• Video: Welcome to the IWK
• Our Core Values, Mission and Vision
• Executive Leadership Team
• Board of Directors
• Business
• Children's Health
• Women's and Newborn Health
• Mental Health and Addictions
• Primary Health
• Accreditation
• Patient and Family Centred Care
• IWK Strategic Plan
• Tracking our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Report to our Community
• History
• French Language Services
• We are Smoke-free
• IWK Foundation
• IWK Centennial 2009
• General Terms and Conditions for Purchase Orders
• Diversity and Inclusion

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What is the IWK Executive Leadership Team (ELT)?
The IWK Executive Leadership Team (ELT) is led by the IWK's President and CEO. The IWK ELT also includes six Vice Presidents, two Executive Directors and the President and CEO of the IWK Health Centre Foundation.

The ELT is charged with establishing the overall strategic direction for the Health Centre and managing the operation of the IWK in accordance with established policies and the Health Centre's business plan. The ELT, with guidance and input from the Health Centre's Board of Directors, is the chief decision-making group at the IWK and makes strategic decisions in all areas of the Health Centre's operations including care, teaching and research.

ELT Member Bios

Anne McGuire, CHE

Anne McGuire is the President and CEO of the IWK Health Centre. She is the former Chief Executive Officer at the Annapolis Valley District Health Authority. Prior to that, she held senior leadership positions with Capital Health and with the Nova Scotia Hospital. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing from McGill University, a Master of Health Service Administration from Dalhousie University, and has been a Certified Health Executive, since 1993, with the Canadian College of Health Service Executives. Anne has taken a leadership role in health care associations provincially and nationally throughout her career. She has served as Chair of the Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations (NSAHO), and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Healthcare Association, the Canadian College of Health Services Executives (CCHSE), and the Brigadoon Children's Camp Society. Anne is also a surveyor with the Canadian Council of Health Services Accreditation.

Steve Ashton

Steve Ashton is the Vice President of People and Organization Development at the IWK Health Centre. Prior to joining the IWK in September 2008, he spent seven years in human resources leadership roles with Bell Aliant, and twelve years as a partner and executive search consultant with one of Canada’s leading HR consulting firms. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Hon.) in Psychology and a Masters of Business Administration from Dalhousie University. He also completed Harvard University’s program on Leading Change and Organizational Renewal in 2007. As a volunteer and supporter of his profession, Steve has held leadership roles on regional and national HR associations, taught graduate-level courses at Dalhousie University, and is a frequent public speaker on HR issues. He is also an active community volunteer, working with Discovery Centre, Shad Valley and other organizations focused on youth, innovation, science and technology. Steve and his wife Jennifer are proud parents of daughter, Maya (who arrived at the IWK two weeks before he did).

Anne Cogdon

Anne Cogdon is Executive Director of Primary Health at the IWK Health Centre. Prior to joining the IWK in August 2005, Anne was Director, Community Health at Capital Health from 1998-2005 and a Co-investigator with Heart Health Nova Scotia, a provincial partner of the Canadian Heart Health Initiative, from 1992-1998. Anne co-led Capital Health’s Tobacco Reduction Strategy and was instrumental in the development of the Community Health and Wellness Centre in North Preston. Anne holds a B.Sc. (Health Education) from Dalhousie University and a nursing diploma from Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston, Ontario. Anne’s primary health care work at both community and organizational levels has provided her with extensive experience in multi-sectoral partnerships, population health, health promotion, community development and community-based research.

Mary-Ann Hiltz

Mary-Ann Hiltz is Vice-President, Strategy & Organizational Performance at the IWK Health Centre, where she has held various management positions since 1988. Throughout the course of Mary-Ann's career, she has developed extensive Quality Improvement, Patient Safety and Risk Management knowledge which, in combination with her Health Information Management background, enable her to lead the Strategy and Organizational Performance portfolio which provides Centre-wide resources in support of improving the quality of care and service at the IWK Health Centre. Mary-Ann's leadership role in System Performance Measurement, Quality Improvement, Risk Management, Patient Safety and Decision Support extends both provincially as well as nationally, contributing to a number of provincial and national committees, research projects and task forces. Mary-Ann holds a Masters Degree in Health Administration from Dalhousie University and is a certified Health Information Management Professional.

Allan Horsburgh

Allan Horsburgh is Vice President of Operations and Support Services and Chief Financial Officer at the IWK Health Centre. Allan joined the IWK in 2008, prior to serving as Chief Financial Officer for the Nova Scotia Departments of Health and Health Promotion and Protection. He has also served as acting Deputy Minister of Health and acting IWK President and CEO to cover extended absences. Allan enjoys the educational side of his role, being both a professor within the Dalhousie Master of Health Services Administration program, and a national speaker on healthcare business and sustainability. In addition to his work experience, Allan is an award winning artist.  Allan holds a Chartered Accountant designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a Major in Accounting from Saint Mary’s University. Allan is happily married to a wonderful and supportive wife. Being a proud father of a teenage daughter and special son who has hugely benefited from our health system, he enjoys the fun time spent with his family every day.

