August 19, 2025 – Kitchener, ON: Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Janet Davidson, O.C., BScN, MHSA, LLD (Hon), as Chair of the WRHN Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2025.
Janet joined the WRHN Board in April 2025 and succeeds Co-Chairs Sandra Hanmer, who first joined the Grand River Hospital Board in 2016, and Tim Rollins, who first joined the St. Mary’s General Hospital Board in 2005, having served in various capacities and terms since then. As Janet steps into the role of Chair on September 1, Tim and Sandra will transition into Vice Chair positions with the WRHN Board of Directors.
“Janet brings a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for making a difference in people’s lives,” says Ron Gagnon, Secretary of the Board, President & CEO, WRHN. “With over four decades of experience shaping healthcare across Canada and beyond, she is uniquely positioned to guide WRHN as we continue to build for the future of care and navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead. I am deeply grateful to Sandra and Tim for their remarkable vision and leadership leading up to and throughout our merger as WRHN, and I am delighted we will continue to benefit from their wisdom and dedication in their new Board roles.”
Bringing over 40 years of experience in healthcare leadership, strategy, governance, and organizational management, Janet has served in senior roles across Canada and internationally. Her distinguished career includes positions as Deputy Minister of Health for Alberta, CEO of Trillium Health Centre, COO of Vancouver Coastal Health, and senior leadership roles in hospital, government, and voluntary sectors.
She served as Board Chair and then Administrator of the Nova Scotia Health Authority and is a former board chair of the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada. She is a board member of Bayshore Health Care and Health Workforce Canada and recently completed her terms on the board of SickKids and as Co-Chair of the CD Howe's Health Policy Council, where she also served as a Senior Fellow.
She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Order of the Red Cross. Twice named among Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Janet has also been recognized with numerous awards for her professional and volunteer contributions. She holds degrees from the University of Windsor and the University of Alberta and is a graduate of leadership programs at the Rotman School of Management and the University of California Berkeley – School of Public Health.
“I am honoured to serve as Chair of the WRHN Board of Directors and work alongside such a dedicated and talented team,” says Janet Davidson. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by Sandra and Tim, and to working together with the Board, leadership team, and our community to ensure exceptional, integrated care for the people we serve.”