2025-2026 Board of Directors

Women General Counsel Canada is led by an amazing group of senior women in general counsel and legal executive roles from across Canada with diverse professional backgrounds.

Heather Mullen
CHAIR

Heather is the head of the law department for Kenvue Canada Inc., and a Director and Corporate Secretary for various Kenvue companies across Canada. She is a member of the Kenvue Pension Committee, the Kenvue North American Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, and she acts as the Executive Sponsor for ‘Women at Kenvue’ in Canada. Previously, she was the first Executive Sponsor for ‘Pride at Kenvue’ and has played a key role in establishing other employee resource groups in Canada that align with her values and organizing volunteer days for charity. Heather frequently speaks at conferences and actively mentors women through the University of Toronto Women’s Association. Additionally, she plays an active role in various industry and professional associations, where she influenced the formation of and leads task forces focused on tackling significant pressing issues in the external environment. She is frequently invited to spearhead initiatives for the company at both local and global scales.

Heather earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Acadia University, where she specialized in Finance and Pension. She then obtained her Law Degree / Juris Doctorate from the University of Alberta and later received her MBA with distinction as a Dean’s List Scholar from the University of New Brunswick, focusing on International Business. In 2023, she achieved her GCU.D designation, and in 2024, she fulfilled the requirements at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, to obtain her ICD.D designation.

Heather has been an active member of WGCC since 2019 and is also affiliated with the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association, the Women’s Law Association of Ontario (WLAO), and the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society. In 2024, she was nominated in the Internal Counsel category for the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada. In 2023, Heather received the Ontario WLAO General Counsel Chapter Award in recognition of her leadership and dedication to advancing the success of women in the legal field. Additionally, in 2022, she was honoured as an Excellence Awardee for Law Department Leader of the Year at the Canadian Law Awards.

Heather is called to the Bar in both Nova Scotia and Ontario and lives in Oakville with her husband and family.

Ratika Gandhi
VICE CHAIR, SPONSOR & PARTNERSHIP RELATIONS LEAD

Ratika is Head of Legal & Compliance at LACAN (Canada and Latin America), an evolving medical device company with a mission to help patients see more brilliantly.

In addition to overseeing all legal and compliance issues for this organization within a complex industry, she is an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, which she finds to be the most rewarding aspect of her role. Her approach has always been to be a collaborative but proactive legal advisor, providing risk-management advice and embedding principles of sound corporate governance. Ratika has repeatedly trained other executive members on fiduciary duties, employment law considerations, best practices from a diversity and inclusion standpoint and compliance issues. She is a champion of a “Tone from the Top” culture and work to instill principles of integrity and collaboration to facilitate strong performance results. She is also currently the project lead on Alcon’s global transformation initiative aimed to redefine how the entire organization worldwide, engages and contracts with third parties.

Clare Smith
SECRETARY & GOVERNANCE LEAD

Clare has spent the majority of her legal career in-house in the consumer packaged goods industry. Clare Smith is the General Counsel at PepsiCo Beverages Canada.  She is a member of the Senior Leadership team for PepsiCo Beverages Canada and works collaboratively with her cross-functional partners.  She was previously the General Counsel at Labatt Breweries of Canada.  Clare is passionate about brands, innovation and employee engagement.  She enjoys helping people develop their full potential.

Clare began her legal career at Blakes. She holds a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Arts Honours (Political Studies) from Queen’s University.

Jennifer Good
TREASURER

Jennifer joined CRH Canada in 2008 as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. CRH is the leading diversified building materials business in the world, employing 78,500 people at 3,300 locations in 28 countries, and is the largest building materials business in North America. It is a Fortune 500 company, with its shares listed on the NYSE and the LSE. Jennifer and her team provide all aspects of legal and compliance support to all of CRH’s businesses in Canada.

Previously, Jennifer served as Corporate Counsel for Home Depot Canada and practiced with the Toronto office of Heenan Blaikie LLP (corporate law) and the Montreal office of Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP (litigation).

