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NANB Board of Directors

Purpose

The Board of Directors of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB) is the governing body for the organization. Board directors are collectively responsible for strategic direction, risk management, and monitoring of NANB operations to ensure that work is achieved to meet strategic objectives.

Board Charter

Structure

The twelve member Board of Directors is comprised of a President, President-Elect, seven Region Directors and three Public Directors.

The President-Elect is elected for a two year term which is followed by a two year term as President. Region Directors are elected for three year terms by members living within their respective geographic regions and by members who work in the region but do not reside in New Brunswick. The three Public Directors are appointed by the Minister of Health and by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council for three year terms.

Call for Nominations : NANB Board Members

  • Opportunities for Public Members

    The current Board would benefit from individuals that demonstrate the following:

    • previous committee or board experience;
    • an interest in health and welfare and in health matters generally;
    • time to devote to the role and to work to ensure public protection;
    • vision and openness in terms of diversity, equity, inclusion and innovation, and
    • volunteer or work experience that demonstrates acting in the public interest.

    According to the Nurses Act,  the Public Directors of NANB Board of Directors shall be appointed to represent the public and shall be appointed in the following manner:

    • Two appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council from a panel of not less than four persons nominated by the Board.
    • One appointed by the Minister of Health from a panel of not less than three persons nominated by the Board.

    All Public Members shall not be members of the Association, nurses or former nurses.

    The Public Directors are appointed for three-year terms.

    Nomination Form

NANB Board of Directors’ Meetings

Observers are welcome at all Board of Directors’ meetings. Please contact executiveoffice@nanb.nb.ca.

Directory

Below is a list of the Board of Directors detailing their position and the year they were elected. If you would like to contact a board member, or have questions regarding the Board of Directors, please contact NANB.

Effective June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024.

Nathan Wickett, RN
NANB Board President (2023-2025)

president@nanb.nb.ca

Nathan Wickett, the current President of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB), boasts a comprehensive career spanning over two decades in both private and public healthcare systems. Armed with a Master’s degree in Health Care Studies and certified as a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, he has consistently held advanced leadership roles, tackling intricate and controversial systemic issues.

Nathan’s professional passion lies in the improvement of healthcare access and services. Dedicated to effecting positive change, he collaborates with the citizens of New Brunswick, fostering a community with a genuine intent and compassion for others. His commitment to continual improvement aligns with the belief that change is an ongoing necessity for creating a more effective and compassionate healthcare landscape.

Residing in Fredericton, Nathan and his wife Angela have two children and they are constantly on the move. If he’s not playing taxi to kids, Nathan can be found at the gym, playing sports or dabbling in construction.

Chad L. Doucet, RN
President-elect (2023-2025)

Chad L. Doucet is an accomplished healthcare professional with administrative expertise. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the Université de Moncton, as well as New Brunswick certification in critical care. He has also completed a certificate in project management at McGill University.

His beginnings in critical care were mainly in emergency and intensive care. Over the course of his career, Chad has held a variety of leadership positions. He has served in university teaching and as faculty advisor for the New Brunswick Critical Care Nursing Program at the Université de Moncton. During periods of increased activity due to the COVID-19 pandemics, he was also responsible for the occupational health department and organizational development. He is currently Executive Director, Clinical Services and Professional Practice, Vitalité Health Network.

Chad is recognized for his academic and professional excellence, as evidenced by academic excellence awards at bachelor’s and master’s levels. He has also published scientific articles and is currently collaborating with several researchers in the province on projects aimed at improving health care in New Brunswick.

Outside his profession, Chad is a devoted father and husband. He enjoys music, cooking and running. What he’s most passionate about is creating an environment that fosters the development and success of the people around him.

