Meet the CIS Ontario Board of Directors

Chris Matthews is a partner of Aird & Berlis LLP, specializing in commercial litigation. Chris’s practice includes securities, products liability, natural resources, information technology and auditor’s negligence. He also has extensive experience in education matters, including administrative, contract, discipline and judicial review proceedings in the public and independent school sectors. Chris was counsel in two cases (W. W v. Lakefield College School and Setia v. Appleby) that defined the limit of court intervention in independent school discipline matters. 

Chris advises and has given seminars to non-profit corporations and educational institutions on governance and risk management.

Chris’s board experience includes:

• Chair of Governance, TCS Foundation (2018-present)
• Trustee, Trinity College School (2010–present)
• Chair of Governance, Havergal College (2011–2018)
• Chair of Finance, Trinity College, University of Toronto (2008–2014)
• Board of Trustees and President (2012-2013), Toronto Lawyers Association (2004–2014)
• Chair of Philanthropy & Alumni, Trinity College School (1999–2009)

Chris became a Director of CIS Ontario in 2016 and served as Chair of Governance from 2018-2024. As Board Chair, he is looking forward to working more closely with member schools and assisting CIS Ontario’s efforts on their behalf.

Ed is the 10th headmaster of Ridley College in St. Catharines. He is proud to have led this 129-year-old Canadian institution whose vision is to “inspire flourishing lives to transform our globe” since 2012. Prior to repatriating to Canada, he enjoyed a 16-year career in international education, serving most recently as the high school principal at Shanghai American School.

As a former IB English teacher, coach and adviser, Ed is committed to the virtues of a liberal arts education, the values of a boarding school experience and the emerging field of positive education.

As such, Ed challenged the Ridley community with a new strategic plan and vision to “inspire flourishing lives.” In this regard, Ridley has adopted a whole-school approach to cultural change through the lens of positive psychology; from teaching and learning in the classroom, to athletic coaching to administration and leadership, all learners in the Ridley community are striving to lead flourishing lives and inspire it in others. 

Rosemary was named principal of University of Toronto Schools (UTS) in 2011. During her tenure she has re-established UTS as a school-based partner for the Master of Teaching Program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and solidified the affiliation relationship with the University of Toronto.

Rosemary received her BA in history from Western University and her MA, B.Ed. and MBA from the University of Toronto. She served as a teacher, department head and subject co-ordinator for the Peel Board of Education, and later as a vice-principal in the former East York Board of Education. During her time as an instructor in the initial teacher education program at OISE, Rosemary was the recipient of a teaching excellence award.

As academic head at Branksome Hall, she oversaw the implementation of the International Baccalaureate programs from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Rosemary is the author of several history textbooks and has presented on such topics as global education, critical thinking, assessment and equity.

Lorena is a CPA, CA and has had a career in accounting and tax for over 10 years. She is currently employed as a Tax & Compliance Officer at IKO Industries Ltd. Prior to this, Lorena spent the majority of her career with Deloitte with the Toronto tax practice. 

Lorena graduated from McMaster University with an Honours B.Comm and completed the Masters of Taxation Program at the University of Waterloo. Lorena also spent time studying at the University of Warwick on exchange from McMaster.

She is an alumna of Elmwood School and attended from Grade 1 thru to Grade 12.

Lorena is a proud mother to one. She loves to play hockey, soccer, and ultimate frisbee in her free time as well as travel the world. She has travelled to 51 countries to date.

Greg is the Special Advisor to the Provost, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Executive Director of the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre. He graduated from Queen’s in 1985, in Mechanical Engineering and has served as an adjunct instructor in 3 different faculties at Queen’s. 

Greg has had a 25 year career in entrepreneurship and was the co-founder, President and CEO of a Toronto and Ohio based environmental company, specializing in producing automotive components using recycled materials. 

Prior to that he had a 10 year career in engineering at Hatch and General Motors where he designed and managed very large and technically innovative projects around the world. 

He and his wife cofounded a company that commercialized innovative respiratory products in the medical devices industry, which they subsequently sold.     

Greg also serves on the boards of several manufacturing and process-industry companies, and has served on Queen's University Council and the Engineering Society Board of Directors. 

He is a proud husband and father of two, and an avid sailor, cyclist and hockey coach.  

Karen Gordon joins the CIS Ontario Board as the past Chair of the Board of Trafalgar Castle, an independent girls' school in Whitby, Ontario. She is the principal of Gordon Strategy and has over two decades of experience advising leading law firms and their corporate clients, employers, emergency services organizations, sports leagues and clubs, and independent schools across Canada.

