Board of directors

Heather is the President of the Board of Directors at the Ottawa School of Art. Her connection to the school dates back to her childhood, attending summer camps and youth programming. Recently retired as a Partner at PwC Canada, Heather has extensive experience in helping organizations adopt new technologies and enhance customer experiences through human-centered design.

With a degree in political science, Heather is a mentor, people manager, and active volunteer, contributing to Algonquin College, the Art Gallery of Ontario and residential condo boards. She also co-convenes the Art & Design Club at the Rideau Club.

She is a continuous learner, having recently completed the Core Course for the International Society of Appraisers, an MIT executive program in Artificial Intelligence, and a Certificate in World Art History from the Smithsonian.

Outside of work, Heather enjoys riding her Vespa and spending time with her three nieces. Her main priority as Board President is to support the school in achieving its strategic goals of Enrolment Growth, Financial Stability, and Organizational Development.
Judith holds a Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) from York University specializing in Visual Arts and Design, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ottawa. Currently, she is a management consultant and project executive providing leadership expertise in large-scale business transformation and innovation. Judith leverages 20 years of diverse experience to advise on strategic planning and design, business architecture, organizational change and operational improvements. She strives to help senior executives and their teams turn strategic priorities into tactile plans and ensure the investments they make support the growth of their organization and the needs of their employees and clients.

Judith has worked across private, public, and not-for-profit sectors including five years delivering the IM/IT requirements to bring digital media education products into schools and communities. Having spent many years supporting youth-based organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa and Girl Guides of Canada, she now looks forward to reconnecting with the arts
Nancy is originally from Halifax and moved to Ottawa after completing her Bachelor of Commerce in accounting at Dalhousie University. Nancy spent five years as a Hi-Tech CFO after completing her CPA designation and working her way into a management role in public practice. In 2004 she returned to public accounting and became a partner at Hendry Warren LLP in 2007. Nancy enjoys working with entrepreneurs and collaborating with other professionals and advisors to get the best results for her clients. A focal point for Nancy within the practice is human resources, training and recruiting. She has a passion for music, plays the guitar and other instruments, and attends live music events locally. Her volunteer experience includes serving on the Board for Meals on Wheels, Music and Beyond and Carleton Heights Curling Club.
Zoriana Priadka began her career in Toronto with a focus on civil litigation, before further refining her skills in employment law at a prominent full-service regional law firm in Ottawa. Since joining Emond Harnden in 2023, Zoriana has been dedicated to providing her clients with invaluable support and representation in all areas of employment and labour law. In addition to her legal practice, Zoriana is frequently invited to present at conferences and lead seminars covering various subjects within the fields of employment and human rights. She has had a keen interest in the arts since high school and continues her passion for painting portraits and landscapes. Zoriana is an avid cook and enjoys hiking.

Secretary
Danielle has proudly called Ottawa home for over 20 years, located on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation. She holds the Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation and built her academic foundation in HR Management at the Telfer School of Management. As an HR leader within the non-profit sector, both locally and nationally, Danielle leads strategic initiatives focused on fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace. With additional certifications in Human Resources Law and Workplace Mental Health, she brings a well-rounded approach to HR compliance and employee well-being.

Beyond her professional life, she enjoys embroidery and ink drawing—though her two cats, eager collaborators, often add their own “paw-sitive” contributions to her projects by getting a little too familiar with the embroidery threads!
Corinne is an experienced professional with a multidisciplinary background spanning finance, management, strategic consulting, arts entrepreneurship and museology. She holds an undergraduate degree in Business from PUC-SP, an MBA from Insead, and has attended the Arts Administration program at TC, Columbia University.

Committed to advancing access and inclusivity in the arts, she advocates for initiatives that support francophone efforts as well as broad access to art, and that ensure community engagement and representation. Beyond her professional endeavors, Corinne is also a practitioner and advocate for the arts, as a trained printmaker and collector of works on paper.
Shirley Yik is a graduate of the Ottawa School of Art Fine Arts Diploma Program. She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, a Master of Information Systems Science degree, and a Master of Management Studies degree, all from Carleton University. Formerly she held management positions in telecommunications and internet consulting companies.