Julie Émelie Boudreau, RN, MN, CNeph(C), CCNE
Director, Region 1 (2023-2026)

Julie Émelie Boudreau, born in Dieppe, NB, graduated from the Université de Moncton, Campus Moncton in 2007 with a Bachelor in Nursing. She also earned a Master’s degree and a Specialized Graduate Diploma in Nursing from the University of Calgary in 2012. She has maintained certification in nephrology nursing since 2010, as well as certification as a nurse educator with the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing since 2018. She worked as a bedside nurse in the nephrology program at the Dr. George L. Dumont University Hospital from 2007 to 2010. She has held occasional positions in home care, in a level 3 long-term care home, and currently in an acute medicine unit at The Moncton Hospital. She has been a lecturer in nursing at the School of Nursing at the Université de Moncton, Campus Moncton, for more than 11 years. She has also been a mentor for the Canadian Nurses Association certification program since 2019, chairs the finance committee and is secretary-treasurer of her union, ABPPUM, at the Université de Moncton, Moncton Campus. Her clinical focus is internal medicine. Her research focus is simulation as a teaching strategy. Julie loves good laughs and is a creative and generous person. She takes care of her health by practicing yoga and weight training. She is a member of the 1000 Club at Peak Fitness. Her favorite hobbies are reading fiction-style detective thrillers by Lisa Jewell and Gilly Macmillan, and hiking in Fundy National Park. To relax, she likes going to the theater or watching movies with her husband. She loves Mediterranean cuisine.

Kathy Helpert, RN
Director, Region 2 (2022-2025)

Kathy Helpert is a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Extramural Program (EMP) and supports nurses by promoting evidenced-based practice. She facilitates a Provincial EMP Clinical Practice Leadership group for EMP Skin and Wound care as well as acting as a Subject Matter Expert in the roll out of the CommunityCareNB electronic solution. Kathy has worked for 30 years at EMP and has worked as a staff nurse and as a manager prior to working in her current role.

Kathy completed her Master of Nursing from Athabasca University in 2013 while working full time and playing an active role in the lives of her teenage children. She values the importance of education and promotes education for the staff at EMP. She has assisted in the development of education modules for staff, participates in policy review, and acts as a Facilitator for EMP staff enrolled in the LEAP program from Pallium Canada. She recently obtained a certificate of completion from a Wounds Canada Institute Super Program #1 to increase her competency in wound prevention and care.

Kathy enjoys reading, walking and paddle boarding. She loves spending time with her four precious granddaughters and is very thankful that they live nearby.

Holli LeBlanc, NP
Director, Region 3 (2023- 2026)

Holli LeBlanc is the Director for Region 3 area and is happy to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP) representative as well. She completed her Bachelor of Nursing Degree in 2006 through University of New Brunswick (UNB) and then went on to obtain her Masters of Nursing- NP in 2017 through UNB as well. Holli enjoyed working as an RN on a busy surgical/burn unit at the Moncton City Hospital, has worked as an NP in various rural settings, and is proud to be a founding NP at Horizon’s NP Clinic in Fredericton. She also enjoys expanding health care access to those in need by working with various private virtual care platforms to offer episodic and primary care.

Holli has a passion for advancing the NP role as well as advocating for NP equality in health care. She sits on various committees within Horizon and NANB. She is also very active in mentoring NP students at various universities and also helps to guide and mentor new NP graduates as they transition into their new role. 

Holli loves spending time with her family. She can often be found at a rink, court, derby track, or football field with a cowbell in hand or hollering encouragement to her favorite players.

Mélissa Duguay, RN
Director, Region 4 (2023-2026)

Mélissa Duguay stands as a seasoned Clinical Nurse Specialist: Professional Practice with Vitalité Health Network, marking two decades of dedicated service in nursing since January 2004. Her journey encompasses a rich academic background, earning a BA in Nursing in 2004 and started her Master’s in Nursing in 2022.

Throughout her career, Mélissa has demonstrated versatility by contributing her expertise to various nursing realms, including Emergency, Concentrated Care, Extended Care, Medicine, and serving as a past Internship Instructor for UdeM. Her diverse roles also include positions as a Resource RN, involvement in Nursing Home Care Levels 3 and 4, and active engagement in Professional Practice.

