Karen joined the board in September 2016. She has her Masters of Business Administration (MBA), with a focus on board governance and corporate social responsibility, and is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP). Karen is currently the Health, Safety and Organizational Development Manager for the Electrical Safety Authority where she enthusiastically works towards creating and sustaining a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. Over the last several years she has led the building and execution of the Leadership Development programs, and chairing the Centre of Excellence team tasked with embedding Change Management practices.

As an adoptee, she is passionate about ensuring every child and youth not only finds their “Forever Family”, but that families and adoptees have ongoing support systems. Karen’s supportive husband and two energetic children inspire her to be grateful for every day and live her life’s purpose.

Lisette is a marketing strategist with 25 years experience working with businesses ranging from small new businesses to global brands such as Kraft, IBM and Ford. She has extensive experience helping organizations develop long term customer relationships, new product launches, customer acquisition, retention and win back strategies.  For the past 5 years, she has also been teaching an online marketing course for the Canadian Marketing Association. 

Lily is currently the treasurer of the board.  She joined the board because she is a firm believer of the significant roles that families play and the impact that they have in a person’s life. She is committed to support Ontario families by her using her experience and skills to help ACO achieve its mission.

Lily Yang is a Vice-President in the consulting and deals practice in Toronto, focused on providing valuation advisory services. Lily joined PwC in 2007 and initially qualified as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) working in the audit and assurance group at PwC, and continues to work in our valuation practice where she qualified as a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV). Lily provides business and asset valuation advice in a variety of contexts that include strategic business decision support, corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, tax and estate planning, and shareholder transactions for public and private companies.

Lily received a Bachelor’s (Accounting and Financial Management) as well as a Master’s (Accounting) degree from the University of Waterloo.

Through her work and her life experiences in various countries, Lily has learned many valuable lessons and skills, which have supported her professional and personal development.  Lily will bring this skill set as part of the ACO board of directors.

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Nancy holds a Masters of Social Work and a Masters of Arts in Public Policy and Administration.  She worked in the field of child welfare in Ontario for over 35 years retiring from the position of Director of Service of the Children's Aid Society of Toronto in 2016. Throughout her career, Nancy has been dedicated to the development and oversight of child welfare services designed to ensure the best interests, protection and well being of children and youth. Nancy is passionate about the need to achieve permanency through adoption for children and youth who become permanent wards of the state and throughout her career has been involved in many initiatives designed to support this goal. 

Hilary is a registered social worker with a specialization in healthcare.  Her experience includes adolescent drug abuse prevention research, clinical therapy for eating disorders and hospital operations and strategy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies from Colgate University, a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toronto.  Hilary recognizes the social value of secure family environments and is eager to contribute to the work of the ACO.