Who We Are

Board Of Directors

The RCA Board of Directors’ role is to govern RCA by providing leadership and direction in the pursuit of its vision and mission. The Board is elected by the membership of RCA and is accountable to the membership for competent stewardship that will ensure the long-term viability of RCA. The Board of Directors’ first duty is to the legal entity CARA. In meeting this duty the Board must ensure that all legal requirements under the relevant Acts are met and that CARA is protected from harmful situations and circumstances in the interests of current and future stakeholders. For more information on the Board’s role, please see the RCA Governance Policy.

Meeting Minutes

• Carol Purcer

  President

  Carol Purcer is a volunteer who is passionate about growing the sport of rowing.  Her involvement spans twenty five years of volunteering as an RCA Umpire and as a member of a number of provincial and national committees. She has served as a leader on the RCA Board as Provincial Director as well as Vice President – Events for ROWONTARIO and as President of Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association (CSSRA). She was Chair of the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta for seven years and has also chaired the CSSRA Championship Regatta. 

  Carol has an educational background in sport, a Masters of Education in Organizational Studies and is a retired secondary school principal.  She has had opportunities over many years that have  allowed her to develop skills in communication, organization, planning and preparation, social skills, conflict resolution, as well as problem solving to continuously encourage change for improvement, all skills that will serve her well in the role of President of Rowing Canada Aviron.

  Carol’s vision as President is to use these skills to deeply understand the varied needs across the country and develop a plan to support our members to grow clubs and high school programs and in turn, grow our sport.  Her view is that one size doesn’t fit all and finding differentiated pathways to success will help participants at many different levels.

  

  Carol Purcer

  Carol Purcer

  President

  president@rowingcanada.org

• Thomas Hawker

  Director - Treasurer

  Tom Hawker started rowing for recreation with his daughters  in 2002, and has gone on to compete in local and international regattas.

  Tom completed his economics degree at the University of Victoria, obtained his CA designation in 1983, and has been a partner with Field & Company since 1990 and works with family-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.

  In addition to his volunteer work with RCA, Tom gives his time to a number of community organizations and has been a long-serving member of the Camosun College Foundation Board of Directors.

  

  Thomas Hawker

  Thomas Hawker

  Director - Treasurer

• Dana Thorne - Sunaxwumaat

  Director

  Dana Thorne – Sunaxwumaat was born and raised on Vancouver Island and is a member of the Cowichan Tribes. She is currently completing her MBA through Royal Roads University, with a specialization in management consulting. Dana provides expertise in developing strategies for increasing customer value by analyzing gaps in service delivery, organizational risks, sustainability, labour skills, team dynamics, capacity, and systemic barriers. Growing up as an Indigenous female, Dana understands the barriers related to systemic racism, gender inequities, and cultural insensitivities. She approaches these topics with compassion and respectful engagement. 

  Dana volunteers on multiple boards with a focus on sports or economic development. She has a husband and two daughters active in the sports community through basketball, soccer, and horseback riding. She believes that sports offer an avenue for growth and development as they help teach discipline, hard work, focus, perseverance, working independently and working as part of a team.

  

  Dana Thorne - Sunaxwumaat

  Dana Thorne - Sunaxwumaat

  Director

• Lindsay Bergen

  Athlete Director

  Lindsay Bergen was elected Athlete Director by the National Team athletes in November 2021.

  After being an alternate for Beijing 2008, and winning gold at the 2010 World Championships, Lindsay made her Olympic debut at London 2012 where she and lightweight double sculls partner Patricia Obee won the B final to finish seventh overall. Lindsay and Patricia went on to win silver at the World Championships in 2014 and Olympic silver in a memorable race at Rio in 2016.

  Lindsay graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelors in Kinesiology and has since gone on to complete a Certificate of Business from Queens University. After competing for Canada for 20 years, Lindsay joined the Canadian Sports Institute Pacific team in 2016, where she worked in Athlete and Coach Services. Following the birth of her second daughter in 2021, Lindsay returned to the institute late 2022 to hold a new position as Human Resources Administrative Lead. It was always her ambition to continue her daily life in sport and feels especially fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside all the dedicated individuals who helped her succeed as an athlete.

