Diana Brouwer becomes Chair of the Board
Southlake Health is proud to welcome two new members to its Board of Directors, Chris Emanuel and Kailey Vokes, following Southlake’s Annual General Meeting on June 18. Both bring a wealth of professional experience that will ensure the Board continues its strong track record of effective governance. In addition, Diana Brouwer has been appointed Chair of the Board of Directors, succeeding Marilee Harris, who served as chair since June 2023. Their leadership will help Southlake transform care in northern York Region and southern Simcoe County through its Strategy for the Decade Ahead.
“I’m honoured to step into the role of Chair and welcome Chris and Kailey to the Board of Directors at such an exciting time for Southlake Health,” said Diana Brouwer, Board Chair of Southlake Health. “Their depth of experience will help guide Southlake as it reimagines what a hospital can be by building a Distributed Health Network that delivers leading edge care, close to home.”
Chris Emanuel is the President and CEO for the Central York Chamber of Commerce, connecting over 700 businesses across the region to grow the local economy. His strategic thinking has positioned him as a dynamic leader in both the private sector and in public service, including three terms as a Councillor in Newmarket.
“It’s an honour to join the Board of Directors at Southlake Health – an organization that plays such a vital role in the well-being and economic vitality of our communities,” said Chris Emanuel. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute and look forward to supporting Southlake’s mission to deliver leading edge care, close to home.”
Kailey Vokes has held senior leadership roles in the Ontario government, serving as a trusted advisor to cabinet ministers and the Premier. She delivers expert insights on infrastructure policy, government decision-making, and strategic stakeholder engagement – key skills that will help deliver on Southlake’s Distributed Health Network vision. Kailey is currently a Vice President at StrategyCorp.
“I am honoured to join the Board of Directors at Southlake Health and to support an organization that is leading with innovation and compassion,” said Kailey Vokes. “I look forward to contributing to the important work of advancing exceptional health care for the growing communities Southlake serves.”
Southlake Health extends its sincere thanks to Marilee Harris, outgoing Chair of Southlake’s Board of Directors, for her leadership, which has helped shape Southlake’s bold vision for the future. During her tenure as Chair, she played a pivotal role in the development of Southlake’s Strategy for the Decade Ahead and supported the successful recruitment of Paul Woods, MD, Southlake Health’s President and CEO.
Southlake Health would also like to thank outgoing Board members for their incredible partnership and unwavering commitment to the communities Southlake serves.
Click here for a full list of Southlake’s Board of Directors.
New Board Member Bios
Chris Emanuel
Chris Emanuel is the President and CEO for the Central York Chamber of Commerce representing businesses across Newmarket and East Gwillimbury. His friendly, open demeanour draws people in, but it’s his sharp, strategic thinking that keeps them there. It’s all about connecting the dots in the most dynamic way possible. And that’s not just good for business it’s great for the spirit of Central York.
Over the course of his career, Chris has held many leadership roles, including three terms as a Councillor in Newmarket. He also served as Chair of the Central York Fire Services and sat on the Board of Directors for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. In the private sector, he was Director of Operations at Treefrog Inc. and prior to that, Director of Government Affairs at Bill Gosling Outsourcing.
Kailey Vokes
Kailey Vokes is a Vice President at StrategyCorp and delivers expert insights on infrastructure policy, government decision-making, and strategic stakeholder engagement, with over 15 years of experience across the public and private sectors. Most recently, she served as Vice President, Development Programs at Infrastructure Ontario, where she led the establishment and implementation of governance frameworks and program-wide strategies for major land development projects.
Kailey has also held senior leadership roles in the Ontario government, including Chief of Staff to the President of the Treasury Board, Director of Policy Major Projects in the Premier’s Office, Director of Policy to the Minister of Transportation, and Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Finance. In these roles, she was a trusted advisor to cabinet ministers and the Premier, managed high-performing teams, and advanced complex files through political turbulence and the machinery of government. Most recently as Chief at Treasury Board, Kailey was a driving force behind both the 2024 Budget and the 2024 Fall Economic Statement and played a key leadership role in major public sector labour relations files. Among other accomplishments, she led the development of significant reforms to Ontario’s heavily regulated auto insurance system and led the policy development for legislation to build transportation and broadband infrastructure faster.
Before joining the Ontario government, Kailey worked in public affairs for a major insurance provider and held political roles in the Government of Canada. She also has deep roots in the Ontario PC Party and with the federal Conservatives, having managed local campaigns and helped organize province-wide conventions.
Kailey holds a master’s degree in political management from Carleton University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Political Science and a Bilingual Certificate in Public Administration and Public Policy from Glendon College at York University.
