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Our Board Of Directors

OUR PEOPLE

From our leadership to our employees, our people are the key to making a difference for Ontario.

OUR PEOPLE

From our leadership to our employees, our people are the key to making a difference for Ontario.

Jim Warren

Chair

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Jim Warren is a senior executive and entrepreneur with 25 years of progressive leadership experience in the gaming, lottery, corporate affairs, and political arena.

Currently, Jim is President and CEO of Riseley Strategies Inc., a consulting firm he founded in 2008. Riseley Strategies specializes in the fields of communications strategies, crisis management, stakeholder management, and business development.

Jim has worked for some of the world’s largest gaming companies, as well as Canada’s top decision-makers. Previously, he has served as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation (OLG), Executive Director to the Premier of Ontario, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications for the Mayor of the City of Toronto, and Director of Corporate Communications at Magna International Inc.

In 2008 Jim founded Riseley Gaming Inc., a company formed to build and operate casino-related investments. Riseley Gaming Inc. was one of four companies that partnered together to win a Provincial Request for Proposal in 2008 for a 20-year monopoly gaming license for the Province of New Brunswick.

From 2008 to 2015, Jim was a board member and co-owner of Sonco New Brunswick, which developed, constructed, financed, and operated a $95 million gaming and entertainment complex. Located in Moncton, the complex construction and operations included a casino, a 128-room hotel, and a 1,800 seat multi-purpose entertainment venue and convention facility. In 2015 the complex was successfully sold to Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.

Jim is publicly known for his work as an on-air political analyst for Bell Media properties Newstalk 1010, CTV News Toronto, and CP24. He was a national columnist for Postmedia from 2015 to 2020.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and completed the Canadian Securities Course. He completed the prestigious ICD-Rotman Directors Education program in 2023 and holds an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Jim’s passion for his work keeps him on an energetic agenda, but he greatly enjoys his personal time with his partner Elizabeth and his two children.

Joseph Bisceglia

Board Member

Joseph Bisceglia has more than 50 years of experience practicing law, both as a trial lawyer and as a specialist in civil litigation.

Currently, Mr. Bisceglia is President and Managing Director of ITCAN (Sault) Holdings Limited, which owns and operates two hotels in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Prior to this, Mr. Bisceglia spent more than 30 years as a Managing Partner at two law firms he formed — Bisceglia and Associates; and Bisceglia, Dumanski & Johnson — where his practice was primarily in civil litigation. While now semi-retired from law, Mr. Bisceglia continues to consult with clients on legal matters.  

Mr. Bisceglia is an active member of the community and has served as a member of several boards including, the Sault Ste. Marie Transit Authority, and the Association of Professional Engineers for the Province of Ontario (now Professional Engineers Ontario), where he served as the association’s first Complaints Review Officer.  Mr. Bisceglia is currently Chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation and past Chair of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie.

Karen Gordon

Board Member

Karen is the principal of Gordon Strategy and has over two decades’ experience advising leading law firms and their corporate clients, employers, emergency services organizations, as well as sports leagues and clubs.

She provides deep, strategically targeted communications expertise in practice areas, encompassing corporate litigation, employment and labour relations, and crisis and incident management. Widely recognized for her communications knowledge, she appears regularly on radio and television as an expert commentator.

Karen serves as president of Ken Gordon Holdings, an Ottawa-based family office focusing on real estate development and investment. She is also the chair of the board at Trafalgar Castle School and is a long-time volunteer with the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

Jim Warren

Chair

LinkedIn Linkedln

Jim Warren is a senior executive and entrepreneur with 25 years of progressive leadership experience in the gaming, lottery, corporate affairs, and political arena.

Currently, Jim is President and CEO of Riseley Strategies Inc., a consulting firm he founded in 2008. Riseley Strategies specializes in the fields of communications strategies, crisis management, stakeholder management, and business development.

Jim has worked for some of the world’s largest gaming companies, as well as Canada’s top decision-makers. Previously, he has served as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation (OLG), Executive Director to the Premier of Ontario, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications for the Mayor of the City of Toronto, and Director of Corporate Communications at Magna International Inc.

In 2008 Jim founded Riseley Gaming Inc., a company formed to build and operate casino-related investments. Riseley Gaming Inc. was one of four companies that partnered together to win a Provincial Request for Proposal in 2008 for a 20-year monopoly gaming license for the Province of New Brunswick.

From 2008 to 2015, Jim was a board member and co-owner of Sonco New Brunswick, which developed, constructed, financed, and operated a $95 million gaming and entertainment complex. Located in Moncton, the complex construction and operations included a casino, a 128-room hotel, and a 1,800 seat multi-purpose entertainment venue and convention facility. In 2015 the complex was successfully sold to Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.

