Leadership Team

Born and raised in the Hamilton-Burlington area, I have been familiar with the SPCA since I was a child. My professional life has been devoted to human health innovation, but my personal passion has always been animal welfare. Now that I am semi-retired, I find great fulfillment in supporting our SPCA, as it allows more people to adopt and care for an animal companion, regardless of their personal means. Animals and people both deserve to experience care and unconditional love, and we appreciate that when an animal is part of our family. Our community needs a strong, compassionate and effective HBSPCA!

Stephanie is a lifelong animal lover and proud bird enthusiast—her first pet was a duck! She joined our board out of deep concern for the welfare of animals, especially after seeing the surge in pet adoptions and subsequent abandonments during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a background in community engagement and philanthropy, Stephanie brings both heart and strategy to her role, helping to strengthen the connection between people and the pets who depend on them.

Ryan Woodcroft is the Director of Business Development and Financial Analysis at McMaster University, where he helps develop and implement strategies that support the continued growth of the University. His previous experience includes serving as Manager of Investments at Alectra Energy Solutions and roles in the audit and deal advisory practices at KPMG. Ryan earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University and holds CPA and CBV designations. Born in Burlington, Ryan has lived in Hamilton since 2018 with his wife and their french bulldog. A proud McMaster graduate and active community member, Ryan joined the HBSPCA Board to support animal welfare and give back to his community.

John Gerrard is the President and CEO of the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA - one of only three Humane Canada–Accredited animal welfare organizations in the country.

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John doesn't fit the mould of a typical charity CEO - and that's exactly the point. With a background spanning retail, agency, sales, warehouse and manufacturing, and nonprofit leadership, he runs the HBSPCA like a business: with bold strategy, relentless innovation, and a healthy impatience for the way things have always been done. In a sector he describes as "too stale and too traditional," John is the disruptor in the room - and he's entirely comfortable there.

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Under his leadership, the HBSPCA became the first animal welfare organization in North America to use Shopify as an adoption platform - reducing average shelter stays from three months to under 7 days. That's not a typo.

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He is now leading the most ambitious project in the organization's 137-year history: Canada's first fully integrated Pet Wellness Hub - a reimagining of animal care as accessible, affordable, and continuous from an animal's first breath to their final comfort, maintaining the relationship with the family and animal.

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Beyond Hamilton, John serves as Vice Chair of the Humane Canada Board of Directors, helping shape animal welfare policy and sector leadership at the national level.

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He lives the mission at home with his newest feline buddy, Rudi, a former community cat who is loving life, runs the house, and is totally expected to be spoiled. Animals have a lesson to teach us – if we just listened, we would be a more caring community to everyone, no matter their situation.

Emily joined the board in 2018 to expand her knowledge of the animal welfare sector and contribute previous volunteer experiences to a board setting. She works to advocate for employees and shelter animals by providing guidance informed by her on-the-ground shelter experiences. She also volunteers her time to dog walking and is part of the canine companion program. Emily works at Mohawk College and lives in Hamilton with her husband and her Jack Russell, Kirby.

Shannon McLean is a dedicated member of the Hamilton Police Service and a lifelong advocate for animal welfare. With more than 30 years of volunteer experience with the HBSPCA, Shannon has brought her deep love for animals and strong sense of community to her role.Shannon joined the Board of Directors in 2019, driven by a desire to support and strengthen the vital work the HBSPCA does in protecting and caring for animals.

Her experience in policing gives her a unique perspective on community needs, compassion, and advocacy—values that align closely with the mission of the organization.A firm believer in the powerful bond between people and animals, Shannon is committed to helping ensure that all animals in our community are treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. Through her work on the Board, she continues to support meaningful programs and initiatives that improve the lives of animals and the people who love them.

Todd Hepburn has spent more than 15 years working in animal health and animal welfare, driven by a deep passion for protecting animals and supporting the people who care for them. Today, he brings that same dedication to his role on the Hamilton Burlington SPCA Board of Directors, combining his love of animals with his expertise in strategic planning. Todd is committed to helping the HBSPCA thrive and make a lasting difference in the community.

Megan Jones is Vice President, Everyday Banking at CIBC, responsible for Product, Loyalty, and Benefits Strategy for Cards and Chequing. She is a seasoned leader in the Canadian payments industry with extensive experience and a proven track record of driving growth and innovation.Prior to joining CIBC, Megan held executive roles at TD, American Express, and Chase, where she led transformative initiatives across multiple lines of business.Megan is an animal lover and is passionate about addressing animal welfare, prompting her to join the HBSPCA in 2022.  She also sits on the Advisory Board for Women in Payments.

