Blair KnoxDirector
Blair Knox, Director
For the past 31 years Blair has been a Commercial and Residential Real Estate Developer operating Windsor to North Bay. In 2001, Blair started Robertson James Developments to concentrate on residential development. RJ is currently developing and building a 56 unit residential project on Sunningdale Road in London and working on a small subdivision in North Bay. Blair is actively involved with Teresina Larizza Charities Foundation (TLC) every Christmas in fundraising and doing deliveries of Christmas presents for underprivileged children in the London area. He helps the charity raise funds each year and deliver the presents with his children on Christmas Eve. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of North London Sports Association and was the Sponsorship Director from 2005 -2008. Blair has lived in London for the past 31 years with his wife Marina and their three children, Stuart (age -23), Christopher (21) and Hailey (19)
Ciara PittamDirector
Ciara Pittam, Director
Ciara is a lawyer at Brown Beattie O’Donovan LLP. She practices primarily in the area of commercial litigation with a focus on construction law. Prior to working in private practice Ciara worked at the Lawson Health Research Institute, the research arm of the London Health Sciences Centre. Ciara was born and raised in London where she attended Oakridge Secondary School. She left for a brief time to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph where she became involved in the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Ciara first became involved with Habitat for Humanity Heartland Ontario when she joined as a member of the Family Selection and Support Committee in 2016. In her spare time Ciara enjoys traveling and hopes to participate in future Habitat international builds.
Craig GauldDirector
Craig Gauld, Director
Craig has over 30 years of experience in the technology, biotechnology, manufacturing and finance sectors, both nationally and internationally, as an executive, investor and in-house legal counsel. With a B.Sc. in Physics and an LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario, he is an advisor to start-up biotechnology and technology companies. Craig was a co-founder of the London High Technology Association (now TechAlliance), has previously served on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity (London), and has been Honourary Legal Counsel to ATN Access for People with Disabilities Inc. and the Pillar Foundation (London). He looks forward to contributing to the growth of Habitat for Humanity Heartland.
Jeff MartinDirector
Jeff Martin, Director
Jeff is the Chief Financial Officer at Old Oak Properties, a real estate developer, builder, and property manager based in London. Prior to joining Old Oak in 2015, he worked at KPMG providing assurance services to a variety of businesses and not-for-profit organizations. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Organizational and Management Studies from Western University. Jeff has been involved with Habitat for Humanity Heartland Ontario since 2019 when he joined the finance committee. He lives in London with his wife Kara and two boys, aged 4 and 9.
Peter McConnellDirector
Peter McConnell, Director
Peter was born and raised in London. I have been in the Insurance Business for almost 36 years, 33 with the former Stevenson & Hunt Insurance Brokers were he was a shareholder of Stevenson & Hunt from 1995 until 2017. Peter is currently the Senior Vice President with Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Limited. He is a graduate of Guelph University and Western Univerity as well as obtaining his CIP, CAIB, CRM and CCIB. Peter has been involved in not for profits through out his career. He has been on the Boys & Girls Club of London Foundation Board for over 10 years and I am a Past President of that board and the BGCL Investment committee. He has been on the CEDASS Board for almost 10 years. He looks forward to using his skill sets with Habitat.
Ryan MeadwellDirector
Ryan Meadwell, Director
Ryan is currently the Vice President of Business Development at Steelway Building Systems, which engineers and manufactures steel building systems across Canada and the northern United States. Prior to Steelway, he spent 10 years leading the sales team at Triple M Metal LP, Canada’s largest processor and recycler of scrap metal. Ryan has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Public Policy from the University of Guelph and then earned his MBA from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. During his time at Guelph, Ryan captained the Men’s Varsity Volleyball Team for 3 years and went on to be a volunteer assistant coach at the University and head coach of the Guelph U21 men’s program. Originally from Mississauga, he now resides in London with his wife Riley, son JJ and dog Harley. In his spare time, you can find him on the golf course or at his BBQ in the backyard.
Steven RoordaBoard Chair
Steven Roorda, Board Chair
Steven is a Professional Engineer that has focused his career on civil engineering, stormwater management, but generally enjoys the process of pushing projects through the mind-boggling array of legislation associated with land development – the bigger and uglier the project, the better. He has worked on projects large and small, all over Southwestern Ontario. Steven currently is Vice President, Land Development for R.J. Burnside and Associates and works from their Woodstock, Guelph and Mississauga offices. His first dealings with Habitat for Humanity was with HFH Canada, assisting in the preparation of a Site Selection manual in 2012. Ha has also worked as an engineering consultant for HFH Halton Mississauga in 2013-2015. He joined the Brant-Norfolk Board in 2015 and soon became Chair in 2016. In 2018, Steven also stepped up as Co-Chair of the Ontario Caucus. If Steven isn’t neck deep in work, or Habitat issues, he enjoys spending time with his partner of 32 years, Carla Johnson, at their cottage in Port Stanley and typically missing his 24y.o. daughter Daren, who is out in Nova Scotia studying Computer Science and Art at St. FX.
Vera DokterDirector
Vera Dokter, Director
Vera is a lawyer practicing in the areas of corporate and commercial law, real estate law and wills and estates. She previously worked as corporate counsel for a bank before moving to private practice and joining the team at Brown Beattie O'Donovan LLP. Vera has lived in London for 17 years with her husband and has been involved with various volunteer organizations, including Habitat for Humanity. Vera and her husband have a young daughter and as a family they enjoy singing, dancing and traveling. Vera is honoured to have the opportunity to serve on the Habitat for Humanity Board and she looks forward to involving her daughter in the Habitat for Humanity organization in the future.