Jim is publicly known for his work as an on-air political analyst for Bell Media properties Newstalk 1010, CTV News Toronto, and CP24. He was a national columnist for Postmedia from 2015 to 2020.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and completed the Canadian Securities Course. He completed the prestigious ICD-Rotman Directors Education program in 2023 and holds an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Jim’s passion for his work keeps him on an energetic agenda, but he greatly enjoys his personal time with his partner Elizabeth and his two children.

Joseph Bisceglia

Board Member

Joseph Bisceglia has more than 50 years of experience practicing law, both as a trial lawyer and as a specialist in civil litigation.

Currently, Mr. Bisceglia is President and Managing Director of ITCAN (Sault) Holdings Limited, which owns and operates two hotels in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Prior to this, Mr. Bisceglia spent more than 30 years as a Managing Partner at two law firms he formed — Bisceglia and Associates; and Bisceglia, Dumanski & Johnson — where his practice was primarily in civil litigation. While now semi-retired from law, Mr. Bisceglia continues to consult with clients on legal matters.  

Mr. Bisceglia is an active member of the community and has served as a member of several boards including, the Sault Ste. Marie Transit Authority, and the Association of Professional Engineers for the Province of Ontario (now Professional Engineers Ontario), where he served as the association’s first Complaints Review Officer.  Mr. Bisceglia is currently Chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation and past Chair of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie.

Karen Gordon

Board Member

Karen is the principal of Gordon Strategy and has over two decades’ experience advising leading law firms and their corporate clients, employers, emergency services organizations, as well as sports leagues and clubs.

She provides deep, strategically targeted communications expertise in practice areas, encompassing corporate litigation, employment and labour relations, and crisis and incident management. Widely recognized for her communications knowledge, she appears regularly on radio and television as an expert commentator.

Karen serves as president of Ken Gordon Holdings, an Ottawa-based family office focusing on real estate development and investment. She is also the chair of the board at Trafalgar Castle School and is a long-time volunteer with the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

Vikram Khurana

Board Member

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Vikram (Vik) Khurana is Chair of Toronto Business Development Centre, a leading business incubator, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Canada Post Community Foundation and Board of Directors of Ontario Capital Growth Corporation. He is founder of a number of multinational businesses including Prudential Consulting, Inc. and Leading System Consultants, and has advised multinational organizations in Information Technology (IT) and IT enabled services, and business process outsourcing. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Mr. Khurana worked at TD Bank.

Mr. Khurana served on the Board of Directors of Export Development Canada, FinDev Canada, the Dean’s Council of Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Advisory Board of the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Khurana is an active participant in a variety of fundraising activities for development-related causes and was an honorary member of the Board of Governors at Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation in Toronto.

Jean Major

Board Member

Jean Major has worked with the Ontario Public Service for 35 years, 25 of those as CEO of two Crown regulatory agencies.

Jean was first introduced to the gaming industry in 1990 as the manager responsible for regulating charitable gaming in Ontario.  In 1993, the Gaming Control Commission was formed which was responsible for regulating both the casino and charitable gaming industries and Jean was the first Registrar appointed by the Lieutenant Governor by Order-in-Council under this legislation.

In 1994, Jean joined the Ontario Racing Commission as CEO for the regulation of horse racing in Ontario.  He was appointed CEO and Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) in 2004 which was responsible for the regulation of the gaming and alcohol industries.  In 2016, the mandate and functions of the Ontario Racing Commission were folded into the AGCO and in 2018 the AGCO was also given responsibility to regulate private cannabis retail operators. He retired from the AGCO in September 2020. In November 2020, Jean was appointed CEO of the Bermuda Gaming Commission until November 2022.  In February 2023, he incorporated JL Major Consulting Inc. which provides consultancy services on regulatory strategy and policy.

In 2011, Jean received his Queen’s Commission as Honorary Chief Superintendent of the Ontario Provincial Police.  He received his designation as a Business Corporate Coach in 2019.

Tom Marinelli

Board Member

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Tom is a familiar face to many at OLG; over his 23-year career with the corporation he held a number of positions, including President and Chief Executive Officer (twice), Chief Transformation Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Technology Officer. Before OLG, Tom held management and technical positions in the steel, military, and pharmaceutical industries.

After retiring from OLG in 2015, Tom started his own company, Habtom Consulting Inc., and as President, leverages his deep experience in gaming to consult and advise companies and associations across the industry.

Tom is a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Systems Design Engineering Program and maintains his professional engineer (P.Eng.) license. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and playing golf with his wife Susan, as well as spending time with his two children and two grandchildren.