Beyond her professional commitments, Mélissa is a devoted mother of three, embodying a vibrant and active lifestyle. Her love for the outdoors, passion for spinning, dedication to yoga, zest for travel, culinary pursuits, and cherished family time all reflect her multifaceted nature. Mélissa is driven by new challenges, embodying a spirit of perpetual growth and innovation in both her personal and professional life.

Sylvie Bernard, RN
Director, Region 5 (2021-2024)

Sylvie Bernard, born in Eel River Crossing, in the north of the province, graduated from the Edmundston School of Nursing in 1986, earned a Bachelor of Nursing degree in 1992 and a Master of Nursing degree in 2019, both from the Université de Moncton. She also obtained a certificate in adult education and a certificate in applied aging studies from the Université de Moncton.

She has worked as a nurse in various settings. From 2011 to 2023, she was a clinical nurse specialized in seniors at Vitalité Health Network. She was a volunteer and consultant for the Alzheimer Society of NB from 2012 to 2015, and returned to her volunteer role in 2023, organizing a 2nd Walk for Alzheimer’s in the Campbellton area. 

Sylvie gave presentations on the role of the caregiver and white bereavement at The Summer Development School on Aging, Shippagan campus, Université de Moncton in 2017. She presented the results of her research on family caregivers of people with dementia in rural francophone settings at the 2019 Annual Conference of the Canadian Association on Gerontology.  

Sylvie was a Catholic catechetical educator in her region for 10 years. She has three children and three grandchildren, aged 3 years, 15 months and 11 months. She loves golf, nature, the ocean and travelling.

Sylvie currently works as a registered nurse in a primary care clinic in the Dalhousie area.

Stéphanie Roy, RN
Director, Region 6 (2022-2025)

Stéphanie Roy, during her more than 24-year career, has acquired in-depth knowledge and skills in nursing through a variety of positions in direct care in various clinical settings, in university teaching, in management, in research, in evaluation and development of services and programs, and in leadership.

Stéphanie holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing. She has also completed additional training in management, administration and organizational leadership. She has a keen interest in organizational and team leadership, as well as in advancing and optimizing the role of nurses, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals.  Strategic and innovative by nature, Stéphanie is a passionate leader who greatly appreciates the strategic, operational and clinical supervision of teams, as well as the work involved in designing and developing new programs or service models. She has evaluated, developed and restructured major programs throughout her career.

More recently, as Assistant Director of Primary Care at Vitalité Health Network, she has been overseeing chronic disease prevention and management programs, community programs and nurse practitioners. In addition, she is responsible for the development and launch of an integrated services model in primary care, requiring extensive experience in change management, with the aim of fostering a culture of integrated, collaborative interdisciplinary team practice in the community.

In addition to her work, Stéphanie is passionate about her family. Common-law mother of two, Stéphanie enjoys all the activities that family life brings, especially being a fan of her little musicians in the making and being a real “soccer mom”.

Deborah Walls, RN
Director, Region 7 (2021-2024)

Deborah Walls received her Nursing Diploma from the Bathurst School of Nursing (1984), Bachelor of Nursing from UNB (1992) and her Masters in Adult Education from UNB (1998). In the past, she has served NANB on their Complaints and Disciplines Committees and in 1999 she received the NANB Certificate of Merit  ”in recognition of outstanding services to NANB.” This is Debbie’s second time as an NANB Board Member, representing region 7 (Miramichi).

Debbie strongly believes in building healthy communities. In 2015, she received the Female Professional Excellence of the Year Award from Women of Miramichi Entrepeneurial Network, as CEO of Mount Saint Joesph Nursing Home. In 2019, the Nursing Home received the New Brunswick Multicultural Councils Award for their successful integration of 18 IENs into their workforce. Also in 2019, they received recognition from the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes for their work with IENs and became certified by the province as a Private Occupational Training Agency. For several years Debbie, working with an Immigration Specialist, was successful in assisting the integration of approximately 100 IENs to  New Brunswick to work in NB Nursing Homes.

