Judy Brinson
Director
Judy Brinson is from Change Islands, and moved to Fogo Island in 1998 to start working as a nurse at the hospital. She is a full-time Cub Scout leader, part-time Beaver Scout leader and is also a Sunday School leader with the Church of the Holy Spirit. Judy is part of the group working to develop a Junior Canadian Rangers group on Fogo Island, and is the World Ocean’s Day Beach Clean-up Leader for Island Harbour, as well as the leader for the Beaver/Cub Scout Shoreline clean-up. She is actively involved in many facets of the community she lives in, and now serves on Shorefast’s Board of Directors. Judy and her husband, also from Change Islands, have three children and continue to live on Fogo Island.
Judy Brinson
Director
Judy Brinson is from Change Islands, and moved to Fogo Island in 1998 to start working as a nurse at the hospital. She is a full-time Cub Scout leader, part-time Beaver Scout leader and is also a Sunday School leader with the Church of the Holy Spirit. Judy is part of the group working to develop a Junior Canadian Rangers group on Fogo Island, and is the World Ocean’s Day Beach Clean-up Leader for Island Harbour, as well as the leader for the Beaver/Cub Scout Shoreline clean-up. She is actively involved in many facets of the community she lives in, and now serves on Shorefast’s Board of Directors. Judy and her husband, also from Change Islands, have three children and continue to live on Fogo Island.
Tim Brodhead
Director
Tim Brodhead was from 1995 to 2011 President and CEO of The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. In 2013-2014 he served as Interim President of the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation. Prior to joining McConnell, Tim spent twenty-five years working in international development, mainly in West Africa, Sudan, and India. He was the Founding Executive Director of ACORD, based in London U.K., and co-founded the Canadian development agency Inter Pares.
Currently Tim co-chairs Canadians for a New Partnership and is a board member of The Natural Step, Engineers Without Borders (EWB-Canada), the Arctic Inspiration Prize, the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon, and the Jarislowsky, Omega, Inspirit, and Ottawa Community Foundations. He is a member of the Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience (WISIR) and is on the Advisory Boards of the McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy, and the Children and Youth in Challenging Contexts Network.
In 2001, Tim was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He holds honourary degrees from McGill, Carleton, Dalhousie, and the University of New Brunswick. He lives and farms south of Ottawa.
Tim Brodhead
Director
Tim Brodhead was from 1995 to 2011 President and CEO of The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. In 2013-2014 he served as Interim President of the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation. Prior to joining McConnell, Tim spent twenty-five years working in international development, mainly in West Africa, Sudan, and India. He was the Founding Executive Director of ACORD, based in London U.K., and co-founded the Canadian development agency Inter Pares.
Currently Tim co-chairs Canadians for a New Partnership and is a board member of The Natural Step, Engineers Without Borders (EWB-Canada), the Arctic Inspiration Prize, the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon, and the Jarislowsky, Omega, Inspirit, and Ottawa Community Foundations. He is a member of the Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience (WISIR) and is on the Advisory Boards of the McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy, and the Children and Youth in Challenging Contexts Network.
In 2001, Tim was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He holds honourary degrees from McGill, Carleton, Dalhousie, and the University of New Brunswick. He lives and farms south of Ottawa.
Alan Cobb
Co-Founder and Chair
Alan Cobb enjoyed a long career in the senior ranks of the federal public service and in the private sector. He has worked in policy and operations for a number of federal ministries including Industry, Science and Technology, Treasury Board, and Employment and Immigration. He also headed the initial federal offshore oil and gas regulatory agency, based in St. John’s. After retiring from the federal government, Alan provided strategic management consulting services to the public and private sectors, and worked with a leading technology firm as advisor to the CEO. He now devotes his time to serving on Shorefast’s Board of Directors.
Alan Cobb
Co-Founder and Chair
Alan Cobb enjoyed a long career in the senior ranks of the federal public service and in the private sector. He has worked in policy and operations for a number of federal ministries including Industry, Science and Technology, Treasury Board, and Employment and Immigration. He also headed the initial federal offshore oil and gas regulatory agency, based in St. John’s. After retiring from the federal government, Alan provided strategic management consulting services to the public and private sectors, and worked with a leading technology firm as advisor to the CEO. He now devotes his time to serving on Shorefast’s Board of Directors.
