Cameron Montgomery, Chair
Dr. Cameron Montgomery (Ph.D., Educational Psychology) is a passionate multilingual educator who, for more than 20 years, has trained future teachers in Canada. He has expertise in the areas of stress, coping and burnout in French-language minority settings, and he has worked with teachers, students, teaching support staff, parents, guardians, governments and the media. He has also worked at Centre Jules-Léger, where he assisted students with special needs, and he has first-hand experience with promising practices and challenges in Ontario’s French- and English-language school systems. Dr. Montgomery believes strongly in the importance of assessment and will provide a valuable perspective as chair of EQAO’s board of directors.
Pierre Riopel, Vice Chair
Pierre Riopel held a number of positions during his career in education, including teacher, department head, acting vice-principal and principal. Mr. Riopel was most recently superintendent of education for the Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario and president of Collège Boréal. Mr. Riopel has also been involved in teacher training as an assistant professor in the French-language education program at Laurentian University. Mr. Riopel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Ottawa, and he completed the Master of Education program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
Gail Anderson
Gail Anderson worked at the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association from 1989 until her retirement as executive director in 2017. Her community involvement includes being a founding member of Classroom Connections Working Foundation and the Ontario Education Services Corporation. Ms. Anderson holds a Master of Education degree and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto.
Michael Bowe
Michael Bowe is currently the supervisor of diversity and outreach at the York Region Children’s Aid Society, having previously been a family service worker for the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. Mr. Bowe’s community involvement has included being co-chair of the Black Business and Professional Association’s Young Professional section. He was also a member of the York Region District School Board’s (YRDSB), most recently Director of Education Selection Subcommittee, and is a member of the YRDSB Equity Inclusivity Advisory Committee to the Director of Education. Mr. Bowe is a member of the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies’ Child Welfare Anti-Oppression Roundtable. He holds a Master of Social Work degree from York University.
Emily Brown
Emily Brown found a passion for teaching and learning while volunteering with young people. She is a full-time professor in the Pilon School of Business at Sheridan College, where she teaches math in both the diploma and degree programs. She also acts as an advisor in the teacher education program at Niagara University. Emily previously worked as part of the College Student Achievement Project, a 10-year research and development project that offered her insights into math education across Ontario. She has also taught math and science in Calgary. Emily holds a Bachelor of Education degree and a Master of Education degree with a specific focus on math for teaching from the University of Calgary.
Serge Demers
Serge Demers has held several positions during his career in education, including those of teacher in Ontario and Alberta as well as professor and director at Laurentian University’s École des sciences de l’éducation. Dr. Demers has held a variety of positions at Laurentian University, including those of interim Vice-President, Academic and Provost; Registrar; and Secretary of Senate. Dr. Demers holds a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Education and Ph.D. from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
Kyle Wilson
Dr. Kyle Wilson is the Director of Information Systems and Chief Privacy Officer at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, and he resides in Halton Hills. Previously, Dr. Wilson managed the Research and IT Infrastructure departments at Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (K–12). He has provided in-person and online instruction for over 10 years at Mohawk College, Lambton College and the University of Guelph. His education includes an honours B.Sc. degree and a Ph.D. degree from McMaster University and a M.Sc. degree from Western University. Dr. Wilson’s community involvement includes the German International School in Toronto, Burlington Tennis Club, Alpine Ski Club in Collingwood and YMCA.
Laurie McNelles, Chief Operating Officer
Before becoming EQAO’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) in January 2020, Laurie McNelles had been the Director of Data and Reporting at EQAO since 2017, providing leadership in research, psychometrics, data management and analysis, and IT. Before coming to EQAO, Laurie was a Senior Evaluation Consultant at the Treasury Board Secretariat, where she supported ministries in performance measurement and monitoring. From 2010 through 2015, Laurie was engaged in the transformation of the Early Years program at the Ministry of Education, providing leadership in the evaluation of full-day kindergarten.
Laurie is an innovative leader in research and evaluation initiatives in government, including geo-informatics, modernization of provincial data-collection activities, and evidence-based decision making and performance measurement in the Ontario Public Service. Laurie holds a doctoral degree in clinical developmental psychology from York University.