• Fred Enns

  Director

  Fred is a retired corporate lawyer with over 30 years of experience in advising on corporate and governance issues as well as a Fellow and Accredited Director of the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada. He now devotes his time to helping not-for-profit corporations and community clubs address their governance and corporate issues. He is an active member of the Knowlton Rowing Club and is currently the corporate secretary and a board member, as well as an active member on the board of several other similar organizations.

  

  Fred Enns

  Fred Enns

  Director

• Paul C.L. Fritz-Németh

  Director

  Paul has over 20 years of running his own company providing professional services to the Federal Government. Including projects with Shared Services Canada, Canadian Border Services Agency, Canada Revenue Agency, Department of Justice, Industry Canada, Natural Resources Canada, as well as Department of National Defence. He has previous experience working with National Sport Organizations, including his role as a Board member at Water Polo Canada, in which time he served time as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair of the Nominations Committee, and as a member of the Risk Management Committee.

  

  Paul C.L. Fritz-Németh

  Paul C.L. Fritz-Németh

  Director

• Derek Ventnor

  Provincial Director

  Derek currently acts as Chief Operating Officer for Skate Ontario. He sat as a volunteer Board member with Row Ontario for 10 years prior to becoming Executive Director 2006 – 2017. He is an RCA and World Rowing Umpire and a long-time serving member of both the RCA Umpires Committee, where he served as Committee Chair from 2001-2006, and as a member of the RCA Safety and Events Committee from 2007 – 2017. Derek has also served in multiple roles at his home rowing club Tillsonburg Rowing Club in Ontario including President, Treasurer, Captain, and Coach over a span of almost 20 years.

  

  Derek Ventnor

  Derek Ventnor

  Provincial Director

We want to hear from you! 

• Terry Dillon

  Chief Executive Officer

  Terry is responsible for the operations of RCA and the fulfilment of RCA’s operational and strategic priorities. As CEO, he has responsibility for administration, planning, financial management, communications, partner relations, and all programs of RCA. He works closely with the Board of Directors in fulfilling their governance role, as well as standing committees, operating committees, staff and key volunteers to achieve Rowing Canada Aviron’s goals.  

  tdillon@rowingcanada.org

• Jennifer Fitzpatrick

  Director of Partnerships and Sport Development

  Jennifer is responsible for developing and executing the strategic planning and implementation of domestic operations. This includes providing direction for the implementation of Coach, Umpire, Member Services and Engagement initiatives. Jennifer also oversees the Marketing and Communications strategy for the promotion of rowing in Canada. Jennifer works with government, corporate and community partners, member clubs and associations to increase inclusiveness, develop awareness of and increase participation in rowing across Canada.  

  jfitzpatrick@rowingcanada.org

• Adam Parfitt

  High Performance Director

  Adam is responsible for the effective alignment, development and delivery of the coach and athlete high performance pathway through RCA’s NextGen strategy. He works within RCA High Performance Program overseeing NextGen staff, and their relationships with HUB partners and Provincial Rowing Associations to ensure collaboration and engagement around a common strategy of plans and activities. In Adam’s role he oversees the NextGen Strategy, including Talent ID programs, NextGen HUBs and Provincial Rowing Association engagement strategies.  

  parfitt@rowingcanada.org

• Kim Bell

  Manager, Finance and Human Resources

  Kim is responsible for implementing, evaluating and maintaining systems and processes of financial management and human resources and works in close collaboration with the Treasurer. Kim is responsible for developing financial, budget and investment controls and reporting; directing effective and efficient office, human resource and administrative procedures and standards; managing benefit and insurance programs and contracts/leases of the organization and, ensuring adherence to all applicable regulatory requirements.   

  kimbell@rowingcanada.org

• Lindsey Brown

  Athlete Services Coordinator

  Lindsey provides coordination, administrative and relationship support to the NextGen initiative. In her role Lindsey is also responsible for RCA’s outfitting of National Team Programs and she works closely with the High Performance Coordinator in the development of event specific plans for National Team events and camps.  