She holds civil and common law degrees from McGill University, is a member of the bars of Ontario and Quebec and practices law in English and French. She remains closely connected to McGill University, volunteering on several boards and committees.

CommunicationS LEAD

Andrea is General Counsel for Amica Senior Lifestyles, Canada’s leading provider of premium, private-pay retirement residences and a  wholly owned subsidiary of Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan. In her role, Andrea leads and advises the business on all legal, strategic, and corporate - related matters, including all transactions, development, operations, and regulatory and compliance activities.

Prior to joining Amica, Andrea practiced for 9 years at Oxford Properties Group, the real estate investment arm of OMERS, where she advised on a broad range of complex real estate transactions, development projects and corporate law matters across all asset classes in Canada, the US and Europe. Andrea also spent eight years as a student/associate in private practice in the corporate real estate department of Goodmans LLP. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science from Queens University and an LL.B from the University of Western Ontario. In 2022 Andrea was one of three Canadian finalists for Chambers & Partners Diversity & Inclusion: Lawyer of the Year in recognition of her contributions and leadership towards equity, diversity and inclusion. In 2019, Andrea was awarded a Lexpert Rising Star, an award recognizing leading Canadian lawyers under 40. She has been named to The Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Canada for 2016-2017 and 2019-2020, a list recognizing the most influential and innovative in-house corporate counsel in the country, and in 2016 she was a recipient of the Women in Build Awards, recognizing her dedication and creativity in a typically male-dominated industry. Andrea is a member of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, Toronto CREW and Women General Counsel of Canada. She is an active mentor in the real estate and legal communities and currently serves as a Director and Chair of Governance to the Pine River Institute.

Alison Harnick
MEMBERSHIP LEAD

Alison is the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of First Capital REIT, a leading owner, operator and developer of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centres in neighbourhoods with the strongest demographics in Canada.  In 2020, she led the creation of First Capital’s employee-led not-for-profit organization, the FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation, which has raised over $1.3M for over 40 organizations and donated over 940,000 meals.

Prior to joining First Capital in 2017, Alison practiced law at Torys LLP, representing and advising companies across a broad range of industries in connection with securities and corporate transactions. She also has strong expertise advising public companies and their boards on complex corporate governance and regulatory compliance matters.

Alison is a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Governance, Compensation and Environmental Committee of Dream Industrial REIT and a former member of the Board of Directors of Park People, a Canadian not for profit organization that helps realize the power of parks to build strong communities, healthy environments and resilient cities. Alison holds an Honour’s BA from McGill University in Political Science, a Bachelor of Laws from Western University and a Business Leadership Certificate from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

EMERITUS lEAD

Kathleen Flynn is the former Executive Vice President Real Estate, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Indigo Books & Music Inc. where she was responsible for the real estate portfolio and all legal, compliance and governance matters for Indigo, a publicly traded Canadian retailer. Prior to her in-house career at Indigo and Sears Canada she practiced real estate law at a national law firm in Toronto and taught courses part time at both Seneca College and University of Toronto.  Kathleen serves as a Director on the National Board of Habitat for Humanity Canada, Chairs the Governance Committee and has served on the Nominating and the Housing and Community Strategy Committees. Kathleen also serves as a mentor seeking to empower women and girls, under various programs, including Fora Network for Change – Rise on Boards.  Kathleen holds an LLB from Queens University, an LLM from York University and the ICD.D designation from University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

