Leadership Team

Melissa joined Halton Healthcare as President & CEO in June 2023. Melissa is a health system leader who is passionate about building integrated care and making sure that people have the support they need from all parts of the health system - this includes hospitals, community services, primary care, mental health, public health, population health and more.

Prior to joining Halton Healthcare Melissa served as President of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton where she led an innovative multi-site academic teaching hospital, affiliated with McMaster University. Before her time at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Melissa had a long and distinguished career largely focused in the public sector including her role as Assistant Deputy Minister, Acute and Emergency Health Services for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Melissa is currently a Board Member of the Ontario Hospital Association. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Master’s Degree in Planning from Queen’s University and has continued educational development in leadership programs at Harvard Business School, Ivey Business School and The Rotman School of Management.

Since joining Halton Healthcare in 1993, Dr. McConachie has held several critical medical leadership roles and maintained a busy clinical practice. Dr. McConachie has been instrumental in shaping the current OTMH medical model of care and has led transformational changes in many programs and departments. He has extensive credentialing and physician performance management experience, has mentored several medical professionals, and has been an active member on a number of internal and external committees including Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Intensive Care and Mississauga Halton LHIN-CV Steering Committee. Dr. McConachie will continue his clinical practice as a Cardiologist and Intensivist, bringing his expertise to all three hospitals. Dr. McConachie is dedicated to exemplary patient and family focused care, the growth of our collaborative culture and the on-going development of an inclusive medical staff team across all of our hospitals and community locations.

Al has more than 25 years of progressive experience in project planning and management in the private and public sectors, including policy development and finance. He brings extensive knowledge of hospital facility planning to his position and is no stranger to the organization, having served in progressive roles from 2012 to 2020.

Prior to returning to Halton Healthcare, Coady served in the position of Chief Project Officer and led the planning of Project Horizon – the redevelopment project of The Hospital for Sick Children. In his career he has also held public service positions within several Ontario ministries involving other successful hospital redevelopment projects.

Tom joined Halton Healthcare in May 2023. Before that, he served as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Mohawk College in Hamilton, held legal, governance and public affairs roles in the steel industry, and practiced as a corporate lawyer with a national law firm. For his work at Mohawk College, Tom was awarded the Canadian General Counsel Award for Environmental, Social and Governance in 2021.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queen’s University, and Master of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Toronto. He is a member of the Bar in Ontario and Massachusetts.

Brendan first joined Halton Healthcare in 2018 as Director, ICT & Biomedical Engineering and more recently as the Executive Director, Interchange Project & ICT. Brendan has led several strategic initiatives and organization wide projects related to cybersecurity, virtual care and improved overall customer engagement. Previously, Brendan held several positions at Women’s College Hospital, completing his term as Director, IM/IT where he helped lead the building of their ambulatory electronic patient record and patient portal. Brendan also contributed to advancing the electronic medical record at North York General during his time there as Project Manager. Brendan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from York University, is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and has attended the Rotman Executive Program at the University of Toronto. More recently, he has joined the Board of the Children’s Treatment Network.

Michele Leroux joined Halton Healthcare in September 2022 as the organization’s Chief Human Resources Officer. She is a seasoned Human Resources professional with nearly two decades of leadership experience in both the public and private sector. Michele joined Halton Healthcare after six years at Hamilton Health Sciences where she most recently held the position of Vice President, Human Resources. Prior to that her career included 13 years at McMaster University and roles in the private sector, including at Ford Motor Company.

Michele has an impressive track record of leading change, enabling technology and driving continuous improvement. She is passionate about leading HR innovation, enabling staff engagement and fostering partnerships. She has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management.

Dr. Preyra is a highly respected healthcare executive, clinical educator, and leader with extensive experience in system-level leadership, quality improvement, and academic advancement. He is passionate about person-centered care, advancing equity, and driving continuous improvement within the healthcare system.

Prior to joining Halton Healthcare, Dr. Preyra served as Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer at Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH). During his tenure, JBH achieved top rankings in a provincial initiative aimed at reducing emergency department wait times and improving patient flow. He was also instrumental in launching the Burlington Ontario Health Team, promoting cross-sector collaboration to enhance the overall healthcare delivery in the region.