  lbrown@rowingcanada.org

• Alethia Clarke

  Member Services Coordinator

  Alethia is our primary point of contact for RCA Member Organizations and is responsible for the delivery of RCA Member Services.  Working closely with RCA staff, service providers and members of the rowing community, Alethia oversees and provides support for RCA’s event management and participant registration databases and procedures, the insurance program as well as projects that help grow awareness and increase participation in rowing in Canada.

  aclarke@rowingcanada.org

• Colleen Coderre

  Communications Lead

  Colleen is responsible for planning and execution of the Marketing and Communications strategy for the promotion of rowing in Canada and the promotion of our National Teams. Colleen is responsible for leveraging communication activities to enhance the growing presence of the sport in the media and the rowing community.  

  coderre@rowingcanada.org

• Laura Isherwood

  National Team Coordinator

  Laura provides coordination, logistics and administration support, and relationship management for the RCA National Team program. She works closely with the High Performance team to establish and execute daily operations and implementation of targeted National Team =programming.

  lisherwood@rowingcanada.org

• Chuck McDiarmid

  NextGen Program Lead

  Chuck is responsible for the development and implementation of RCA’s NextGen strategy. Chuck works collaboratively with RCA’s Director of Coach and Athlete Pathways, corporate and government partners, member clubs and associations, and other RCA staff, to identify and support athletes with potential to represent Canada internationally.  

  cmcdiarmid@rowingcanada.org

• Colleen Miller

  Manager of Coach Education and Development

  Colleen is responsible for the development and delivery of the NCCP coach education and certification programs and the implementation of RCA’s mentoring and professional development programs. Colleen works collaboratively with RCA’s Coach Education Development Committee (CEDC), Director of Partnerships and Sport Development, Director Coach and Athlete Pathways, High Performance Director, and the Provincial Rowing Associations (PRA’s).

  colleenmiller@rowingcanada.org

• Sid Murdoch

  Secretary

  Sid’s duties include general office administration, web registration system administration including assisting participants and clubs with accounts, programs and reports. Members should contact Sid with general questions regarding insurance and insurance incidents. He also provides support to a number of committees including the Provincial Advisory Council and the RCA Board of Directors and he organizes the Annual and Semi-Annual Meetings.

  rca@rowingcanada.org

• Jen Parfitt

  Safe Sport Coordinator

  rwolff@rowingcanada.org

• Jon Rose

  National Team Equipment and Operations Coordinator

• Sukhraj Saraow

  Finance and Administration Coordinator

  Working closely with RCA staff, Sukhraj supports all bookkeeping functions of the organization including all areas of accounts payable and accounts receivable. Sukhraj also oversees all areas of RCA’s office administration including telephone inquiries, office supply procurement, incoming and outgoing deliveries, and RCA staff and volunteer board travel arrangements.

  ssaraow@rowingcanada.org

• Ren Thompson

  Communications Coordinator

  Ren is responsible for raising awareness and the promotion of rowing in Canada and the promotion of our National Teams. Ren is responsible for creating and publishing content on the Rowing Canada Aviron website and social media platforms. If you have a great rowing story or have exciting news from your rowing club, please email Ren at rthompson@rowingcanada.org to help share the story to the wider rowing community.

  rthompson@rowingcanada.org

• Rachel Wolff

  National Events Manager

  Rachel is responsible for overseeing the planning of and ensuring the successful execution of National competitions and certain participation events.

• Jeremy Ivey

  National Training Centre Coach

• Maksym Kepskyy

  National Training Centre Coach

• Dane Lawson

  National Training Centre Coach

• John Wetzstein

  National Training Centre Coach

• Jordan Clarke

  Lead Sport Scientist and Physiologist

• Jenn Massingham

  Lead Therapist

• Kaity Szabo

  Sport Therapist

• Lauren Fisher

  National Training Centre Coach

• Carol Love

  National Training Centre Coach

• Greg Szybka

  NextGen Coach