I am a native Montrealer who moved to Toronto for many years before settling in Ottawa for work. I have
a wonderful wife, Elinore, who works as a coordinator for a charity matching special needs children with
friends.

I work as a civil litigator and have taught part-time as a law professor at University of Ottawa. I am the
proud father of two children, a ten-month old boy, Aaron, and a seven-year old girl, Lily, who has been a
JOA student since Kindergarten and is presently in Grade 2.

On my off time I love to cook and bake for my family. I am also an avid year-round cycle commuter.

I am supportive of keeping our school’s curriculum focused squarely on strong academics, with an
emphasis on French and STEM. I believe traditional forms of instruction and values are still worthwhile
and can be married successfully with more modern pedagogy.
As a new board member, I know I have a lot to learn about how JOA is governed. But I will do everything
in my power to support the values that have made JOA such a fine school for our girls.

Rishika Aggarwal currently works as a Consultant with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Toronto. She advises clients in the consumer and non-profit sectors on strategic planning, organizational design, and cost structure reviews. Prior to joining BCG, Rishika worked for Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets, specifically within Mergers and Acquisitions. 

Rishika holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Ivey Business School at Western University where she studied medical sciences before pursuing business. She is also a proud alumnus of Joan of Arc Academy where she studied for five years and served as Head Girl in her final year.

Outside of work, Rishika has previous volunteer experience with the St. Michael’s Hospital Young Leaders Board, where she supported community fundraising initiatives. She is also a Mentor at Pathways to Education, providing academic and career support to students. 

In her free time, Rishika enjoys dance, fitness, movies, and spending time with loved ones.

Andrew Bailes is the owner of Hertford Advisors, providing fractional CFO and bookkeeping services to a
number of companies in the Ottawa area. He is originally from the UK, but has lived in Canada since
2007. He was CFO for GoFor, the fastest growing company in Ottawa in 2020. He has extensive
experience in IT, Telecoms and other sectors, managing not only Finance, but also Legal, HR and
Operational functions. Andrew has degrees from Cambridge University, Queens, Cornell and is a
qualified CPA. He has been a Joan of Arc parent for five years.

Patricia Chafe is an internal member of the Joan of Arc Academy board of directors, serving as chair of the strategic planning committee. Her daughter has attended the academy since junior kindergarten and is a member of the Class of 2024. Patricia brings more than 20 years of management experience and leadership to the board. She is director of winter sport at Own the Podium and leads a Canadian winter sport technical guidance and leadership team. Patricia holds a PhD in mathematics and worked previously as a university mathematics professor.

I am Gadson Githae and am in my second academic year as a parent at Joan of Arc Academy. I hold an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch Business School in Capetown, South Africa, and a Bachelor of Science from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Technology in Kenya. I have recently completed a Construction Management Certificate program at Algonquin College I am served in various roles requiring expertise in financial management, strategic planning, and project management. My most recent role was project management of a 38 apartments construction project in Kenya. Through the course of my work life, I have been in leadership, management, and in support owned a business venture.

 

Ms. Labrosse has more than 10 years of logistical expertise in national and international events. Her experience has included managing large budgets, leading hundreds of volunteers and building strong relationships with local businesses and suppliers, all to provide the best possible experience for participants.

She is currently Specialist, Sport Events with the Canadian Olympic Committee managing multiple virtual preparation events for the Olympic Games. Ms. Labrosse leads accommodation logistics for Beijing 2022 and previously supported the COVID Liaison Office for Tokyo 2020. With French being her first language, she provides important French language support.

She was also selected to participate in the first cohort of the Canadian Olympic Committee's Women's Emerging Leadership Development Program.

Dancing since the age of 10, and teaching dance for the last 15 years, Ms. Labrosse is passionate about the importance of physical activity in support of mental and physical health.

Melanie is an accomplished professional with a rich history of providing strategic leadership and fostering meaningful relationships across a variety of organizations. With extensive experience in senior-level advisory roles, coupled with over 25 years experience mainly in communications-related work, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Board of Directors.

Melanie's bilingual skills have enabled her to lead diverse teams and manage complex situations with grace. Her commitment to fostering a positive school culture and collaborative engagement, underpin her outlook in all facets of her life. Her career is marked by her ability to provide strategic advice, reinforced with well-researched recommendations that have had tangible outcomes. Her insights and recommendations have played a crucial role in shaping policies and initiatives across the public sector.

A unique blend of experience, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to shared Joan of Arc Academy values, Melanie feels fortunate to be part of the school community.

Terry McClelland is an internal director on the Joan of Arc Academy board of directors.
She is currently a stay-at-home mother/house manager with a background in bookkeeping. Before
making the transition into full-time motherhood, Terry worked in the finance department of a sports
supplement manufacturer for 6 years and part-time in the finance department for a sign language
interpreting company simultaneously. In 2011 she left her full-time position while on maternity leave
but continued to work her part-time position from home until the fall of 2017.

Catherine is a new parent at Joan of Arc, with a daughter in grade 4. She has worked both in the private sector as well as for both provincial and federal government. Catherine currently works in Communications for the federal government and focuses professionally on public opinion research, strategic communications and data analysis and interpretation.

Through years of experience working within the Canadian sport system, Meredith has established a comprehensive and diverse background in program development and project management with a special focus on the areas of inclusion and access, equity, and diversity.

Also, actively engaged within the Ottawa community as a group exercise instructor and Empower coach with GoodLife Fitness, Meredith takes great pride in creating a safe, caring, and empowering environment for all members.

As a recent graduate of the Sprott School of Business' Human Resources Management Program, Meredith is currently working towards her professional designation in human resources (CHRP) with a keen interest in the areas of organizational strategy, and training and development.