List of 18 members.

• 

  Michael Bowen 

  Bio

  I have worked in Toronto in financial services since graduating from McGill in the 1980's. For 25 years I was immersed in fixed income capital markets, learning about the time value of money, credit risk and derivatives, before joining Turtle Creek Asset Management, a successful boutique equity investment management firm, where I lead our business development and client relationship team. I am obsessed with sailing, a keen squash player and love to ski and surf, especially with our three kids, all Grade 1-12 graduates of TYS.
• 

  Kristin Blakely-Kozman 

  Bio

  Kristin Blakely is a public sociologist with over 20 years of experience in academia, advocacy, and philanthropy as well as a children’s author. Blakely has taught sociology, gender studies, and leadership at institutions across North America. Her scholarly work has been published in top academic journals, and she is the co-author of Gendered Worlds (Oxford University Press), widely used in gender studies curricula. She was a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Feminist Research at York University, a Senior Fellow at the Glendon School of International and Public Affairs, a Co-Investigator at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Diversity Institute, and a faculty member at York University’s Resource Centre for Public Sociology. Blakely consults on gender equity strategies and social innovation initiatives that advance inclusive organizational practices and regularly speaks on feminist leadership, gender justice, governance, philanthropy and public scholarship. She has held leadership roles with YWCA Toronto, YWCA Canada, the Gender Equality Network, and the Canadian Women’s Foundation, where she helped shape grant-making priorities and programming related to economic justice and violence prevention. Blakely is President of the Beekay Foundation, a board director at Women Moving Millions, and a member of the Dean’s Council at Loyola University Chicago.

   

  Blakely holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies from Loyola University Chicago and has completed advanced training in leadership, governance, and DEI strategy at Cornell University, Northwestern University, and the University of Toronto.

  
  Kristin and her partner David have three children at the York School and Kristin is chair of the Advancement Committee.
• 

  Brian Burke 

  Bio

  Brian Burke is principal lawyer and founder of Burke and Co. Family Law Litigation and Advocacy Group. In conjunction with his family law practice, Brian is extensively involved in conference planning and speaking, justice committee work, and legal writing. His current special interests revolve around aspects of post-separation parenting including parenting assessments and the voice of the child, as well as the various dimensions of the problem/epidemic of family violence and intimate partner violence. Brian is a Past President of the Ontario Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC).  He was a member of the Task Force that drafted the AFCC Ontario Parenting Plan Guide and Template.  He was also a member of the Task Force that drafted the AFCC Guidelines for Parenting Plan Evaluations in Family Law Cases. Brian has one child at The York School and  is a member of the Governance Committee.
• 

  Jessica Caplan Ross 

  Bio

  In her role as Director, Legal Operations and Client Solutions at Lenczner Slaght, Jessica plays a key role in fostering seamless collaboration between the firm’s legal and business teams, ensuring the best combination of people, processes, and technology to drive winning outcomes for clients.
  
  Before joining Lenczner Slaght, Jessica served as General Counsel at two private corporations where she led legal and corporate governance functions, managed external legal services, advised on corporate transactions, directed litigation strategies, and supported business growth initiatives. Prior to that, Jessica practiced commercial litigation at national and global law firms, and later deepened her regulatory and compliance expertise at the Law Society of Ontario, where she led an investigations team.

  
  Jessica has a child in Grade 11 at The York School and is the Chair of the Risk Committee.
• 

  Alexis Charest-Descomme 

  Bio

  Alexis Charest-Descomme is a former York School Head Boy whose passion for technology blossomed during his time at York. After graduating from McGill University with a focus in Behavioural Economics, he built a career in data engineering, data architecture, product management, and analytics across multiple Fortune 500 organizations. Most recently, Alexis worked at Google as a Strategy & Insights Lead, where he leveraged behavioural science and technology to address complex social and business challenges for Canada’s largest institutions. As Co-Founder & CEO of StitchSense.ai, he is building technical solutions to augment production transparency, profitability, and sustainability in the global apparel manufacturing industry.

   

  In his spare time, Alexis can be found tinkering with his computers, watching Formula 1, or mentoring NGOs and small businesses in his community. Alexis is member of the Advancement Committee.
• 

  Adrianna Czornyj 

  Bio

  Adrianna Czornyj is a Partner at Persistence Capital Partners (PCP), a private equity firm that focuses exclusively on investments in the Canadian healthcare industry. As a Partner, Adrianna is responsible for aspects of the investment process from sourcing, evaluating and executing on investment opportunities to managing existing investments. As a healthcare investor, Adrianna has invested in companies across Canada including homecare, animal health, aesthetic medicine and dermatology, fertility, executive health, pharmacy and health education. Adrianna has over twenty years of experience in M&A, audit, consulting, valuation and private equity.  Before joining PCP, Adrianna was a Partner in Deloitte’s M&A transaction services practice, where she served private equity and strategic corporate investors.