Vikram Khurana

Board Member

LinkedIn Linkedln

Vikram (Vik) Khurana is Chair of Toronto Business Development Centre, a leading business incubator, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Canada Post Community Foundation and Board of Directors of Ontario Capital Growth Corporation. He is founder of a number of multinational businesses including Prudential Consulting, Inc. and Leading System Consultants, and has advised multinational organizations in Information Technology (IT) and IT enabled services, and business process outsourcing. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Mr. Khurana worked at TD Bank.

Mr. Khurana served on the Board of Directors of Export Development Canada, FinDev Canada, the Dean’s Council of Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Advisory Board of the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Khurana is an active participant in a variety of fundraising activities for development-related causes and was an honorary member of the Board of Governors at Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation in Toronto.

Jean Major

Board Member

Jean Major has worked with the Ontario Public Service for 35 years, 25 of those as CEO of two Crown regulatory agencies.

Jean was first introduced to the gaming industry in 1990 as the manager responsible for regulating charitable gaming in Ontario.  In 1993, the Gaming Control Commission was formed which was responsible for regulating both the casino and charitable gaming industries and Jean was the first Registrar appointed by the Lieutenant Governor by Order-in-Council under this legislation.

In 1994, Jean joined the Ontario Racing Commission as CEO for the regulation of horse racing in Ontario.  He was appointed CEO and Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) in 2004 which was responsible for the regulation of the gaming and alcohol industries.  In 2016, the mandate and functions of the Ontario Racing Commission were folded into the AGCO and in 2018 the AGCO was also given responsibility to regulate private cannabis retail operators. He retired from the AGCO in September 2020. In November 2020, Jean was appointed CEO of the Bermuda Gaming Commission until November 2022.  In February 2023, he incorporated JL Major Consulting Inc. which provides consultancy services on regulatory strategy and policy.

In 2011, Jean received his Queen’s Commission as Honorary Chief Superintendent of the Ontario Provincial Police.  He received his designation as a Business Corporate Coach in 2019.

Tom Marinelli

Board Member

LinkedIn Linkedln

Tom is a familiar face to many at OLG; over his 23-year career with the corporation he held a number of positions, including President and Chief Executive Officer (twice), Chief Transformation Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Technology Officer. Before OLG, Tom held management and technical positions in the steel, military, and pharmaceutical industries.

After retiring from OLG in 2015, Tom started his own company, Habtom Consulting Inc., and as President, leverages his deep experience in gaming to consult and advise companies and associations across the industry.

Tom is a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Systems Design Engineering Program and maintains his professional engineer (P.Eng.) license. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and playing golf with his wife Susan, as well as spending time with his two children and two grandchildren.

Robert Poirier

Board Member

As the CEO of a boutique advisory firm, Robert guides clients through complex strategies, including collaborative infrastructure development and digital transformation. He provides governance to the public sector as chair of the Metrolinx Real Estate Committee responsible for transit-oriented communities and chair of the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority, responsible for Ontario’s transition to a circular economy.

He previously served as chair of the Toronto Port Authority, a federal agency consisting of the Ports of Toronto and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, where he was responsible for critical and concurrent infrastructure development, community and environmental sustainability projects that helped make Billy Bishop one of the most successful urban airports in North America.

As a Senior Advisor to members of the federal Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce from 1992 to 1999, Robert was involved in regulation and corporate governance practices of institutional investors and crown institutions.

Robert holds an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Robert was appointed to the Order of Ontario in recognition of his continued commitment to creating an environmentally sustainable and community-oriented province. The Order of Ontario is the province’s highest civilian honour, reserved for Ontarians whose contributions have shaped – and continue to shape – the province’s history and place in Canada.

Away from work, Robert enjoys time at the family cottage in Ontario’s Muskoka region near Algonquin Provincial Park.

Jennifer Roedding

Board Member

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Jennifer is an accomplished leader, consultant and coach who has built a career helping businesses transform and grow. For more than 25 years she has helped organizations succeed – first rising to the executive table at a national firm and now, as the president of her own company – Roedding Associates Management Consultants Inc. Jennifer also serves as the Executive in Residence, Sustainability Integration at the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance and School of the Environment, Enterprise and Development.

Jennifer’s well-rounded and wide-reaching experience includes her position as Board Chair and (former) Finance Committee Chair for an international biotech and contract research organization, Alimentiv, where she also sits as a member of the Executive Committee. She also sits on the Council for the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, as well as its Governance Committee.

Jennifer holds a Master of Accounting (Management, Business Administration) from the University of Waterloo – she is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Professional Accountant, and holds the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Designation (ICD.D) from Rotman School of Management (Toronto). In addition, she holds a Global ESG Competent Boards Designation (GCB.D) and a Climate Competent Boards Designation (CCB.D).

Jennifer enjoys spending her down time outdoors or at the cottage with her partner, two children and two dogs.

