Board of Directors
The St. Joseph’s Hospice Board of Directors is comprised of volunteer leaders from the community. This diverse group is committed to ensuring Hospice delivers compassionate care to those we serve, while fostering the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
Vince MacDonald, Ph.D.
Vince MacDonald, Ph.D. is the Chair of the Board of Directors at St. Joseph’s Hospice of London and has served as a Board Director since 2022. A lifelong advocate for education and community, Vince is the retired Director of Education for the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board and an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education – Western University. Vince has served as teacher, principal and Supervisory Officer for the London District Catholic School Board and teaches educational leaders in the qualifications program for the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers’ Association.
Vince has been a committed supporter of Kings University College, United Way Perth-Huron and the Children's Aid Society of London and Middlesex. Vince is the recipient of the Prime Ministers’ Award for Teaching Excellence in Math, Science and Technology and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto.
“I have the deepest respect for the grace with which families are nurtured by St. Joseph’s Hospice of London,” Vince shares. “I am privileged to serve our community and support important moments in a person’s life. I have personally witnessed the compassion of hospice care with three members of my family and I will always be grateful for the excellence, dedication and inclusive embrace of St. Joseph’s Hospice of London for our loved ones.”
John Hebden
John Hebden currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board (2024) at St. Joseph’s Hospice. He is a partner at Bigger Picture Solutions (BPS), where he works with leaders—from Fortune 100 companies to privately held firms—to help them identify and achieve their strategic goals.
Before entering the consulting world, John held several senior executive roles with organizations such as Amway, Apple Computer, and Blackburn Media Group.
A lifelong Londoner, John is passionate about giving back to his community. He has served on numerous local boards, including Blackburn Media Group, Youth For Christ, London Regional Children’s Museum, Pathways Skill Development, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and JMP Solutions.
Outside of his professional and volunteer commitments, John and his wife Yvonne feel incredibly grateful to have their children and five grandchildren living close by in London—giving them the chance to spend time doing what they love most: being together as a family.
Paul Hogan
Paul Hogan is a retired business leader with a wealth of experience across both large corporations and small enterprises. Over the course of his career, he served as President of a publicly traded financial services company and owned a specialized construction business.
A dedicated volunteer and community advocate, Paul has spent many years supporting causes close to his heart—particularly in education, children’s services, and healthcare across the London area.
“It’s important to give what and where we can,” Paul says. “By giving, we grow ourselves and our communities.
Corrie Gicante
Corrie Gicante has served as a Board Director and Chair of the Care and Quality Committee since 2018. In 2012, she started volunteering at Hospice as a facilitator of the Teen-to-Teen Bereavement Program and visiting Palliative Care clients at home . She participates annually in the Hike for Hospice. Her community involvement (Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way Cabinet/Leadership Campaign, London Emerging Leaders, St. Michael’s Church, Ivey MBA Mentor Transformational Leadership) provided unique learning opportunities and ways to contribute to the well-being of others.
As a teacher and life-long learner, Corrie’s commitment to education, mentoring, spiritual, academic and professional growth of leaders/ high performance teams, she embraced the role of Principal, Superintendent and Acting Director (LDCSB) and has earned several awards. She has witnessed first-hand the caring, compassionate and loving care when her husband Carmen passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospice in 2023. She is blessed with 5 grandchildren and 2 sons/daughters-in-law in London.
Marcin Weryk
Marcin Weryk is the Chief Financial Officer at Harrison Pensa, where he leads the firm’s financial operations and oversees long-term strategic financial planning. He brings a wealth of expertise from his previous role as a Senior Manager in the assurance practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), where he worked with a broad range of public, private, and multinational clients across Southwestern Ontario.
With deep experience in financial reporting, strategic planning, and complex accounting and tax considerations, Marcin brings a unique perspective to managing financial operations and guiding strategic decisions.