  
  

  Adrianna is also involved in the community through her role as a director and past Treasurer/Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee for the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation and recently completed ten years with Crohn’s and Colitis Canada as the Chair of the Board. Adrianna is also a director with the Association for Corporate Growth, Toronto Chapter.
• 

  Louwellyn D'Souza 

  Bio

  Lou D’Souza is an experienced regulatory and compliance professional and lawyer focussing on growth and risk management. He is the Chief Compliance Officer for CI Investment Services and has held a similar role with RBC and CIBC. He is responsible for the firm’s Wealth Compliance programmes and along with his team has supported a number business lines including Investment Banking, Corporate Finance, Debt/Equity Capital Markets, Institutional Sales/Trading, Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities. He has worked in the securities dealer regulatory space for the past 19 years and was a commercial litigator for 7 years prior to his move to financial services. He has been a member of a number of Self-Regulatory Organization Committees and Working Groups on both sides of the border and is an Industry hearing panelist in regulatory enforcement matters. Lou and his spouse Annette have one Alumni son Sebastian graduated from The York School in 2024.
  
• 

  Katie Gosnell 

  Bio

  Katie Gosnell is an alumni of The York School, having graduated in 2008. After graduating from The York School, Katie earned her Bachelor’s of Commerce (Honours) degree from Queen’s University, along with her Graduate Diploma in Accounting, in 2012. Katie is a CPA, CA, a CFA charterholder and obtained her CBV designation after placing second in Canada on the membership qualification exam.
  
  

  Katie is currently a Managing Director at Kroll Canada in the Expert Services, Investigations and Valuations practice. She specializes in the preparation of expert reports in respect of business valuation and loss quantifications pursuant to a wide variety of litigation and dispute matters, including breaches of contract, shareholder disputes, patent infringement matters, expropriations, matrimonial disputes, corporate reorganizations, post acquisition disputes and tax disputes. Katie has worked with a broad client base, including public and private companies, across a variety of industries, including telecommunications, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, manufacturing, consumer products and private equity. Previously, Katie worked at a Big 4 accounting firm providing audit and assurance services to public companies in the banking and capital markets sector. Katie is a member of the Finance Committee.
• 

  Jason Menkes 

  Bio

  Jason Menkes is an Executive Vice President at Menkes Developments Ltd. where he oversees the Commercial | Industrial division, including acquisitions & dispositions, planning entitlements, land servicing & development, building construction, leasing, asset & property management. Jason also leads Menkes’ solar energy portfolio, having constructed solar installations on many of the Company’s industrial buildings, amassing one of the largest privately-owned rooftop solar portfolios in the GTA.
  
  

  Prior to joining the Company in 2010, Jason was previously an office leasing salesperson in New York City, following graduating from the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University.
  
  Two of Jason’s children attend The York School, and he currently serves on the Premises Committee.
• 

  Helene Mersky 

  Bio

  Helene Mersky is an experienced lawyer specializing in the non-profit sector. She is currently Senior Legal Counsel at the Mastercard Foundation, where she provides legal expertise to programs across Africa that advance education and relieve poverty. She has extensive experience advising charities and non-profits of all sizes on strategic, legal, and governance matters, and is deeply knowledgeable about Canadian charity law. Prior to her work in the non-profit sector, Helene practiced as a litigator in New York, specializing in the defense of complex civil claims. She serves on The York School’s Governance Committee. Helene and her husband have two children at The York School.
• 

  Trish McMahon 

  Bio

  Patricia (Trish) McMahon is a lawyer and historian. She is a professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, having joined the faculty in July 2022 after more than 15 years in private practice at two leading Bay Street law firms where she focused on complex civil litigation, including class actions, tax disputes, and constitutional law and appeared before all levels of court. Trish now researches and teaches in the areas of civil procedure, equity, and legal history. She is also the Director of the Oral History Program at the Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History, an organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of legal history in Canada. 
  
  Trish earned a BA in History from Huron College University at Western University before earning an MA and PhD in History at the University of Toronto, where she also earned an LLB. She also holds an LLM and JSD from Yale Law School.

  
  

  Trish has two sons, one at The York School and another who recently graduated. Before joining the Board, she served in various capacities with the York School Parents’ Association. Trish is the Chair of the Board.
• 

  Alua Nurkeyeva 

  Bio

  Alua Nurkeyeva is an experienced risk management, finance and investments professional with over twenty years of career in banking, corporate finance, telecom and advisory. She holds an MBA in investments from M.J. Neeley School of Business, Texas Christian University and is a CFA charterholder. As a dedicated global citizen, Alua has volunteered with culture and literature focused non-for-profits, mentored future leaders, and participated in professional networks to drive positive change.
  