Dr. John Charles Hyndman (Joe)

Dr. Joe Hyndman joined the former IWK Children’s Hospital in 1974; in 1988, he was appointed Head of the Department of Orthopaedics at the IWK Health Centre. He is also a Professor of Surgery at Dalhousie University and is currently serving as Vice President, Medicine for the IWK.     Dr. Hyndman graduated from Dalhousie University Medical School in 1969 and obtained his Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada) in 1973. He began his Orthopaedic Residency Training at the Vancouver General Hospital. After receiving the Detweiller Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, he completed a one year Paediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship at the Alfred I. DuPont Institute in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Hyndman received certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1976 and was recertified in 1996.   Dr. Hyndman is a charter member of the Paediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and has been invited as a Visiting Professor to every Canadian province but one.

Kathryn London-Penny

Kathryn London-Penny, APR, is Executive Director, Public Relations for the IWK. Ms. London-Penny is a 1987 graduate cum laude of the Mount Saint Vincent University Public Relations Degree Program and received her Accredited Designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society in 1994. She has been awarded the highest honours by the CPRS (National Award of Excellence) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC - The Gold Quill) for projects under her direction. She brings to the IWK Health Centre more than 15 years experience in the private sector, where she worked in management roles for a number of prominent Atlantic Canadian organizations. She was previously Senior Account Director with Shandwick, an international Public Relations firm, Public Affairs Manager with Aliant Telecom, the leading Telecommunications provider for the Atlantic Region, and prior to that was a Senior Consultant with Corporate Communications Limited of Halifax. She has served on the Boards of the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Public Relations Society. And, she enjoys teaching part-time, most recently as a lecturer at Henson College, as well as mentoring students considering public relations as a career.

Dr. Patrick McGrath

Dr. Patrick McGrath is Vice President of Integrated Research and Innovation - IWK Health Centre and Capital District Health Authority. He has a distinguished record as a researcher on innovative ways of delivering health care to families and on pain in children. His research has been recognized by election to the Royal Society and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada. He founded the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Dalhousie University where he is Professor of Psychology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry.   Patrick holds numerous grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and other agencies. He served on the Nova Scotia Health Research Board and serves on the Board of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Jocelyn Vine

Jocelyn Vine is Vice President of Patient Care at the IWK Health Centre. Jocelyn joined the Health Centre in 1998 as Health Services Manager, and became Director of Family and Neonatal Health at the IWK in 2004. During this time Jocelyn completed a Masters of Health Studies and the Certified Health Executive program with the Canadian College of Health Services Executives. Jocelyn has experience in the health system in tertiary care and management, as well as in health care in the private sector. In addition to her Masters of Health Studies, she holds a Bachelor of Nursing from the Dalhousie School of Nursing. The mother of two teenage boys, Jocelyn also enjoys the learning and challenges that this important role brings.

Jennifer Gillivan

Jennifer Gillivan is President and CEO of the IWK Health Centre Foundation, the primary fundraising and outreach partner of the IWK Health Centre.   Jennifer has an extensive background in philanthropy, partnerships, strategy, marketing and leadership. Jennifer brings passion and enthusiasm for the IWK to lead this charitable organization at a critical time of growth and change. Throughout her 30 year career, Jennifer has had the opportunity to build a strong affiliation with the IWK Foundation; she worked for the Foundation 15 years ago, and she has volunteered in various capacities over the years including as a past member of the IWK Foundation Board of Trustees.   Born and educated in Dublin, Ireland Jennifer immigrated to Canada in 1982. Prior to joining the IWK Foundation, Jennifer worked with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for 14 years most recently as Director of Partnerships, Communications, Marketing and Brand for the CBC across Canada. Jennifer is an active community volunteer; she is a past board member for NSCC Foundation Board, past board member of Symphony Nova Scotia, and past Chair of Atlantic Film Festival Board, to name a few.  Jennifer has received two CBC English Television Awards for her pioneer work with the partnership practice, and has also received The Halifax Ambassador Award and a Progress Halifax Women of Excellence Award. Jennifer is an active member of the Rotman School of Business “Judy Project” Advisory Board and enjoys motivational speaking. Jennifer currently lives in Halifax with her husband Joe and their two daughters. For more information on the Foundation go to: www.iwkfoundation.org.