Shirley’s art practice includes painting, drawing and printmaking. She has received grants from the City of Ottawa and the Ontario Arts Council. Her work is held in private collections and the City of Ottawa’s art collection.

Shirley has been a board member of the Ottawa School of Art since 2017, serving as board chair and president from April 2020 to March 2025. She continues to serve the Board as a member of the executive committee and finance committee.

Executive Committee
Susan brings her work experience in a broad range of professional and management positions, primarily with the public sector. Susan is a graduate of the University of Alberta (Bachelor of Arts, Economics) and of the University of Ottawa (Master of Business Administration).

The visual and social environments across Canada have always had Susan’s attention and have been the focus of her frontline and Board volunteer activities since her retirement. Susan enjoys volunteering at
several not-for-profit organizations and working with fabric, reading and baking.

As a Board member, Susan looks forward to supporting the Ottawa School of Art’s contributions to the academic, continuous learning and broader communities.
Patricia Kenny is an Ottawa-based artist and a graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the University of Ottawa, as well as the Fine Arts Diploma Program at the Ottawa School of Art. A lifelong learner, she has also studied visual arts at York University and Algonquin College. With over two decades of experience in administrative and management roles in the education sector, Patricia has worked at Carleton University and Algonquin College. She also served as Administrator for two years at Enriched Bread Artists, an Ottawa-based art collective.

Patricia’s artistic practice spans multimedia installation, photography, and painting, earning her multiple awards and scholarships. She has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions across Ontario and Quebec. Committed to fostering the local arts community, Patricia has volunteered with several arts organizations and previously served as President of Ottawa Mixed Media Artists.
Robert is an award-winning Associate Professor (Teaching Stream) in Business Analytics and Marketing at the Sprott School of Business, Carleton University. He also leads Sprott’s SSCG project-based experiential learning consulting practice—an impactful initiative that connects students with real-world consulting opportunities aimed at advancing both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in the community. Passionate about bridging theory and practice, Robert is committed to developing innovative approaches that integrate academic learning with hands-on industry experience.

A recognized expert in business strategy, marketing strategy, and innovation management, Robert teaches at both the undergraduate and MBA levels. His work is widely acknowledged for advancing experiential learning, shaping new high-impact curriculum, and mentoring students as they transition into and progress through professional careers.

Prior to entering academia, Robert led a distinguished 25-year career in the technology sector, with a focus on analytics-driven innovation and strategic product management. At IBM, he most recently served as Head of Collaborative Innovation and Ecosystem, Analytics within the Data and AI division, and previously held leadership roles across the Analytics growth solutions, RegTech, and financial planning portfolios. As a product executive in the Analytics Division at Cognos Incorporated, he played a pivotal role in launching new-to-market analytics products and developing early-stage partner ecosystems. His foundation in management consulting—including his work with Fujitsu|DMR—further shaped his expertise in business strategy, successful project delivery, and stakeholder engagement—capabilities he continues to apply across his academic, consulting, and governance work.

Robert holds a B.Sc. from McGill University, an MBA from the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Business, and a Ph.D. in Management from Carleton University. Based in Ottawa with his family, he is also an optimistic visual artist, working in portraiture across photography, oil painting, and pencil drawing.
Robyn brings extensive experience in education at the post-secondary level within the creative industries. As well she has experience serving on professional and community boards.

Robyn retired from Algonquin College in 2022 where she spent eight years at the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Media and Design. Her portfolio of 30+ programs included Graphic Design, Illustration and Concept Art, Interior Design, and Animation, to name a few. Prior to becoming the Dean, she was the Academic Chair for Media Studies where she supervised 15 programs. In addition, she was a Professor and Coordinator for the Advertising and Marketing Communications Management program for 18 years. Before joining Algonquin, she spent 12 years in the media and design industries including animation, advertising and design.

Robyn served on the Ottawa Film Office Board of Directors as well as the board for Women in Communication and Technology. She is currently on the Algonquin College Alumni and Friends Advisory Board and is a member of 100 Women Who Care. She holds an MEd in Education Studies from the University of Alberta and a diploma from Algonquin College in Creative Advertising.