Leadership & Governance

Katrina Samson

Principal

Dr. Samson is a vibrant, passionate educator who is committed to creating a student experience that emphasizes intellectual rigour, community support, breadth of engagement and wellbeing. Prior to being appointed the 13th Principal of Havergal College, she held the role of Head of School at Appleby College from 2010-21 and previously held positions as Assistant Head of School, Student Life and Director of the Upper School while teaching English literature throughout her tenure. Her energy and enthusiasm underpin her strong professional credentials. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Her post-graduate studies include a Master’s degree from the University of Ottawa and a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Toronto.

A strong advocate for the advancement of women and children, Dr. Samson has carried her passion to her volunteer role as a board member for Armagh (a transitional housing program for women and their children who have been victims of intimate partner violence) and has served as a co-teacher of the “Women in Leadership” module for the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools Leadership Diploma. She extended her engagement in educational leadership as an elected member of the Queen’s University Council and currently serves as a member of the Conference of Independent Schools Athletics Association committee. Since arriving at Havergal in 2021, she has been focused on culture building, strategic planning, wellbeing, innovation, experiential learning, faculty support and team performance, all to provide an exceptional student experience.

Sam Chan

Chief Information Officer

Mr. Chan is an experienced leader with over 25 years helping organizations transform the way they work through developing and implementing strategies that blend innovation, talent development, technology and operational sustainability. Prior to joining Havergal College as Chief Information Officer, Mr. Chan was the Director of Information Technology for Canada’s largest medical school, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. In addition to over 10 years of experience in Education, Mr. Chan brings perspectives from the variety of different industry sectors he has worked in including Finance, Marketing, Logistics, Legal and Healthcare.

Nicole Cozier

Executive Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

Ms. Cozier joined Havergal College in January 2023 as its inaugural Executive Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB). She brings over 25 years of experience as a trainer/facilitator, program designer, strategist, leader and social change agent in the direct service, philanthropic and advocacy sectors. Her work focuses on deepening equity, inclusion and belonging and is steeped in fostering connection, competency and collaboration that allows people to engage authentically and bring their best thinking and innovation in the pursuit of the organization’s core mission and strategic goals.

While most of Ms. Cozier’s career has been focused on women’s and girls’ issues and gender equity, in the words of Audre Lorde: “there is no such thing as a single-issue struggle, because we do not live single-issue lives.” As a result, the principles of intersectionality, cultural competency and humility and the lenses of diversity, equity and inclusion have always been central to her work and approach to life. For the seven years prior to joining Havergal, Ms. Cozier has led the EDIB work of the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States.  

Ms. Cozier holds a MBA in Health Administration and a MS in Health Care Financial Management from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and an Honours BSc in Human Biology, Sociology & Women’s Studies from University of Toronto.  She is a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, a certified administrator for the Intercultural Development Continuum (IDI) and a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE). She is also a published poet, and uses poetry as a vehicle to create human connection and enrich EDIB learning.

Seonaid Davis

Vice Principal Teaching & Learning

Dr. Davis is the Vice Principal, Teaching and Learning JK-12. She has extensive experience in curriculum design and implementation and oversees the academic program and learning support at Havergal College. Dr. Davis has a BSc Hon. from Queen’s, a BEd from the University of Ottawa, a MEd from OISE/UT and a EdD from the University of Western Ontario.

Shirley Garcia

Executive Director, Human Resources

Ms. Garcia’s HR leadership is marked by her dedication to nurturing individual potential and her commitment to fostering an inclusive and engaging organizational culture. As the former National Director of People & Culture at a prominent Canadian nonprofit, she led successful changes in hiring and retention practices and implemented effective talent development strategies, resulting in remarkable workforce growth and expanded services across Canada.

With credentials as a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) and Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP), Ms. Garcia holds a strong foundation in HR. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and a degree of Master in Management from the Asian Institute of Management. Her commitment to continuous growth is underscored by her certifications in Strategic HR Leadership from Cornell University and Adult Training and Development from York University’s Schulich Executive Education Centre.

Ms. Garcia’s diverse HR leadership experience positions her as integral in attracting and developing top-tier faculty and staff, ensuring Havergal’s pursuit of excellence is continually elevated.

Maggie Houston-White

Executive Director, Strategic Enrolment Management

Ms. Houston-White joined Havergal as Director of Admission in 2001 and has had numerous role changes that have reflected Havergal’s commitment to a recruitment and admission process that speaks to its core values of courage, compassion, inquiry and integrity, as well as ensuring that each family’s journey creates a sense of belonging and community that is central to the Havergal experience. During her time at the school, Ms. Houston-White has been engaged in athletics, clubs and the performing arts, as well as being a part of many Alums/Old Girls reunions and events. Making connections with families, students and Alums/Old Girls and being the parent of a 2021 Grad have been the highlights of her time at Havergal. 

