Our Leaders

The members of the Foundation Board are community leaders from throughout our watershed.

2024-2025 Board of Directors

• Ted Smith, CPA, Belwood (Chair)
• Jerry Lawlor, Brantford, President, Lawlor and Associates (Vice Chair)
• Ankur Gupta, CFA, MBA, CFP, B.Eng, Wealth Advisor, Associate Portfolio Manager (Past Chair)
• Karen Leiva, Guelph, Communications Director, OCFP
• Philip Milley, Director Legal & Compliance, Mastercard Foundation
• Rick Oosterveld, Retired Business Owner, Rockwood
• Carolyn Weatherson, Guelph, Buisness Owner
• John Challinor II, Town of Milton Councillor, GRCA Chair 

Edward (Ted) Smith, Chair

Ted Smith is a CPA, CA (Chartered Professional Accountant) TEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner) and LPA (Licensed Public Accountant). A graduate of the University of Guelph, Ted has made his lifetime career in the accounting and tax area, servicing small entrepreneurs up to multinational companies. He brings this extensive wealth of financial knowledge to the Board and combines that with his love of the outdoors and wide and varied non-profit experience.

Ted is lifetime outdoorsman, hunting, fishing, boating and hiking whenever he can.  Having lived most of his life next to GRCA properties, Ted has seen first hand the effects and needs of the management of our natural resources.  Currently living in Belwood, he overlooks Lake Belwood, one of the GRCA key properties in the watershed.

Non-profit involvement has included being involved with Youth Outdoors Day as a Board member (an annual event previous held at Luther Marsh to bring children age 10 to 15 to the outdoors to experience what it has to offer), member of local Ducks Unlimited fundraising committee, member of Centre Wellington Environmental Committee and Board member of St. John Ambulance to name a few.

GRCF Staff

• Samantha Lawson, GRCA CAO, GRCF Acting Executive Director 
• Karen Armstrong, GRCA Deputy CAO and Secretary-Treasurer, GRCF Secretary-Treasurer
• Kyla Wendland, GRCA/GRCF Administrative Assistant