Zita Cobb
Founder & CEO, CM
Growing up on Fogo Island, Zita developed a deep belief in the inherent value of place and a profound respect for the human ways of knowing that emerge from respectful relationships with nature, culture, and community. After completing high school on Fogo Island, Zita decided to study business in order to understand the global economic systems that had disadvantaged Fogo Island and numerous other small communities – bringing many to the brink of extinction. After completing university in Ottawa, she took on increasingly senior financial roles in the high-tech industry. She is most recognized for her work with JDS Fitel, subsequently JDS Uniphase, where she contributed to building the company into one of the most successful high-tech innovators in history. Zita returned home to Fogo Island in the early 2000’s and, along with her brothers Anthony and Alan, began to build Shorefast’s initiatives. In 2016, Zita was awarded the Order of Canada in acknowledgement of the work of Shorefast in collaboration with the community of Fogo Island to help secure a more resilient future for this singular rural place. She now dedicates her full time and energies to the active direction and management of Shorefast and our projects on Fogo Island.
Zita Cobb
Founder & CEO, CM
Growing up on Fogo Island, Zita developed a deep belief in the inherent value of place and a profound respect for the human ways of knowing that emerge from respectful relationships with nature, culture, and community. After completing high school on Fogo Island, Zita decided to study business in order to understand the global economic systems that had disadvantaged Fogo Island and numerous other small communities – bringing many to the brink of extinction. After completing university in Ottawa, she took on increasingly senior financial roles in the high-tech industry. She is most recognized for her work with JDS Fitel, subsequently JDS Uniphase, where she contributed to building the company into one of the most successful high-tech innovators in history. Zita returned home to Fogo Island in the early 2000’s and, along with her brothers Anthony and Alan, began to build Shorefast’s initiatives. In 2016, Zita was awarded the Order of Canada in acknowledgement of the work of Shorefast in collaboration with the community of Fogo Island to help secure a more resilient future for this singular rural place. She now dedicates her full time and energies to the active direction and management of Shorefast and our projects on Fogo Island.
Kelly LaRocca
Director; Chief, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
Kelly LaRocca proudly serves as the Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, located near the town of Port Perry, Ontario. Having grown up in south Oshawa and spending her late teen years in Scugog First Nation, she witnessed the economic struggle of a city that was once dependent upon the automotive industry, and the want for a small First Nation community that was once dependent upon government funding to build its own economy. Kelly’s pathway was greatly informed by her mother, Valerie, a tenacious entrepreneur and First Nation leader, and her father, Anthony, an avid musician, who worked extremely hard at General Motors and provided well for his family of four.
Her educational achievements include an honours degree in philosophy at the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Laws from Windsor Law School. She also spent time on the west coast, studying Aboriginal law at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law after having practiced as a civil litigation lawyer in the City of Toronto. Upon returning to Scugog First Nation in 2008, she built her capacity as a Council member and was later elected as Chief in 2013. Chief LaRocca and the MSIFN Council led the negotiation of the commercial gaming and revenue share agreements for the Great Blue Heron Casino, which is owned and operated on the territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.
Kelly proudly served as the Portfolio Chief Representative during the claim negotiations arising from the 1923 Williams Treaties, which came to a final settlement in 2018 and is one of the largest treaty settlements in Canadian claims history. Upon a Council recommendation to the MSIFN community, the First Nation approved the start-up of the Noozhoo Nokiiyan Limited Partnership (NNLP) to manage the community’s economic development opportunities. All business conducted through the NNLP will serve to reinvest into the community. Kelly is an ex officio Director of the Board for NNLP. MSIFN is currently undergoing a community-driven process to update its Land Code. For over 20 years, MSIFN has endured great success, and the community is well on its way to achieve self-sustainability.