Recently retired, Debbie is enjoying her new role as grandmother to 6-month-old Everett, and spending time with her family-husband Robert, Jamie and Erin and their families. She continues to stay active in her community, and recently joined the board of the Miramichi Support Ukraine Committee which provides support and settlement services to newcomers from Ukraine and their families coming to the Miramichi area.

J. Douglas Baker, CPA
Public Director (2022-2025)

Douglas Baker, CPA was appointed a public representative member of the Board of Directors of NANB in February,2023 for a term of three years.

Mr. Baker is also presently serving as a panel member of the Hearings committee of the Professional Conduct committee of CPA New Brunswick, and as a Director of the Law Society of New Brunswick Society as one of its public representatives.

He is a Chartered Professional Accountant who has worked in public practice for over fifty years. He served as a manager of audit services and been a partner with KPMG. He established his own accounting firm focused on the needs of business entrepreneurs which he sold in 2009. He has specific knowledge of current corporate governance, risk and compliance practices. He received his accounting degree in 1970 as well graduated from the initial course studies of the Chartered Business Valuators in 1976.

He resides in Riverview with his wife Donna, where he is a very active member of the community. He has been awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Moncton West/Riverview Rotary Club on three occasions in recognition of his volunteer contributions. He has also served as a Director, Treasurer, or President of a number of organizations including his Church, Rotary Club, Youth Impact Jeunesse Inc., Moncton Headstart Inc., Moncton Midland Junior Hockey Club, Trans Aqua Inc., FCNB, the Atlantic School of Accountancy, CPA New Brunswick, CPA Canada, the Dietitians Assoc. of NB, Horizon Health Authority, and Financial Services Tribunal of NB.

Anne Caverhill
Public Director (2021-2024)

Anne Caverhill is proud to be a public member sitting on the board for the Nurses Association of New Brunswick.

Anne’s educational background is in both law and social work and she spent a long career as a public servant combining both of these trainings primarily in policy, research, legislative reform and lastly as a Manager for Child Welfare. Although formally retired from Social Development, in Anne’s retirement”, she has worked as a Grief Counsellor with Family Services and currently, is teaching Law and Social Work at St. Thomas University. She is also an active member of the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers and chaired the By Laws Committee when new legislation governing social workers was passed in 2019.

One area that Anne is most proud of was her work with nurses in both hospital and public health, to focus on a multi disciplinary approach to protect and service the most vulnerable in our community— infants and children. This approach led to in service training, Workshops, and regular meetings to address some of the systemic barriers that prevented effective care for infants and children at risk.

Anne is particularly proud of sitting on a board that works to ensure professional protection for the public. 

Claude G. Savoie
Public Director (2021-2024)

Claude G. Savoie was born in Fair Isle and lives in Pointe-A-Tom. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the Université de Moncton and a master’s degree in social work from Université Laval. As a social worker, he has held several positions within the Department of Social Development. He served as Regional Director of the Acadian Peninsula and Bathurst area offices. Later, he was Provincial Director of Child and Youth Services at the head office in Fredericton. After 36 years of service, he retired in 2011.

He sits on the Board of Directors of Line Ferguson Residences, and was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Reserve Unit, and Honorary Aide-de-Camp to five Lieutenant-Governors of NB.  He was actively involved in the North American Association of Social Work Boards.  He was President of the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers  (NBASW).

He received the Raoul Léger Award from the NBASW in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the social work profession, and the Recognition Award from the Canadian Association of Social Workers.  In addition, the Lieutenant-Governor awarded him the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee and Platinum Jubilee medals. He was also awarded the Viceregal Commendation. 

He enjoys practicing Tai Chi and playing guitar.

He is married to Carmen Godin. They have four children, a grandson and a great-grandson.