Krista Koekkoek

Vice Principal, Student Life & Wellbeing

With 20 years experience in independent schools, Ms. Koekkoek is delighted to be joining the Havergal community as the Vice Principal, Student Life & Wellbeing. She is a passionate advocate for student support and wellbeing and has worked extensively in schools to align vision, research and programming as it pertains to the healthy development of students in a community that prioritizes connection and belonging. Ms. Koekkoek has her Master of Education from OISE/UT and her Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts (French/History) from Queen’s University. She is a registered psychotherapist.

Antonietta Mirabelli

Executive Director, Communications & Marketing

Ms. Mirabelli joined Havergal College in August 2015 and brings over 20 years experience in brand promotion, marketing and communications and reputation management. Prior to Havergal, she was Habitat for Humanity Canada’s Vice President, Marketing and Communications, where she was responsible for strengthening the charity’s profile in Canada and abroad.   

A strong strategist and brand ambassador, Ms. Mirabelli spent over 10 years at the Art Gallery of Ontario, working in publicity and media relations before becoming the Deputy Director, Communications where she played a leading role in the communication of the Frank Gehry expansion project and supported her fundraising colleagues in the Transformation AGO campaign. Ms. Mirabelli is a longstanding member of the Canadian Public Relations Society and holds a BA, Creative Writing from York University and an Editing Certificate from George Brown College. 

Garth Nichols

Vice Principal Experiential Education & Innovation

Mr. Nichols is Vice Principal, Experiential Education and Innovation at Havergal College, where he focuses on planning and executing strategic initiatives and learning experiences that deliver on Havergal’s Strategic Direction and Future-Readiness for faculty and students alike. He coaches Basketball and Softball, teaches Digital Wisdom to students and supports faculty through mentoring and designing professional development. Mr. Nichols believes that Havergal has the resources to build upon the incredible foundation of Teaching and Learning, Wellbeing and Co-curriculars to offer students the opportunity to engage, practice and grow skills that will help thrive in the future. Outside of Havergal, he is actively involved in CIS Ontario professional learning as co-founder and lead facilitator of Cohort 21 and with CAIS as co-founder and lead facilitator of Project 2051 and the CAIS Strategic Change Accelerator. Mr. Nichols has his Masters in Education from OISE/UT, his AltMBA from Akimbo, and currently serves as Treasurer of the Independent Schools Experiential Educators Network (ISEEN). 

Lindsay Norberg

Deputy Principal

Ms. Norberg is Havergal’s Deputy Principal. She was previously the Head of Senior School, Dean of Senior School Students and Head of Social Sciences. In her time at Havergal, she has been an integration teacher with the Forum for Change and held the Havergal Chair for Teaching and Learning. She has enjoyed leading a variety of global excursions including trips to Iceland and South Africa, coaching sports teams and supporting community partnerships. Ms. Norberg holds a Master’s of Education and Bachelor of Education from OISE/University of Toronto and a Bachelors of Arts in Geography from Queen’s University.

Laura Sims

Chief Operations Officer

Ms. Sims is an executive leader in strategy, financial management, operations and administration. Her career spans 25 years in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining Havergal in October 2020, she held senior leadership roles in the not-for-profit space as the Chief Financial and Administration Officer at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, and AVP of Finance and Administration at Canadian Tire Jumpstart. She earned an Honours Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from Laurentian University, and holds a CPA designation (Chartered Professional Accountant – Ontario).

Kate White

Head of the Junior School

Since joining the Havergal community in 2014, Ms. White quickly emerged as a rising star at the Junior School, nurturing and developing our girls to be the very best they can be. A passionate advocate for the health and wellbeing of all of Havergal’s youngest learners, she has been an educator for close to 20 years and brings a very thoughtful and inspiring approach to her work. As Head of the Junior School, Ms. White successfully manages the operation of the Junior School while working with her colleagues to ensure the excellence of Havergal’s academic and co-curricular programs.

Jill Fraser 1987

Chair

Ms. Fraser is managing partner at Aird & Berlis LLP, a leading Canadian law firm. She is a member of the firm’s Financial Services Group, with a focus on corporate and commercial lending transactions. Ms. Fraser is a member of the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association and has been recognized as a leading lawyer in Asset-Based Lending, Banking and Finance Law, Equipment Finance/Leasing and Structured Finance Law by The Best Lawyers in Canada and The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. She obtained her Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University and her law degree from the University of Toronto. Ms. Fraser is a Havergal graduate (Class of 1987) and her daughter is also a recent graduate of the school.

