Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) has elected Lori Cornwall as the new Chair of its Board of Directors during its Annual General Meeting held on September 13. Cornwall, a seasoned commercial and regulatory lawyer, takes over leadership as the organization also welcomes five new board members, bringing diverse expertise to its mission of advancing workplace health and safety in Ontario.
Cornwall’s legal career spans nearly three decades, culminating in her role as Associate General Counsel with Enbridge Gas Distribution in Toronto before her retirement. Throughout her tenure at Enbridge, she was a staunch advocate for workplace safety, a value she considers a “fundamental human right,” according to a statement from WSPS.
Before her time at Enbridge, Cornwall worked as a partner in the Competition and Foreign Investment Review practice group at Davies, Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP and spent several years as a criminal defence lawyer. She has also served on the board of the Ontario Association of Engineering Technicians and Technologists and participated in various volunteer roles. Cornwall holds both a law degree and an MBA from the University of Ottawa, as well as an undergraduate degree in criminology.
Joining Cornwall in WSPS leadership are five newly appointed board members: Graham Browne, Aimée Israel, Ellen Pekilis, Fariba Rawhani, and Michael Quast, each bringing a wealth of experience from a range of industries.
Browne, an Oakville-based human resources consultant, brings over 40 years of experience in HR and administration, with a focus on health and safety management. He has held roles at the executive level in sectors such as manufacturing and mining, and currently chairs the board of Community Living Burlington.
Israel, with more than three decades of executive experience, is currently the Vice President of Operations and Special Projects at Jack.org, a Canadian charity focused on youth mental health. She has held leadership positions in legal and entrepreneurial ventures, including as a founder of LifeSpeak Inc. Israel has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs by PROFIT magazine.
Pekilis, a governance expert, has served on multiple boards, including Canada’s Drug Agency and Oikocredit Canada, and has provided legal counsel on corporate governance and enterprise risk management. Previously, she held the role of General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at the Canadian Standards Association, where she contributed to international environmental and privacy standards.
Rawhani, currently the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Teranet, brings decades of experience in IT leadership, overseeing digital transformation and emerging technology integration. Rawhani has a track record of driving organizational innovation and has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in her professional and volunteer roles.
Quast, a strategic leader with over 25 years in marketing, communications, and business development, rounds out the new board members. He has extensive experience across sectors, including manufacturing and agriculture, and has a passion for supporting skilled trades. Quast also founded a national charity that provided scholarships to youth pursuing careers in trades.
In a statement, WSPS thanked outgoing board members Ajay Bhardwaj, Fred Burke, Nicola McGovern, Marjan Pouran, and Geeta Sharma for their service, acknowledging their contributions to helping the organization evolve to meet Ontario’s workplace safety needs.
WSPS’s Board of Directors, comprising 12 independent directors and the CEO, provides strategic oversight aimed at protecting workers and ensuring a safe working environment for Ontario businesses.