With a strong focus on building relationships and advocating for integrated care systems, Dr. Preyra’s leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing healthcare outcomes for the communities served by Halton Healthcare and the broader Halton Region.

Adrienne Spafford is a values-driven leader who is well-known among Ontario’s healthcare sector for her commitment to quality, equity and humanity in the delivery of care. She brings 20 years of results and positive impact in strategic communications, stakeholder relations, policy and strategy to Halton Healthcare.

Adrienne joined Halton Healthcare in November 2023 from Ontario Health, where she was the Vice President, Ontario Health Teams Strategy & Policy. In this role, she led the development of the Ontario Health Team (OHT) program and supported the implementation of the OHT model in partnership with colleagues across the province's health care system, including patient and family/caregiver partners.

Previously, Adrienne was the Chief Executive Officer of Addictions and Mental Health Ontario and has held senior positions at the Ontario Long Term Care Association, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, the Ministry of Health, Infrastructure Ontario, and with a former Premier of Ontario. Adrienne began her career as a consultant for private sector clients on culture and gender diversity at Catalyst Canada, Inc.

In this pivotal role, Adrienne will be responsible for leading Halton Healthcare’s communications, partnership development, advocacy and strategy.

Dr. Cheryl Williams joined Halton Healthcare in February 2025 as Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations, and Chief Nursing Executive. A transformational healthcare leader with over 25 years of experience, she has held senior leadership roles at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton Health Sciences, and Joseph Brant Hospital. Cheryl brings extensive expertise in clinical operations, quality, professional practice, and health system transformation. She has successfully led major initiatives in workforce strategy, innovative models of care, and system integration, driving meaningful change across healthcare settings.

A values-driven leader, Cheryl is passionate about integrated systems of care that enhance quality, safety, and health equity. A strong believer in the power of partnerships, she has worked extensively with patients, families, providers, and community organizations to drive system-wide improvements and seamless care delivery.

Cheryl holds a PhD in Nursing Science and a Master of Nursing (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McMaster University. She is a Certified Health Executive (CHE).

Lloyd is a respected public sector executive with a strong track record in financial strategy, operational transformation, and infrastructure development. He brings extensive leadership experience from roles across municipal government, education, and healthcare.

Before joining our team, Lloyd served as Vice President of Finance and Administration at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he led digital modernization efforts, advanced financial sustainability, and oversaw a major campus expansion in Milton. He previously held senior roles at the Toronto Catholic District School Board, including Chief Financial Officer and Associate Director of Education, and held financial leadership positions with the cities of Vaughan and Brampton.

A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Lloyd brings a deep understanding of public sector governance and a commitment to building systems that support long-term impact.

Jody Strik is a dynamic healthcare leader with nearly 30 years of experience in clinical operations, integrated care, and health system transformation. Over the past 25 years at Halton Healthcare, she has held multiple senior leadership roles, consistently driving innovation, system integration, and compassionate, patient-centered care. Her leadership has contributed to major advancements in care delivery, including the adoption of new technologies, improved patient access, and system-wide alignment with long-term strategic goals.

Jody is recognized for her ability to foster strong partnerships across the healthcare continuum, bringing hospital, community, and primary care sectors together to improve access, equity, and patient outcomes. She is known for her energy, strategic vision, and deep institutional knowledge.

She holds a Master’s degree in Health Management from McMaster University, a Baccalaureate in Rehabilitation Sciences, and is a Certified Health Executive and Registered Physiotherapist.

Clint Atendido is a seasoned healthcare leader with over 25 years of experience in hospital, community, and integrated care settings. Known for his collaborative approach and operational expertise, Clint has led large-scale clinical services, advanced innovative models of care, and built high-performing teams.

Most recently, he served as Executive Director of Clinical Strategy & Projects at Southlake Health, where he developed a Distributive Health Network to support population health and care integration. He also led system-wide initiatives to improve access, flow, and care transitions. Previously, as Vice President of Clinical Services at William Osler Health System, Clint oversaw multi-site clinical operations and played a key leadership role in expanding urgent and inpatient care and managing the organization’s pandemic response.

Clint is recognized for his strategic mindset, operational expertise, and ability to build high-performing teams committed to delivering patient-centered care.