Marcin joined the Finance, Property & Human Resources Committee at St. Joseph’s Hospice in January 2020 and was appointed to the Board of Directors in March of the same year
Shawn McConville
Shawn began his career in the Canadian Financial Services industry in 1987 as a Wealth Advisor and has since spent over 30 years in executive and senior leadership roles across the sector. A proud London native, he returned to his hometown with his wife Beverly and their three sons to take on the role of Managing Director and District Branch Manager at CIBC Wood Gundy for Southwestern Ontario.
A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Shawn also holds a Securities Industry Association (SIA) Diploma from the prestigious Wharton School of Finance, further strengthening his expertise in financial leadership.
Outside of work, Shawn is an avid skier, cyclist, and lover of the outdoors—but above all, he’s passionate about family. He’s also deeply committed to giving back to the community, having served on the boards of St. Joseph’s Hospice of London, Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre, and King’s University College, among others.
Lynne Cram
Born and raised in London, Lynne Cram returned to her hometown full-time in 1999 after spending eight years living in the Caribbean. A graduate of the University of Guelph, Lynne built a successful career in hotel management before shifting her focus to community service and volunteer leadership.
Lynne has a long and impressive history of community involvement, having served on the boards of Goodwill Industries(15 years), King’s University College (13 years), Big Sisters, and The Grand Theatre. She also served for six years as a public member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Currently, Lynne is an active fundraiser for Joan’s Place, a vital initiative providing shelter and support for homeless mothers and their children.
In recognition of her outstanding commitment to the community, Lynne was honoured with the Woman of Excellence Award in 2017.
Family is at the heart of Lynne’s life. She treasures time with her three children and four grandchildren and loves sharing her favorite pastimes with them—including skiing, hiking, and exploring new places together.
Marc Lacoursière
Marc Lacoursière is the President and Owner of The Achievement Centre (TAC), a national organization that has been helping businesses thrive through strategic planning, growth initiatives, leadership development, employee engagement, and coaching for over 40 years. Marc joined TAC in 2008 and has since applied his expertise in business leadership to help organizations reach their full potential.
Before his work at TAC, Marc held leadership roles in a variety of small, medium, and global companies. He graduated with an Executive MBA from the Richard Ivey Business School, where he was honored as an Ivey Scholar.
Marc has a deep commitment to community service and has served on numerous not-for-profit boards focused on business policy, newcomer immigration, and supporting people with permanent disabilities.
Marc lives in London with his wife Jennifer, who is also active in TAC. They are proud parents of two grown children. Outside of his professional commitments, Marc enjoys spending time sailing with family and friends.
Cassandra DeMelo
Cassandra DeMelo is a criminal defence lawyer with over a decade of experience in the field. She is the founder of DeMelo Heathcote, a firm dedicated to providing compassionate, judgment-free legal representation for those charged with criminal offences. In addition to her legal practice, Cassandra is pursuing a PhD at Western Law, focusing on drug reform. She is also the co-author of "Law and Mental Health in Canada: Cases and Materials" and serves as a visiting lecturer at Western Law, where she teaches a course exploring the intersection of mental health and the law.
Cassandra is deeply involved in the legal community and currently serves as President of the London Criminal Lawyers' Association and is on the executive of several other legal organizations.
Cassandra joined the Board of Directors at St. Joseph’s Hospice in 2023, but her connection to the Hospice runs much deeper. In 2017, she witnessed firsthand the dignity and compassionate care provided to her grandmother during her stay at the Hospice. Inspired by this experience, Cassandra became a Committee Member for the Handbags for Hospice event the following year and has been actively involved ever since. She is excited to now have the opportunity to give back even more through her role on the Board and hopes to continue making meaningful contributions to the Hospice’s important work.
Outside of her professional life, Cassandra enjoys spending time with her large family, including her husband and daughter. An avid traveller and former competitive dancer, she also loves sharing a good meal with friends.
Sarah Martens
Sarah Martens has been practicing in the area of professional regulation since her Call to the Bar in 2013. She regularly assists physicians in responding to complaints and investigations conducted by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Additionally, Sarah supports physicians through quality assurance reviews and represents them at the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board.
With extensive experience in navigating the complexities of professional regulation, Sarah is committed to providing knowledgeable and strategic counsel to medical professionals in Ontario.