Board of Directors

CHILDREN’S AID FOUNDATION OF HALTON

Board of Directors 2011 - 2012

PRESIDENT

Wendy Sherren

Wendy has been a Big Sister for eight years and a board member with CAFH since 2009. She has nineteen years experience in the private college industry, eight of those as Campus President. Wendy completed her MBA with Athabasca University in 2009 and has also taken the Governance Workshop offered jointly by the United Way and McMaster University.

VICE - PRESIDENT

Chris Scott

Chris has been a member of the Board since May 2007. He and his wife and children have lived in Halton for the past 5 years. When not volunteering his time to the Foundation, Chris enjoys skiing and spending time with his family. This is all financed through Chris’ “real job” as Associate Director – Key Accounts at Bell Canada

TREASURER

Stephanie Lamont

Stephanie is a Chartered Accountant and a Senior Manager with Ernst & Young LLP.  She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Toronto.  Stephanie, who lives in Oakville with her husband and two young children, joined the Board in September 2010 to give back to the community in an area that is close to her heart – children.  Her goal is to teach her children the importance of volunteering and community involvement and to use her skills to bring awareness to others of all the great work of the Children’s Aid Foundation of Halton.

SECRETARY

Krista Dietrich

As an active member in the Halton Region both in terms of work and family life, Krista wanted to be involved in an organization that directly influenced the community she lived in. She says, “I have always made my family and friends a priority in my life but many kids don’t have that choice, everyone should have a choice. Being involved in the CAF Board and giving both time and experience is targeted to help the kids in the Halton Region be more empowered and understand their choices. I also wanted my son to see first-hand how rewarding volunteering and giving back can be and how important it is to reach out and help others”.

PAST PRESIDENT

Chris Barrett

Chris has been a Financial Planner since 1992 and holds a degree from the University of Western Ontario as well as the Certified Financial Planning designation. He has worked and lived in the Halton region  with his family since 1988 .  He continues to take advanced Estate Planning courses to better assist his clients in protecting and growing their net worth. Chris has been active with the CAFH since  2004.

Marilyn Benninger

Marilyn has been a Certified General Accountant since 1990. She is an active member of the community and has a strong connection to the Children’s Aid Society. Having worked in the technology industry for 20 years, Marilyn joined the board to leverage her marketing and communication skills to help make a positive change for Halton's children and youth.  She and her husband, Mike, live in Burlington and volunteer regularly to organizations assisting women and children in need.

Norrie Davidson

Norrie Davidson is the Chief Operating Officer for WW Works.  She joined in the company in November 2010 and brings with her over 20 years of experience in IT and Business Management.  Her responsibilities include Operations, Marketing, Sales, Human Resources, Facilities, Office Administration and acting virtual CIO for many of WW Works customers.  Norrie was the SVP, Global IT Operations and Shared Services for Travelex.  Norrie joined the Board in 2011 hoping to take all her experience and make a difference in supporting the mission of the Foundation.  In her spare time, Norrie spends as much time as possible with her three boys and enjoys reading, hockey, brain teasers, playing golf and hanging out with her children.

Breckon Husband

Breckon joined the Board in 2011. Born and raised in the Burlington area with still many active family and business ties to the community.  He says, "having previously been an active supporter of Burlington’s Transitions for Youth organization I’m sensitive to the issue of children at risk in Halton and am eager to help build awareness of CAFH. Our entire family volunteers our time extensively.  The effort we put out is returned twofold by the wonderful people we meet and the life experiences we gain". Breckon manages the Hamilton insurance office of Aon Reed Stenhouse and married with two daughters. 

Megan Pallett  

Megan is the Senior Legal Council for the Halton Children’s Aid Society. She hears first-hand about the immense challenges facing our children & youth in Halton and has made a career of fighting for their rights. Over the years Megan has seen how the funds provided by CAFH have made significant, positive changes to lives of children & youth in care. She joined the Board to help ensure the great worked continued.

Lisa Roach

Michael Robins

Michael is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University. He was appointed Senior Vice-President, Restructuring for AECL in 2009 after serving as Chief Financial Officer for 8 years. Mike's support to the Children's Aid Foundation is driven by a desire to continue to give back to his community, having worked with youth through coaching at the YMCA and leading the Spirituality in Action program for St. Cuthbert's Church. He lives in Oakville with his wife, Susanne and their three sons.

Angela Scott

Angela joined the board in 2011.  She believes strongly that all children deserve the opportunity to meet their full potential and to obtain an education. Angela joined the board to help disadvantaged children within her community. She brings with her past experience as a board member for a number of not-for profit organizations.  Angela is a public securities and corporate lawyer practising in association with Cognition LLP.

Julie Sergi-Waxman

Julie Sergi-Waxman has been a Sales Representative with Royal Lepage Burloak Real Estate Services since 2005. Together with her business partner, she has earned several distinctions including The Award of Excellence and the President’s Gold Award. She holds two honours degrees from the University of McMaster as well as a Masters Degree from the University of Waterloo. She has joined the CAFH Board in the hopes of making a difference in the lives of children here in the community of Halton.

Executive Director

Tina Blatchford

Tina has over 20 years experience working with the Halton Children’s Aid Society in a great variety of roles. The most memorable of those roles has been working first hand with children & youth who are being raised by Halton CAS with little or no support from their parents. Forever changed by hearing their initial stories of abuse, neglect or trauma, then by watching their courage and resilience, and finally witnessing the success of strong, confident young adults pursuing education and dreams of a new life Tina was moved to do something more than her day to day work.

Tina joined the Board in 1998 realizing that this was a way to ensure children involved with CAS received every chance possible to face their challenges, discover who they are and create a path for success.

In 2004 the position of Executive Director was offered to Tina. To take on this position Tina resigned from the Board and assumed this new role in partnership with CAS where she could watch the children grow. She says that fundraising will always be a challenge, there are so many variables to consider, but believing in the cause and knowing that the funds raised are giving real and meaningful opportunities to young people makes all the effort worthwhile.

Out of her many years of experience Tina has realized that the community wants to help, once they understand that Halton has children in need. She tells anyone who will listen; “Happy childhood memories of family gatherings, times with best friends, favourite pets, special birthdays are so precious; most of the children who come to us don’t have those happy memories. They’ve lost their innocence and the sparkle is gone – believing in the programs that CAS offers to children and youth means that I will do everything possible to sustain those programs and spread awareness to the cause..…..and I want to put the twinkle back in the eyes of these children”.