  

  With diverse Canadian and international experience, Alua is very passionate about contributing to the The York School board by leveraging her expertise in risk management, financial analysis, and board governance. Alua is the vice-chair of the Risk Committee.
• 

  Erica O'Born 

  Bio

  Erica O’Born received her MSc. in Biology from Queen’s University, and Doctor of Chiropractic from CMCC. Erica worked as a primary care practitioner and in sales in Healthcare and Orthopedics until 2019. From 2019 to 2023 Erica was actively involved in the TPH Charitable. TPH Charitable is responsible for creating opportunities for employees to participate in meaningful causes and championing the spirit of volunteerism. Erica liaised with charities to co-ordinate in-kind print donations and support charitable events. More recently she worked with The Rosemont Hospitality group, which includes The Globe Restaurant and The Rosemont General Store.

   

  Erica has volunteered for a number of Canadian charities and foundations, including Renascent House, True Patriot Love and The Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank. She is currently a member of the advisory board of The Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank and sits on the postdoctoral research study advisory committee for The CanDo (Canadian Donor Milk) Trial. Erica operates  a small apiary at her family farm which she began in 2021. Erica is a member of The York School’s Advancement Committee, as well as the YPA in the role of SK grade representative. Erica and her husband have 2 children at The York School.
• 

  Ashley Russell 

  Bio

  Ashley Russell has spent her life immersed in global private early-childhood education. Ashley pursued her passion for child development, and education in London, UK studying  at the Maria Montessori Institute. Here Ashley earned a Primary Education degree and completed Post-Diploma work in Scientific Observation from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Ashley was a lead teacher at Great Beginnings Montessori, one of the largest Montessori schools in Central London, eventually becoming the Deputy Head of School. After moving to New York Ashley transitioned into Board work becoming the Vice President of the Board of Directors at Morningside Montessori. During this time Ashley also co-authored teacher training textbooks for use at the International Montessori Institute of Beijing, PRC, an AMS accredited training center. Most recently Ashley partnered with Fitzrovia, a Toronto real estate developer, ideating, creating and developing aspects of what has become Bloomsbury Academy, a chain of schools located on-premise in luxury rental condominiums in Toronto.

   

  Ashley graduated from the University of Ottawa with a BA in Criminology and from the University of Toronto with an  Honours BA in English. Ashley was also a 4-year member of the University of Ottawa Varsity Women’s volleyball team.  

  
  Ashley and her husband have three children at TYS. She was previously a member of TYS Premises Committee and is currently a member of the Governance Committee.
• 

  Kevin Salsberg 

  Bio

  Kevin Salsberg is the President & Chief Executive Officer of CT REIT and has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience. Prior to joining CT REIT, Mr. Salsberg was the Executive Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer of Plaza Retail REIT from 2013 to 2016. Mr. Salsberg also worked for KEYreit, holding positions of increasing scope and responsibility, ultimately becoming its Chief Operating Officer, and was also a Leasing Representative for RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust. Mr. Salsberg holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa.
• 

  Benjie Thomas 

  Bio

  Benjie Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner of KPMG in Canada. He is a member of KPMG’s Global Board and the Global Council of KPMG International. As CEO, Benjie provides leadership to and is responsible for the firm’s business and its more than 10,000 professionals across Canada.

   

  As an advisor, Benjie has more than 25 years of experience assisting Canada’s most prominent private equity funds and strategic buyers. Benjie has advised on some of Canada's largest transactions with a consistent track record of providing sought-after advice and innovative solutions to create success. 

   

  Benjie is a senior advisor to the University of Waterloo School of Accounting and Finance and sits on the Financial Advisory Council. He advise the school director on issues impacting the achievement of the schools goals and assists with long term planning. Benjie also sits on the CPA Ontario Council as an elected member. Benjie is member of the Advancement Committee.
• 

  Julia Webster 

  Bio

  Julia Webster is a graduate of the York School (class of ’05) and is Partner at Baker McKenzie where she leads the firm’s Canadian international trade and customs practice. She advises Canadian and international companies on customs compliance, anti-corruption laws, economic sanctions, export controls, supply chain ethics, and cross-border M&A. Julia graduated from McGill (BA&SC ’09 and MArch ’10) where she was a recipient of the McGill Scarlet Key and from Queen’s University, Faculty of Law where she was a recipient of the Denis Marshall Contribution Award. She teaches Law 453: International Business Crime at her alma mater. In her free time, she is a weekend triathlete and an avid long distance cyclist.
• 

  Rob Weinberg 

  Bio

  Dr. Robert Weinberg is a Family Physician working in Toronto for over 20 years. Rob was born and raised in Montreal and moved to Toronto after finishing Medical School at Mcgill in order to complete his residency training at the University of Toronto. In addition to his clinical work, Rob teaches U of T medical students and spent several years in a management role in his large group practice. For many summers, Rob has worked as a doctor at a sleepover camp where he helps to set medical policies and looks after the health and safety needs of about 500 campers and staff members. Outside of work, you can find Rob coaching minor hockey or keeping active on some rink, court or field. He and his wife, Robyn, have 2 children. Their youngest attends The  York School. Rob currently serves on The York School Governance Committee.