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She was selected as one of Canada’s 250 emerging leaders for the 2017 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, and in 2021, received the Women in Payments Innovation Award.Outside of work, Megan enjoys traveling with her husband and daughter, and spending time with her beloved dog, Bentley.

Dino Di Marcantonio is a seasoned senior leader and currently serves as the Supply Chain Director of Logistics & DC Operations at Wild Fork Canada. With more than three decades of experience in retail, he has built deep expertise across supply chain planning, replenishment, operations, technology, and strategic leadership.

Guided by the belief that everyone has a purpose, Dino is dedicated to giving back to his community. He has served on four not-for-profit boards and committees, contributing his time and insights to organizations that make a meaningful impact.

Dino holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Western Ontario and maintains his CCS and RSCC designations. He remains committed to sharing his knowledge, experience, and passion to help strengthen the community around him.

Diane is a Burlington resident with a meaningful connection to animals and a strong commitment to community impact. A strategic philanthropic leader with more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector - following an earlier chapter in the entertainment industry - she brings both creativity and a collaborative approach to her leadership. Diane offers valuable prior board experience and deep expertise in governance, donor engagement, and revenue strategy. She is thrilled to support the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA and its important work to protect and care for animals.

James is a senior leader in municipal government with over 30 years of public service. Born and raised in the Hamilton-Burlington area he has been a lifelong supporter of animal well-being. Together with his wife and two daughters they have welcomed rescued dogs and cats into their family and have enjoyed participating in HBSPCA led events and fundraisers. With experience in real estate, land and business development, he is looking forward to contributing to the HBSPCA’s exciting future with the development of the state-of-the-art Animal Welfare Hub.

Maura is a seasoned HR executive and organizational strategist with more than 20 years of experience leading people, culture, and transformation across high‑growth, multi‑site, and private‑equity environments. As Founder and Principal Consultant of Inspire 360HR, Maura partners with organizations navigating rapid expansion, restructuring, and cultural evolution - helping them build resilient, scalable, and people‑centric workplaces.

Maura’s career includes senior leadership roles with VetStrategy, Sephora, and L Brands, where she led large‑scale organizational design, talent strategy, and HR modernization initiatives. At VetStrategy, she scaled HR operations to support a 400% increase in clinic locations and played a pivotal role in two private‑equity transactions, guiding integration and post‑acquisition transformation. At Sephora, she oversaw a nearly 200% workforce expansion while contributing to revenue growth of more than 190%. Earlier in her career at L Brands, she supported 10,000 employees through major reorganizations and periods of significant revenue acceleration.

A recognized expert in change leadership, Maura has designed and implemented strategies that have scaled organizations from 1,500 to more than 9,000 employees. Her work includes building governance frameworks, modernizing HR systems, launching leadership academies, and developing award‑winning talent programs recognized by Forbes and Glassdoor. She has also led corporate social responsibility initiatives, mental health programs, and diversity‑focused scholarship efforts, achieving engagement scores as high as 98%.

Maura holds the CHRE designation from the Human Resources Professionals Association and has completed advanced executive education at the Rotman School of Management and the Schulich School of Business. She serves on the Board of Halton Children’s Aid and SPCA Hamilton/Burlington and is an active contributor to the HRPA’s CHRE Review Committee.

Through Inspire 360HR, Maura brings a hands‑on, strategic, and people‑first approach to helping organizations align their talent, culture, and structure with their long‑term vision - empowering teams to thrive through growth, complexity, and change.

The greatest joy of Scott’s life is provided by his family. He and his wife Carolyn are proud parents of 3 (mostly) grown children. They have a dog, Bogey, and a cat, Clarence. Bogey and Clarence are integral and much-loved members of their troop. Scott is semi-retired after a successful career in the education sector where he held a variety of positions. He is a lifelong lover of animals who still fondly remembers an elementary school trip to the SPCA, on Parkdale. Scott enjoys golfing in the warm weather and skiing in the winter. He loves unwinding while listening to all kinds of music. Cooking new recipes and growing tomatoes in their “Covid” garden is a current passion of Carolyn and Scott’s. Scott is thrilled to be a member of our Board of Directors.