She is an elected Director for the National Lands Advisory Board for First Nations Lands Management and serves as the Vice-Chair for the Ogemawahj Tribal Council. She previously served as a member on the Aboriginal Justice Committee for the former Attorney General for Ontario and was a prior Director of the Baagwating Community Association, which was the former charitable arm of the casino and now operates as the MSIFN Donations Committee. While much success has come to MSIFN in its vision as a community, this is a result of brave decision-making of past and present leadership, the hard work of skilled employees, and most importantly, the collective wisdom of the people of MSIFN.
Kelly lives with her amazingly supportive partner Jonathan and their two children, Ruby and Eli, in Scugog First Nation. It continues to be Kelly’s honour and privilege to serve her people.
Kelly LaRocca
Director; Chief, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
Kelly LaRocca proudly serves as the Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, located near the town of Port Perry, Ontario. Having grown up in south Oshawa and spending her late teen years in Scugog First Nation, she witnessed the economic struggle of a city that was once dependent upon the automotive industry, and the want for a small First Nation community that was once dependent upon government funding to build its own economy. Kelly’s pathway was greatly informed by her mother, Valerie, a tenacious entrepreneur and First Nation leader, and her father, Anthony, an avid musician, who worked extremely hard at General Motors and provided well for his family of four.
Her educational achievements include an honours degree in philosophy at the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Laws from Windsor Law School. She also spent time on the west coast, studying Aboriginal law at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law after having practiced as a civil litigation lawyer in the City of Toronto. Upon returning to Scugog First Nation in 2008, she built her capacity as a Council member and was later elected as Chief in 2013. Chief LaRocca and the MSIFN Council led the negotiation of the commercial gaming and revenue share agreements for the Great Blue Heron Casino, which is owned and operated on the territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.
Kelly proudly served as the Portfolio Chief Representative during the claim negotiations arising from the 1923 Williams Treaties, which came to a final settlement in 2018 and is one of the largest treaty settlements in Canadian claims history. Upon a Council recommendation to the MSIFN community, the First Nation approved the start-up of the Noozhoo Nokiiyan Limited Partnership (NNLP) to manage the community’s economic development opportunities. All business conducted through the NNLP will serve to reinvest into the community. Kelly is an ex officio Director of the Board for NNLP. MSIFN is currently undergoing a community-driven process to update its Land Code. For over 20 years, MSIFN has endured great success, and the community is well on its way to achieve self-sustainability.
She is an elected Director for the National Lands Advisory Board for First Nations Lands Management and serves as the Vice-Chair for the Ogemawahj Tribal Council. She previously served as a member on the Aboriginal Justice Committee for the former Attorney General for Ontario and was a prior Director of the Baagwating Community Association, which was the former charitable arm of the casino and now operates as the MSIFN Donations Committee. While much success has come to MSIFN in its vision as a community, this is a result of brave decision-making of past and present leadership, the hard work of skilled employees, and most importantly, the collective wisdom of the people of MSIFN.
Kelly lives with her amazingly supportive partner Jonathan and their two children, Ruby and Eli, in Scugog First Nation. It continues to be Kelly’s honour and privilege to serve her people.
Barbara McInnes
Director, CM
Barbara McInnes retired as President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Ottawa in 2014. She was with the Foundation since its inception in 1987, overseeing its growth to what is now one the largest and most highly regarded of Canada’s 190+ community foundations. Barbara was awarded the Order of Canada in 2008 for her contributions as a leader and catalyst for the development of community-based philanthrophy in her city, across Canada, and around the world. Active in her community, she has been a Governor of Carleton University, President of the Ottawa Estate Planning Council and of the Ottawa School of Art, and board member of United Way, Impact Hub Ottawa, and numerous other professional associations and voluntary sector boards. Having received many honours and awards for her work, she is now enjoying the next very active phase of her life. In addition to serving on the board of the Shorefast, the Telus Ottawa Community Board, and the Match International Women’s Fund, she is on the Advisory Board of PAL Ottawa and recently helped develop Refugee 613 and Compassionate Ottawa.