Karen provides deep, strategically targeted communications expertise in practice areas, encompassing corporate litigation, employment and labour relations, and crisis and incident management. Widely recognized for her communications knowledge, she appears regularly on radio and television as an expert commentator.

Karen is president of Ken Gordon Holdings, an Ottawa-based family office that focuses on real estate development and investment. She is also a member of the OLG Board and the Board of Governors of The Ottawa Hospital.

Dan Hill is an alumnus of Trinity College School. He has founded two digital start-ups and consulted on many more. He was formerly the director of strategy and business intelligence at TVOntario, senior director of digital programming for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, consulting manager for Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, and business manager at BBDO Interactive.

Lieutenant (Navy) Melissa Knight-Johnson has been a member of the Royal Canadian Navy for 20 years and a valued member of the Trafalgar Castle School community for more than 18 years. A proud Naval Warfare Officer, Melissa has served on His Majesty’s Canadian Ships Nanaimo, Edmonton and HMCS Saskatoon as a watchkeeper, Navigation Officer and Operations Officer. She recently served as the Senior Staff Officer for Outreach for Central Region Command, supporting the seven naval reserve divisions across Ontario, where she built relationships with the community and developed and supported programs to increase the public’s understanding of the Royal Canadian Navy.

As the Head of School for Trafalgar Castle School, Melissa leads with unwavering commitment, vast experience in education for girls and the ability to seek creative solutions to challenges. Prior to her current position as Head of School, Melissa held numerous leadership roles, including Boarding Don, Teacher, Director of Athletics and Deputy Head. Demonstrating stewardship both in and outside the school, Melissa is proof positive that there’s nothing a Trafalgar girl can’t handle.

A graduate of Queen's University in Economics and Psychology, Erin also holds a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Toronto, as well being a graduate of Queen's School Law including a Masters of Law specializing in International Trade Law. She recently retired from Queen’s after 34 years including 25 at Smith School of Business where she held senior administration positions as well as an adjunct professor in Graduate programs teaching international trade law. 

Erin is also the founder and principal of MTF consulting, specializing in executive coaching in the areas of leadership, equity and diversity. She is a top selling author, host of a weekly talk radio show, and frequent commentator on radio, television and social media platforms. Erin has consulted in both the for profit and not for profit sectors including non governmental organizations, federal and provincial departments, police services and emergency room and family medicine units. 

Dr. Elisabeth Rees-Johnstone currently serves as Executive Director, Continuing and Professional Learning and InnovED at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. In this role, she oversees a comprehensive portfolio of educator professional learning, global partnerships, and innovation initiatives that strengthen teaching quality and support system-wide workforce development.

Elisabeth brings more than two decades of cross-sector experience spanning K–12 and postsecondary education, government, and professional sectors across multiple industries. Her career includes leadership roles in organizational development and talent strategy, with a longstanding focus on building individual capability and organizational capacity. She has worked with ministries of education, independent school networks, corporations, and global partners to design and implement research-informed professional learning and workforce development systems.

Before joining OISE, Elisabeth held management and advisory roles in the financial services sector, led entrepreneurial ventures, and supported organizations in aligning talent, learning, and operational strategy. She has served as an advisor to national and international organizations and has led workforce development and improvement initiatives across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

John Reid is the Head of School at The Rosedale Day School in Toronto, bringing over 30 years of diverse experience across both public and independent educational institutions. Throughout his career, John has established himself as both a senior administrator and a dedicated expert in supporting neurodiverse learners. His extensive leadership journey includes serving as Deputy Head of School at West Island College in Calgary, Executive Director and Strategic Management Consultant at Chartwell School in California, and Head of Middle School at Collingwood School in West Vancouver.

At the core of his practice is a leadership philosophy rooted in service and relationship-building. He believes that nurturing positive, authentic connections among students, families, and colleagues is essential to creating a vibrant and successful educational community. John is deeply passionate about cultivating learning environments that spark curiosity—places where students are encouraged to ask deep questions, explore boldly, and actively engage with the world around them. For him, collaboration, trust, empathy, and mutual respect are the foundation that work.

John holds a Master of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education from Queen's University, and an Honours Bachelor of Science from Trent University. Committed to continuous professional growth, he has also earned his Diploma in Independent School Leadership from the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS).

As a Director in the Head of School category, Struan brings 20 years of experience in the independent and international school systems to the CIS Ontario Board. As Head of School at The York School, Struan leads a JK-12 IB World School known for its culture of global-mindedness, innovation and inclusivity.

Before his role at The York School, Struan served as Head of School at Lakefield College School in Ontario and as an Elementary School Principal at International School Bangkok in Thailand.

Struan has a Masters degree from the State University of New York (SUNY), a B.Ed. from the University of Windsor and a BA from Dalhousie University.