Obaid Afzal

Mr. Afzal is a senior finance leader with over 15 years of experience assisting public and privately held technology, entertainment and automotive companies. He currently leads the Financial Reporting team at Mevotech and oversees compliance and risk management. Mr. Afzal works closely with business leaders across the organization to execute the company’s long-term financial strategy, change management and financial operations leadership. He serves on several steering committees which provide management oversight over key functions such as audit and data governance. In his prior roles, he has played a significant leadership role in integrating the financial, corporate planning and reporting functions of several acquired companies. Mr. Afzal actively mentors CPA candidates to provide guidance on their competency development.

Mr. Afzal has an MBA from Western’s Ivey School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor. He obtained his CPA designation from The Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. He is married with two children and his daughter goes to the Junior School.

Rob Brown

Mr. Brown joins the Board as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Havergal College Foundation. He has 25 years of experience in the financial services industry with a focus on fixed-income origination. Mr. Brown manages a team of professionals delivering debt funding solutions to corporate and government clients in his role as Co-Head of Debt Capital Markets, Canada for RBC Capital Markets. He is a CFA charterholder and has a Bachelor of Commerce (honours) degree from Queen’s University. Mr. Brown lives in North Toronto with his wife and three children, including a daughter in the Junior School.

Barbara Callander 1979

Ms. Callander is formerly Vice President, Operations Excellence, Six Sigma and Learning at Maple Leaf Foods (MLF) where she was a member of the MLF Senior Management Forum, focusing on Continuous Improvement and Process Optimization. With 30+ years of experience in Operations, Labour Relations, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Program Management and Six Sigma–Lean Manufacturing, she has been a leader in developing young women in non-traditional roles. As a advocate for diversity and inclusion, she is past Chair of the GM of Canada Woman’s Advisory Council, a member of the MLF Diversity and Inclusion Council and executive champion of the MLF Leadership Track program, where she actively mentored young women in the workforce. In her current role as Principal, B2CS, Ms. Callander continues to focus on building diverse manufacturing talent through leadership development. Ms. Callander is a Havergal Old Girl (Class of 1979).

Sarah Coombs 1990

Ms. Coombs is the president of SCPR Consulting and is an expert in strategic communications with particular expertise in media relations, corporate reputation management and issues management. With over 20 years of communications experience in global public relations agencies including as a Partner at NATIONAL Public Relations, Ms. Coombs is an award-winning professional working with prominent companies from around the globe. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science and History from Huron College and her Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. She is a Havergal Old Girl (Class of 1990).

Sarah Crossley 1990

Ms. Crossley is a partner at Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP. For over 20 years, she has been advising employers in all aspects of labour and employment law. Ms. Crossley provides practical and strategic advice to her clients and regularly acts as counsel in wrongful dismissal litigation, human rights proceedings and grievance arbitrations. She is also regularly retained to conduct workplace investigations. Ms. Crossley is a sought after expert, having written and delivered many presentations, on a variety of topics related to workplace law. Ms. Crossley is recognized as a leading practitioner in her field by Chambers Canada and The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. Ms. Crossley is also a Fellow of the American College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. She is a Havergal graduate (Class of 1990) and her daughter is a student in the Junior School.

Michael Copeland

Mr. Copeland is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Woodbine Entertainment, where he steers the organization through a dynamic period of transformation and growth. His career has centred on senior executive leadership roles within the professional sports industry. He was a member of the Leadership Team at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). He was also President and CEO of the Toronto Argonauts (winning the 2017 Grey Cup Championship) and the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Mr. Copeland has a law degree from Western University and a Master of Business Administration from Western’s Ivey School of Business. His leadership has been recognized by the prestigious Caldwell Partners/Globe & Mail “Canada’s Top 40 Under 40” award and the Western Law W. Iain Scott Business Leadership Award. Mr. Copeland also currently represents the brand and business interests of Canadian Olympic and World Champion swimmer Summer McIntosh. He is married and the proud father of two daughters, both of whom attend the Senior School.

Lexi Ensor 2013

Ms. Ensor (Class of 2013) joins the Board as Chair of the Havergal Old Girls Association (HOGA) Governance Committee. Since graduating from Havergal, she completed a Bachelor of Arts with an Honors Specialization in Political Science from Western University and is currently working as Advisor, Corporate Affairs and Planning at the Ontario Cannabis Store, where she focuses on corporate strategy and business planning. Previously, she worked at a consulting firm on a variety of projects and in a range of industries, including not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and healthcare, delivering strategic planning, governance, service delivery and public affairs support.