Barbara McInnes
Director, CM
Barbara McInnes retired as President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Ottawa in 2014. She was with the Foundation since its inception in 1987, overseeing its growth to what is now one the largest and most highly regarded of Canada’s 190+ community foundations. Barbara was awarded the Order of Canada in 2008 for her contributions as a leader and catalyst for the development of community-based philanthrophy in her city, across Canada, and around the world. Active in her community, she has been a Governor of Carleton University, President of the Ottawa Estate Planning Council and of the Ottawa School of Art, and board member of United Way, Impact Hub Ottawa, and numerous other professional associations and voluntary sector boards. Having received many honours and awards for her work, she is now enjoying the next very active phase of her life. In addition to serving on the board of the Shorefast, the Telus Ottawa Community Board, and the Match International Women’s Fund, she is on the Advisory Board of PAL Ottawa and recently helped develop Refugee 613 and Compassionate Ottawa.
Josh Quinton
Director
Josh Quinton has been a leader in the financial industry for the last 10 years, managing the US east coast business at Bloomberg L.P. from New York City. He holds a Master’s degree in International Economics from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Josh is an award-winning global business manager, building analytics to bring transparency to the financial markets and advising some of the largest money managers in the world, including multinational corporations, pension funds, hedge funds, central banks, and heads of government in the United States and Canada.
In addition to working with several other charities in Newfoundland and New York, Mr. Quinton serves on the finance committee of the Grenfell Association of America in New York, which is committed to providing health care, education, and social services to the coastal communities of northern Newfoundland and Labrador. He has been a strong mentor and advocate for Memorial’s Faculty of Business, regularly advising and connecting students with industry leaders. In 2011, he negotiated the donation and set-up of a state-of-the-art White Trading Lab at Memorial University. Josh was the recipient of Memorial’s Alumni Horizon Award in 2012, and was appointed to the Innovation Council of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2017. Josh grew up in a small family business in Newfoundland and is passionate about supporting local entrepreneurship as well as promoting self-sustainability and innovation in the province.
Josh Quinton
Director
Josh Quinton has been a leader in the financial industry for the last 10 years, managing the US east coast business at Bloomberg L.P. from New York City. He holds a Master’s degree in International Economics from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Josh is an award-winning global business manager, building analytics to bring transparency to the financial markets and advising some of the largest money managers in the world, including multinational corporations, pension funds, hedge funds, central banks, and heads of government in the United States and Canada.
In addition to working with several other charities in Newfoundland and New York, Mr. Quinton serves on the finance committee of the Grenfell Association of America in New York, which is committed to providing health care, education, and social services to the coastal communities of northern Newfoundland and Labrador. He has been a strong mentor and advocate for Memorial’s Faculty of Business, regularly advising and connecting students with industry leaders. In 2011, he negotiated the donation and set-up of a state-of-the-art White Trading Lab at Memorial University. Josh was the recipient of Memorial’s Alumni Horizon Award in 2012, and was appointed to the Innovation Council of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2017. Josh grew up in a small family business in Newfoundland and is passionate about supporting local entrepreneurship as well as promoting self-sustainability and innovation in the province.
Robert Sirman
Director
Robert Sirman is a retired cultural executive who enjoyed a distinguished career in the Canadian cultural sector before hanging up his hat as Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts in 2014. Previously he served for 15 years as co-director of Canada’s National Ballet School where he tripled the School’s facilities and reinforced its standing as a world leader in professional dance training. Other highlights include 10 years at the Ontario Arts Council, five years in Ontario’s first Ministry of Culture, and a seven-month stint as acting-CEO of the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation in Toronto.
Bob has an MA in Sociology from the University of Toronto where he taught in 2016. He has been widely published throughout his career and volunteers on several not-for-profit charitable boards. In 2002 Bob served as librettist for James Kudelka’s full-length ballet, The Contract.
Robert Sirman
Director
Robert Sirman is a retired cultural executive who enjoyed a distinguished career in the Canadian cultural sector before hanging up his hat as Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts in 2014. Previously he served for 15 years as co-director of Canada’s National Ballet School where he tripled the School’s facilities and reinforced its standing as a world leader in professional dance training. Other highlights include 10 years at the Ontario Arts Council, five years in Ontario’s first Ministry of Culture, and a seven-month stint as acting-CEO of the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation in Toronto.
