Who We Are
Board of Directors
CDL thanks its volunteer board members for the time and expertise they provide in overseeing the governance and strategic direction of our organization. No Board members, their family members, or their affiliated businesses, receive any financial gain related to their work with us.
Christa Keating-McKay
President
Bio
Gordon Chu
Treasurer
Bio
Tim Rye
Director
Bio
Tim lives in Burlington with his wife Heather and children Daniel and Lauren. As an active member of the community he can often be found coaching hockey, running around to various activities or actively working on school council projects and other community programs. In his professional life Tim is the Senior Vice President of Teranet where he oversees the Financial Solutions Division. He brings to the board many years of corporate, strategic and channel development experience along with a strong passion for equality and driving change through positive engagement.
Diane Velikonja
Director
Bio
Dr. Velikonja completed her graduate studies in the Biological Psychology Program at the University of Waterloo and obtained clinical training as well as conducted research with both pediatric and adult populations. Afterwards, she completed her residency and post-doctoral training at Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals. She then became licensed for independent practice specializing in Neuropsychology, Rehabilitation Psychology and Clinical Psychology across the lifespan. She has worked since 1997 in a clinical and research capacity at the Acquired Brain Injury Program at Hamilton Health Sciences, where she continues to work with residents and research students. She actively publishes and is a reviewer for a number of scientific journals.
Dr. Velikonja is also on faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at the DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University and holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Psychology at McMaster University.
Dr. Velikonja was the Chief of Psychology Practice at Hamilton Health Sciences between 2004 and 2011. She is Past-President of the Hospital Psychology Association of Ontario, Director on the Board of the Hamilton Brain Injury Association, and the President-Elect of the Ontario Psychological Association. She also sits on the advisory board for the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and is actively involved in the development of guidelines for concussion management and concussion clinics, as well as with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Velikonja has also completed the post-doctoral training program awarding a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology.
Julie Entwistle
Director
Julie Entwistle is an occupational therapist and certified business, executive, and leadership coach. She works with other healthcare and professional business owners to help them build their business confidence and competence.
Prior to this, Julie owned a business in the private rehabilitation and insurance sector where she provided clinical services and mentored and trained other therapists. She sold her practice in 2019.
Julie’s Board experience includes that she was on the Board and is a past President of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. She also has a Chartered Director designation from Degroote.
Julie has degrees in Science from The University of Waterloo and in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University, and a MBA from Wilfrid Laurier where she studied business strategy. Julie is currently pursuing her doctorate in Health and Rehabilitation Leadership at Queens University.
Julie lives in Hamilton with her family and pets and enjoys being active and spending time outdoors.
Bio
Julie Entwistle is an occupational therapist and certified business, executive, and leadership coach. She works with other healthcare and professional business owners to help them build their business confidence and competence.
Prior to this, Julie owned a business in the private rehabilitation and insurance sector where she provided clinical services and mentored and trained other therapists. She sold her practice in 2019.
Julie’s Board experience includes that she was on the Board and is a past President of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. She also has a Chartered Director designation from Degroote.
Julie has degrees in Science from The University of Waterloo and in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University, and a MBA from Wilfrid Laurier where she studied business strategy. Julie is currently pursuing her doctorate in Health and Rehabilitation Leadership at Queens University.
Julie lives in Hamilton with her family and pets and enjoys being active and spending time outdoors.
Pooja Patel
Director
Bio
Nicole Fernandes
Director
Bio
Join Us Today!
We are a registered charitable organization that does not receive any government funding to support our initiatives. Your gift will help us to ensure we can continue providing our programs and services to support those who are impacted by Learning Disabilities in Halton and Hamilton.