Lauren Epstein 2003

Ms. Epstein (Class of 2003) is a lawyer, investor and consultant. She works with corporates, investors, family offices and start-ups to provide investment and business strategy advice to create and maximize opportunities in the innovation ecosystem. In addition, Ms. Epstein is a Venture Partner at Storytime Capital and a Senior Advisor at Epstein Enterprises Inc. She has worked in venture capital for almost a decade, before which she spent several years working as a litigation lawyer at a leading Toronto commercial litigation firm, after clerking at the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Ms. Epstein holds a BA in Government, cum laude, from Harvard University and completed the joint JD/MBA program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and the Rotman School of Management, graduating first in her class in the MBA program and as the gold medallist among the JD/MBA students. She met her three closest friends at Havergal and is fortunate to spend most of her time with her incredible husband, son and daughter.

Sharad Goenka

Mr. Goenka is a management executive with over 20 years of experience in operations, strategy, commercial and investment roles. Currently he is the Chief Operating Officer at Globalfaces Direct, an organization that helps non-profits across North America with fundraising and associated activities. Previously he has worked in global geographies spanning Canada, USA, Europe, SE Asia and India and across the value chain as a technology provider, a mid-market private equity investor and a business principle. Mr. Goenka has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an Engineering degree from IIT Bombay. He volunteers his time to advocate for the neurodiverse community and is on the Board of Autism Speaks Canada. He is married with two children and his daughter goes to the Junior School.

Deirdre Horgan MacLeod 1995

Ms. MacLeod is Chief Legal Counsel, a Partner and a member of the Extended Leadership Team at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. She also serves as the Secretary of the PwC Board. Ms. MacLeod provides strategic and business-focused advice to senior and executive management and works with stakeholders at a variety of management levels throughout the firm in Canada and across the Global PwC Network. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Honours (History) from Queen’s University, Human Resources Management Certificate from Humber College and her law degree from Queen’s University. Ms. MacLeod is a Havergal graduate (Class of 1995). She is the parent of a daughter who is in the Middle School and a son at Upper Canada College.

Kate Horton

Ms. Horton currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada, the national foundation for 34 RMHC program locations across Canada; funding, enabling and championing an essential social mission serving families with sick children, coast to coast to coast. Over her 20+ year career, Ms. Horton has been a passionate advocate for children, youth and families. Her experience includes working across sectors to deliver meaningful social impact in a variety of complex business environments, from global corporations to grassroots, community-based nonprofits. As a recognized nonprofit leader, Ms. Horton is known for her active commitment to collaboration, mentorship and inclusion, partnering with diverse stakeholders to define a shared vision, set bold strategy and drive meaningful results to improve the lives of Canada’s children, youth and families. Ms. Horton is a graduate of Queen’s University and Toronto Metropolitan University, with executive leadership, strategy and governance training from University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management, Harvard Business School and Kellogg Northwestern University. She is a Havergal graduate (Class of 1994) and has two daughters in the Junior and Upper Schools.

Nina Mafrici 2002

Dr. Mafrici is a Clinical Psychologist and Co-Founder of Toronto Psychology & Wellness Group (TPWG), a multidisciplinary clinic servicing the mental health needs of children, adolescents and adults across Ontario. Dr. Mafrici has longstanding clinical and research interests in the treatment and prevention of eating disorders and body image issues among youth. Over the past fifteen years she has presented and published on topics involving risk and protective factors pertaining to girls’ embodiment, the trajectory of social and emotional development and the impact of sociocultural influences on girls’ and women’s embodied experiences. Dr. Mafrici is an active and passionate advocate for access to mental health resources within the GTA and serves as a clinical consultant for several organizations, including Canada’s National Ballet School, Rosalie Hall and Abiona Centre. In 2023, her clinic launched Ontario’s first outpatient, non-hospital based Eating Disorders Program to involve comprehensive medical, dietetic and psychological care for both adolescents and adults. She is a Havergal graduate (Class of 2002) and her daughter is a student in the Junior School.

Sadik Najarali

Mr. Najarali is the Managing Partner at NVS Professional Corporation, a mid-sized accounting firm located in the GTA. For over 20 years, he has worked with business leaders and organizations to define their future, develop roadmaps and implement solutions to achieve their goals. He has worked with start-ups, small to medium-sized businesses and not-for-profit organizations nationally and internationally to realize results quickly. Through engagement and empowerment, he builds trust and a sense of belonging to a common cause. Mr. Najarali mentors CPA students, providing guidance on career paths within the profession and ensuring technical development.

