The Terry Fox Research Institute is pleased to welcome four new members to its Board of Directors. Their expertise and insight will help guide TFRI as we continue to invest in world-class cancer research across Canada.
“We are delighted to welcome four exceptional people to the TFRI Board this year,” says Dr. Jim Woodgett, TFRI President and Scientific Director.
“Pam Damoff brings a deep appreciation for the perspectives of our generous donors through her years as a Terry Fox run organizer in Oakville. As a longstanding Member of Parliament, she was also instrumental in advocating for the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network.
“Jeanette Boudreau is a world expert in cellular immunology and the scientific director at the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute in Halifax, and her research expertise will be invaluable.
“Brandon Ma brings strong financial oversight from his experience at KPMG and his work with TFRI’s Finance and Audit committee.
“And, last but not least, we’re honoured to welcome Jessie Alder, a member of the next generation of the Fox family, who is deeply committed to the research that is carried out in her late uncle’s name. We are so very fortunate to have these individuals guide and advise the TFRI team,” says Dr. Woodgett.
TFRI also extends its gratitude to Dr. Victor Ling, TFRI’s founding President and Scientific Director, Dr. Christopher Paige, past Chair (2020-2024), and physician Dr. Marla Shapiro for their dedication and immense contributions to TFRI’s Board of Directors.
Read full bios of our new Board members below.
Pam Damoff (Ontario) is chief executive officer of the Pearson Centre and a former Member of Parliament who served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers of Health, Indigenous Services and Public Safety. She was vice‑chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women and was a member of several key parliamentary committees, associations and interparliamentary groups, including the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.
A long‑time community activist, business professional and Terry Fox champion, Damoff chairs the Oakville Terry Fox Run. Her dedication to service has been recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
Dr. Jeanette Boudreau (Nova Scotia) is an associate professor at Dalhousie University, where she is developing novel, affordable and off-the-shelf therapies for cancer. Dr. Boudreau is driven to find new, less-toxic, more effective treatments for cancer that can be deployed within the Canadian public health-care system. Her laboratory merges genetic information with immunology, advanced model systems, AI and machine learning to understand the opportunities to improve immunotherapy for cancer.
Dr. Boudreau was a 2019 Terry Fox New Investigator with the Pan-Canadian immunoTherapeutics NeTwork (iTNT) and is now a co-principal investigator on the Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grant for integrated immunotherapies for ovarian cancer. Dr. Boudreau’s work extends to the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network, where she is leading genetics and immunologic assessments of Gold Cohort samples in the Atlantic Cancer Consortium, and leads a TFRI–MOHCCN Technology Development project that is developing reproducible, shareable systems for immunologic assessments of solid tumours.
Dr. Boudreau is the scientific director of the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (BHCRI), an Atlantic Canada-wide consortium of cancer researchers, health-care providers, trainees and people with lived and living experience with cancer. BHCRI strives to foster the best cancer research by knitting together expertise across research pillars, striving toward a future with better cancer prevention, treatment, survivorship and cures.
Brandon Ma (British Columbia) is an audit partner at KPMG with more than 19 years’ experience providing assurance and business advisory services. He is passionate about helping clients improve their businesses and organizations.
His experience spans a broad range of industries, focusing on all subsectors of the public sector, not-for-profit and technology industries, as well as consumer markets, food processing and professional associations. He led the national implementation of the audit innovation agenda and currently leads the audit quality group for the enterprise practice in the Greater Vancouver Area. His diverse experience helps clients achieve high-quality audits and gain valuable data-driven insights.
Jessie Alder (British Columbia) is the senior database manager at the Terry Fox Foundation, where she has held multiple roles over the past 15 years. As a niece of Terry Fox, Jessie brings a deeply personal commitment to her work, continuing her uncle’s legacy with passion and purpose.
In addition to her professional role, she is honoured to serve as a board member for both the Terry Fox Foundation and the Terry Fox Research Institute. Contributing to Terry’s vision of advancing cancer research and inspiring hope, Jessie feels privileged to help preserve and promote his legacy through both her work and Board service.
View our full Board of Directors.