Board & Staff - MacLaren Art Centre

Board of Directors

Call for Expressions of Interest

The MacLaren Art Centre is seeking expressions of interest for new members to its Board of Directors.

As a candidate for a Board of Director role with the MacLaren Art Centre, you will demonstrate a strong interest in advancing a dynamic cultural institution with a focus on artistic excellence, community engagement, and public impact. Directors are leaders from a range of professional backgrounds who bring experience and insight into the not-for-profit and cultural sectors. Selected candidates will serve on a governance board that supports the MacLaren’s strategic direction, financial sustainability, and fundraising efforts in support of its mission.

Board members serve for three-year terms (renewable once), and meet approximately ten times per year on the last Thursday of the month.

Please complete the Expression of Interest form below. Return your completed form, along with a one-page cover letter and a current CV of related experience, to Ashleigh Oke, Operations Director, ashleigh@maclarenart.com using the subject line “Expression of Interest: Board of Directors.”

COMPETENCIES SOUGHT IN NEW BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDE:

Willingness to serve as an ambassador for the MacLaren Art Centre, leveraging personal and professional networks, credibility, and influence to advance fundraising, sponsorship, and partnership initiatives
Experience in one or more of the following areas:
- arts and culture
- government or public sector relations
- finance

Expression of Interest Form

MacLaren Art Centre

Board of Directors

Chair

Matt Follwell

Matt Follwell (Chair), is a Radiation Oncologist and Chief of Oncology at the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre. He is an art lover, collector, and supporter. Matt was a Board member of Gallery TPW in Toronto from 2005-2009, is currently a committee member of Art@RVH (2014 present), and has been a Board member of the RVH Foundation since 2016. Matt is passionate about the arts and the continued success of the MacLaren Art Centre and committed to supporting the Board, leadership, and staff to strive for curatorial excellence and community engagement.

Treasurer

Kathy Chen-Hammond

Kathy Chen is the Controller at Canadian Base Operators Inc. and four affiliated companies under Black and McDonald Limited. She is currently pursuing her MBA at Queen’s University (Class 2025). Kathy has lived and worked in Barrie and the surrounding areas since 2007 and enjoys volunteering with focuses on seniors and youth groups. She is currently a Board Monitoring Committee member at Catulpa Community Support Services, a registered non-profit agency serving children, youth, adults and families with special or unique needs. In the past, Kathy was the funding treasurer for Rotaract Club of Barrie as well as a treasurer for Simcoe County Young Professionals Association. In addition to art appreciation, in her spare time, Kathy practices hot yoga and spends time with her husband and daughter.

Board Member

Angela Aujla

Angela Aujla is a South Asian Canadian visual artist. Her mixed-media, narrative artwork explores the complexity and interplay of history, memory, culture, and identity with a focus on diasporic and material culture. Aujla’s artistic practice is influenced by her academic study of visual culture, anthropology, and feminist postcolonial theory. She is a Professor of Sociology specializing in Critical Race Studies, Gender Studies, and Postcolonial Theory with a demonstrated history of working in postsecondary education at Simon Fraser University, York University, Humber College, and Georgian College. Aujla has extensive experience in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy and initiatives and currently works in the Equity, Diversity, and Belonging Office at Georgian College. She believes that the MacLaren is an integral part of the community and looks forward to collaborating with other community members, and to contribute her experience and expertise for the betterment of the MacLaren Art Centre and by extension, the community.

Vice Chair

Joshua Valler

Joshua completed his articles at a local law firm in Barrie and worked there as an associate upon his call to the Ontario Bar. Joshua practices in the areas of general civil litigation and employment law. Born and raised in Barrie, Joshua graduated with honours from the J.D. program at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law. Joshua previously obtained a Bachelor Arts (Honours) from York University where he majored in Law and Society.

Prior to practicing law, Joshua worked in various capacities for the Federal Government including roles as a Special Assistant to the Member of Parliament for Barrie, a Legislative Assistant to a Senator, and as a Special Assistant to the Minister of National Defence.

During law school, Joshua was a student to the Regional Senior Justice for the Ontario Provincial Court in Ottawa where he was responsible for assisting the Court with research on complicated legal issues. Joshua also continued in the public service by taking on a role as the Special Assistant to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in addition to his legal studies.

Joshua has appeared at both the Ontario Superior Court of Justice as well as the Ontario Court of Appeal on a wide range of complex legal matters.
In 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Josh received the Barrie Advance Readers’ Choice award for Favourite Employment Lawyer. In 2022 Josh also received the Barrie Advance Readers’ Choice award for favourite lawyer.

In his spare time, Joshua enjoys spending time with his wife and their dog, Tonka. Josh also has taken on leadership roles with various different community organizations across Barrie.

Board Member

Jim Harris

Jim Harris is a life-long Barrie resident with a history of giving back to the community. He has volunteered for many local service groups and served as a board member for the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children and Simcoe Community Services Client Rights Advisory, among others. Jim earned the 2018 Chief of Police Award from Barrie Police Services for his research that evaluated the impact of their Crisis Intervention Team Training Program on officers in the field. As a volunteer and in his professional life, Jim has championed a variety of projects within the city, including most recently chairing the City of Barrie Performing Arts Centre Task Force. He is currently the Director of Operations and Planning for New Path Youth and Family Services. Jim completed his undergraduate degree at Wilfred Laurier University has a MPA from the University of Liverpool. He is presently a Barrie City Councillor for Ward 8. Jim joined the MacLaren Board in 2019.

Board Member

Craig Nixon

Craig Nixon was elected as Ward 2 Councillor in the 2022 Municipal Election. He is currently serving his first term as Ward 2 Councillor.

Board Member

Jessie Larche

Jessica Larche is the Managing Director at Larche.

Board Member

Michael Kuluva

Michael Kuluva is a fashion designer for his namesake fashion brand. He has shown his fashion collections on the runways at New York Fashion Week for over ten consecutive years. Michael graduated with a degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, CA. Michael is also a retired professional figure skater. While active, he toured over 600 cities and 40 countries with shows such as Disney On Ice and Holiday On Ice. He was part of the 1998 Jr. Olympic Team; the 2001 US Figure Skating Team; and he is the 2004 Major League Figure Skating Professional World Bronze Medalist. Michael currently serves on the patient council for Creaky Joints Canada and has sat on numerous boards for arthritis research and activism. He is committed to expanding fashion in the Barrie and Simcoe community in addition to advancing LGBTQ+ initiatives.

Board Member

Gary Pearson

Gary Pearson is the Principal of Pearson Engineering Ltd, a civil consulting and engineering firm providing municipal consulting services and land development services to private sector clients. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Ottawa. Gary is a member of numerous industry associations including Simcoe County Home Builders’ Association and Building Industry and Land Development Association. Supporting the community has always been a top priority for Gary. He is pleased to sponsor local hockey and baseball teams as well as events such as the Barrie Film Festival and the Lakeside Party organized by the Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka. Outside of his professional life, Gary enjoys playing golf and spending time at his family cottage on Georgian Bay. He joined the MacLaren Board in 2018, and is a member of the Marketing and Development Committee.