and engagement and partnership are central to her work. Carol has led the co-development and co-delivery of programs and activities that focus on the needs and priorities of patients, caregivers, and communities. A physical therapist by training, Carol also obtained a PhD at the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation at the University of Toronto where her dissertation focused on patient engagement and storytelling for organizational learning and improvement. 

Director, Leadership & Capacity Building

Jérôme has been a registered nurse for nearly 20 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in education from the Université de Sherbrooke, as well as a doctorate in nursing from the Université de Montréal. He worked in clinical and community settings, then in the university teaching network, and with the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec. From 2019 to recently, he was assistant to the director of nursing at an integrated university center on the West Island of Montreal. In 2022, he received the Dr. Naimark Award for EXTRA - C16 cohort - from Healthcare Excellence Canada. Since August 2023, he is Director, Leadership Programs at Healthcare Excellence Canada. He is also an affiliate member of the specialized nurse practitioner program at McGill University.