Steve Williams

Board Member

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Steve Williams is a former Chief of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, the largest First Nations community in Canada. He continues his success in business as the current president of Grand River Enterprises International, the largest First Nations’ owned tobacco company in the world. Mr. Williams is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario First Nations Limited Partnership. Mr. Williams has contributed more than 30 years of volunteer service to national and regional First Nations boards and commissions, including local charitable and non-profit organizations in his home community, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Robert Poirier

Board Member

As the CEO of a boutique advisory firm, Robert guides clients through complex strategies, including collaborative infrastructure development and digital transformation. He provides governance to the public sector as chair of the Metrolinx Real Estate Committee responsible for transit-oriented communities and chair of the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority, responsible for Ontario’s transition to a circular economy.

He previously served as chair of the Toronto Port Authority, a federal agency consisting of the Ports of Toronto and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, where he was responsible for critical and concurrent infrastructure development, community and environmental sustainability projects that helped make Billy Bishop one of the most successful urban airports in North America.

As a Senior Advisor to members of the federal Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce from 1992 to 1999, Robert was involved in regulation and corporate governance practices of institutional investors and crown institutions.

Robert holds an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Robert was appointed to the Order of Ontario in recognition of his continued commitment to creating an environmentally sustainable and community-oriented province. The Order of Ontario is the province’s highest civilian honour, reserved for Ontarians whose contributions have shaped – and continue to shape – the province’s history and place in Canada.

Away from work, Robert enjoys time at the family cottage in Ontario’s Muskoka region near Algonquin Provincial Park.

Jennifer Roedding

Board Member

LinkedIn Linkedln

Jennifer is an accomplished leader, consultant and coach who has built a career helping businesses transform and grow. For more than 25 years she has helped organizations succeed – first rising to the executive table at a national firm and now, as the president of her own company – Roedding Associates Management Consultants Inc. Jennifer also serves as the Executive in Residence, Sustainability Integration at the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance and School of the Environment, Enterprise and Development.

Jennifer’s well-rounded and wide-reaching experience includes her position as Board Chair and (former) Finance Committee Chair for an international biotech and contract research organization, Alimentiv, where she also sits as a member of the Executive Committee. She also sits on the Council for the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, as well as its Governance Committee.

Jennifer holds a Master of Accounting (Management, Business Administration) from the University of Waterloo – she is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Professional Accountant, and holds the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Designation (ICD.D) from Rotman School of Management (Toronto). In addition, she holds a Global ESG Competent Boards Designation (GCB.D) and a Climate Competent Boards Designation (CCB.D).

Jennifer enjoys spending her down time outdoors or at the cottage with her partner, two children and two dogs.

Steve Williams

Board Member

LinkedIn Linkedln

Steve Williams is a former Chief of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, the largest First Nations community in Canada. He continues his success in business as the current president of Grand River Enterprises International, the largest First Nations’ owned tobacco company in the world. Mr. Williams is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario First Nations Limited Partnership. Mr. Williams has contributed more than 30 years of volunteer service to national and regional First Nations boards and commissions, including local charitable and non-profit organizations in his home community, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Our Reporting Structure

OLG is an Ontario government agency that delivers lottery and gaming entertainment in a socially responsible manner.

We are classified as an Operational Enterprise, and as such we have a single shareholder, the Government of Ontario. Through our Board of Directors, we report to the Minister of Finance. Members of the Board of Directors and its Chair are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Neither the Chair nor members of the Board are full-time, nor are they members of Management.

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Board Mandate

OLG’s Board of Directors is appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor, through Orders-in-Council, on the recommendation of the Premier and the Minister of Finance. Board members bring with them experience from a wide range of businesses and industries, in both the public and private sectors, as well as a wide breadth of expertise in areas like Governance, Business Transformation, Public Policy, First Nations Relations, Cybersecurity, Corporate Social Responsibility, Responsible Gambling and more. The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that OLG’s management is helping OLG achieve optimal performance and increasing shareholder value. The Board of Directors achieves this by:
  • Establishing goals, objectives and strategies for OLG that are consistent with our mandate and applicable government policies;
  • Approving the annual business plan, operating budget, and capital budgets;
  • Defining and assessing business risks;
  • Reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls in managing risks;
  • Appraising the performance of the President and Chief Executive Officer;
  • Overseeing a code of conduct to ensure the highest standards in dealing with customers, suppliers, and staff, with due regard to ethical values and the interests of the community at large in all corporate endeavours;
  • Tracking the overall performance of the Corporation;
  • Remaining informed and provide input, as required, concerning communications with the Government of Ontario and stakeholders;
  • Ensuring compliance with key policies, laws and regulations.