Bob has an MA in Sociology from the University of Toronto where he taught in 2016. He has been widely published throughout his career and volunteers on several not-for-profit charitable boards. In 2002 Bob served as librettist for James Kudelka’s full-length ballet, The Contract.
Gordon Slade
Director, Past Chair, CM, ONL
Gordon Slade, originally from Placentia Bay, has spent much of his career in public service, serving as Deputy Minister of Fisheries for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and as Vice-President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. In 1996, Gordon became an independent consultant in the fields of heritage, cultural tourism, and community development. From 2002 to 2010, he was CEO of One Ocean, an organization that encourages dialogue between the fishing and petroleum industries. Gordon is the former Chair and Managing Director of Battle Harbour Historic Trust. In 2005, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition for his work in preserving and promoting the province’s heritage. In 2020, Gordon was invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador for excellence and dedication to the province throughout his career.
Gordon Slade
Director, Past Chair, CM, ONL
Gordon Slade, originally from Placentia Bay, has spent much of his career in public service, serving as Deputy Minister of Fisheries for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and as Vice-President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. In 1996, Gordon became an independent consultant in the fields of heritage, cultural tourism, and community development. From 2002 to 2010, he was CEO of One Ocean, an organization that encourages dialogue between the fishing and petroleum industries. Gordon is the former Chair and Managing Director of Battle Harbour Historic Trust. In 2005, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition for his work in preserving and promoting the province’s heritage. In 2020, Gordon was invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador for excellence and dedication to the province throughout his career.
Judy Stein-Korte
Director
For more than three decades, Judy Stein-Korte has guided law firm leaders, lawyers and marketing teams in embracing innovative ways of building and burnishing brands. For most of her career she assumed unique roles at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms. She launched visually distinctive advertising and highly differentiated marketing campaigns, developed and implemented new approaches to assessing client satisfaction and relationship management, extended the firm’s reputation and profile in the important US client and referral market, and led a media relations practice that was then and remains a unique service in a law firm setting. Judy has been deeply involved in business strategy as a trusted adviser to many of the firm’s national, regional, office and practice leaders. She has built high performance teams that have thrived in an intensely demanding workplace. Today, she continues to serve Osler in a part-time role as media relations counsel and as the steward and point person for the firm’s many trusted relationships with leading business and legal journalists.
For the past few years, Judy has collaborated with Zita Cobb and her team in building greater awareness of the Fogo Island Inn and the mission of the Shorefast Foundation. She embraces the business and cultural imperatives that Shorefast exemplifies, as well as other causes close to her heart, particularly in health care.
Judy is a proud Maritimer and has lived in the world of hospitality throughout her life and in her travels. She grew up in her father’s restaurant which for decades was the best place to dine in the Maritimes and received a commerce degree in hospitality management.
Judy Stein-Korte
Director
For more than three decades, Judy Stein-Korte has guided law firm leaders, lawyers and marketing teams in embracing innovative ways of building and burnishing brands. For most of her career she assumed unique roles at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms. She launched visually distinctive advertising and highly differentiated marketing campaigns, developed and implemented new approaches to assessing client satisfaction and relationship management, extended the firm’s reputation and profile in the important US client and referral market, and led a media relations practice that was then and remains a unique service in a law firm setting. Judy has been deeply involved in business strategy as a trusted adviser to many of the firm’s national, regional, office and practice leaders. She has built high performance teams that have thrived in an intensely demanding workplace. Today, she continues to serve Osler in a part-time role as media relations counsel and as the steward and point person for the firm’s many trusted relationships with leading business and legal journalists.
For the past few years, Judy has collaborated with Zita Cobb and her team in building greater awareness of the Fogo Island Inn and the mission of the Shorefast Foundation. She embraces the business and cultural imperatives that Shorefast exemplifies, as well as other causes close to her heart, particularly in health care.
Judy is a proud Maritimer and has lived in the world of hospitality throughout her life and in her travels. She grew up in her father’s restaurant which for decades was the best place to dine in the Maritimes and received a commerce degree in hospitality management.