Mr. Najarali has an Honours BA from the University of Toronto and his CPA, CA designation from the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. He is married and has three children, and his youngest daughter is a student at the Senior School.

Maria Novales-Flamarique

Ms. Novales-Flamarique has over 20 years of experience advising companies globally. She currently acts as a Senior Advisor to global financial services companies on transformational, digital and growth strategy, sales effectiveness, organization, talent and governance. She also serves as an Independent Board Member at Scotiabank Mexico, Tenaris S.A. and at several start-ups and funds in HRTech, InsurTech and FinTech. Ms. Novales-Flamarique was most recently a Partner at McKinsey & Company, based in Mexico City, London (UK) and Madrid (Spain), where she was a Financial Services Practice leader and headed the Women’s Initiative. She launched and led Generation Mexico, an award-winning, McKinsey-founded organization for solving youth unemployment through an innovative, educational approach. She served as Finance Chair of the Board of Trustees at the American School Foundation, Mexico’s premier independent K12 school.

Prior to her MBA, Ms. Novales-Flamarique worked as an Associate at Citigroup Global Markets in New York City and as an Equity Research Analyst at Letko Brosseau & Associates in Montreal. She holds an MBA with Distinction from London Business School, is a CFA Charterholder and has a BA with Honours from HEC Montreal. Ms. Novales-Flamarique and her family moved (back) to Canada from Mexico in 2021 and actually enjoyed their first winter! She has one daughter in the Middle School and one daughter in the Junior School. Ms. Novales-Flamarique is fluent in French, English and Spanish.

Brian Polsinello

Mr. Polsinello is a Managing Director at OMERS Private Equity where he focuses on portfolio operations and asset management for OMERS’ investments in the North American healthcare and industrial services sectors. Before joining OMERS, Mr. Polsinello was a founding member and Chief Operating Officer at a Toronto based start-up that was acquired by Canopy Growth in 2018. He has also worked as a management consultant with Bain & Company in London and Toronto advising private equity and industrial clients across a variety of commercial and operations topics. Mr. Polsinello started his career as an investment banker at UBS Investment Bank. Mr. Polsinello received an HBA from the Ivey Business School, where he was an Ivey Scholar, and an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School. He has three children and his daughter is a student in the Junior School.

Hossein Rahnama

Professor Rahnama is a Professor at the MIT Media Lab and Toronto Metropolitan University. He is also the Founder of Flybits, an AI/Data Science company. His research is focused on the design of Human-AI Systems, data governance for generative AI and human-computer interaction. 

Professor Rahnama has published more than 40 papers and holds 23 patents in computer and data science. He previously served as a council member at NSERC (National Science and Research Engineering Council of Canada) and serves on the board of directors of Home Capital Group, Canadian Science Publishing and Havergal College. He is a founding fellow at the MIT Connection Science Group and one of the Global Directors of MIT Media Lab’s City Science Group. Professor Rahnama is the recipient of Isadore Sharp Outstanding Graduate Award, and he was on MIT Technology Review Global TR35 list (2012) and Canada’s Top 40 under 40 (2017). He has two daughters in the Junior School.

Andrew Turnbull

Mr. Turnbull is Senior Vice-President, Enterprise Strategy at CIBC, where he leads the development, resourcing and realization of the bank’s global corporate strategy. He has held enterprise and business line leadership roles as the bank’s Chief Transformation Officer, head of Business Banking; head of Direct Investing; and Chief Administrative Officer, CIBC Wealth Management. Prior to joining CIBC, Mr. Turnbull was with Oliver Wyman, a management consulting firm, based in New York and Toronto. Mr. Turnbull is a diversity and inclusion champion and active volunteer as a member of the boards of Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto and Havergal College. In 2018, Andrew was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 and holds a BA Honours (Economics) from Queen’s University and is a CFA charterholder. He has three children, and his daughter is in the Upper School.

Jennifer Wong

Ms. Wong has over 18 years of experience in the Critical Infrastructure sector and has held leadership roles in Engineering, IT and Capital Projects. She is currently a management consultant in PwC’s Energy and Utilities practice, where she is helping clients with their digital transformation strategy. Prior to joining PwC, Ms. Wong was with Ontario Power Generation, where she was the Head of Digital Strategy for advanced nuclear reactors and the Enterprise Lead for cybersecurity, among other senior roles. She is also the co-author of Canada’s first national standard for nuclear cybersecurity. Ms. Wong holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario. She is the proud mother of a daughter in the Junior School.