Adrian Lang
REGIONAL CHAPTER & RECRUITMENT LEAD (ONTARIO) & GCU ALUMNI LEAD 

Adrian is Chief Legal and Privacy Officer at Staples Canada, where she has accountability for all legal, regulatory and  compliance matters. Prior to that, she was Head of Operations and Small Business Solutions at Bank of Montreal, where she led the  integration and management of Small Business payment products, as well as managed operations for the cards business in North America and oversaw operational risk and compliance for the cards business. Prior to that, she was Head of Business Management for Personal and Commercial Banking, and Associate General Counsel, where she led the litigation team for P&C Canada.   She was awarded the Canadian General Counsel Award for Litigation Management in 2015, and her team was awarded Litigation Team of the year by Benchmark Litigation. Adrian received the 2015 Community Builder Award from the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association. Prior to joining the Bank, in 2013, she was a partner with Stikeman Elliott’s Toronto litigation group, where her practice focused on commercial litigation, securities litigation and class-action litigation. She was repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer by
Lexpert®, Benchmark Canada and Best Lawyers, and was recognized by Lexpert® in 2008 as one of the "Leading Lawyers Under 40". Ms. Lang currently serves on the Board of War Child Canada. She has served on numerous boards, including the Advisory Board of the Class Action Defences Quarterly, the Board of Governors for Royal St. George’s College (where she was also Chair of the Governance Committee), The Advocates' Society, the Advisory Board of Young Women in Law, Canadian Stage Company (where she was also Chair - 2013-15), and the YWCA Toronto.  She was a Vice Chair for the 2017 Princess Margaret Ride to Conquer Cancer. She is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Directors Education Program, and has her ICD.D designation.  

Genevieve Richard

REGIONAL chapter & RECRUITMENT lead (QUEBEC & ATLANTIC)
2025 Marquee Event Co-Lead | 2026 Marquee Event Lead

A professional legal director with more than twenty years of experience, Ms. Richard is known for providing strategic advice to executive committees and boards of directors. She works mainly in the areas of governance, mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure management and information technology projects. A leader in driving business growth and sustainability, she has valuable skills in cultural transformation, team management and overseeing major projects.

Ms. Richard has worked for many local and international companies including VIA Rail, Belron and the CSL Group. She currently serves as head of the Quebec chapter and as a director on the Board of Women General Counsel Canada (WGCC). She has also overseen the secretariat functions of numerous Canadian and international entities and their affiliates.

Lilac Bosma
REGIONAL CHAPTER & RECRUITMENT LEAD (BRITISH COLUMBIA)

Lilac is Vice President, Legal at Canfor Corporation, a proud member of a legal team working together to protect Canfor and help grow Canfor’s business.  Prior to joining Canfor, Lilac was the General Counsel of HSBC Bank Canada. Lilac joined HSBC as a specialist employment lawyer in 2012 after 10 years in private practice with a broad general commercial litigation and employment law practice.  She took on the role of Head of Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement in 2014, and was appointed Senior Vice President and General Counsel in 2018.

Lilac’s goal is to provide simple, practical advice to support Canfor’s business priorities in a sustainable and ethical way. She brings the skills she honed as a commercial litigator to every aspect of her role, strategically managing conflict to obtain superior outcomes. Lilac is known for her creative problem-solving, clear thinking under pressure and direct yet diplomatic communication. Her passion is people; Lilac’s personal purpose is to help those around her grow and transform to fulfill their full potential. In addition to her work with WGCC, Lilac is President and Chair of the Board of the Pacific Theatre Company. She enjoys cycling, hiking and skiing with her husband and three daughters.

Cinda Serianni
INDUSTRY FORUMS LEAD

Cinda Serianni is the former Associate General Counsel of Gilead and currently a Healthcare Compliance Consultant, podcaster and part-time professor at Niagara College.  She also serves as a Director of Skate Oakville. With over 23 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Cinda has held senior roles in legal affairs, ethics, and compliance, providing strategic counsel to senior management and global teams. While at Gilead, she served as the executive sponsor for Women at Gilead and founded the International Legal Squads program, a peer-to-peer mentoring initiative for international legal employees. Before joining Gilead, she was legal counsel at GlaxoSmithKline and a litigator in Toronto and St. Catharines.

Passionate about education, Cinda has developed courses for Niagara College, authored legal articles, and spoken at conferences worldwide. She has also served on several boards, including the Niagara Centre for Youth Care, and was appointed Governor for Niagara College. Cinda holds an LL.B. from the University of Windsor and a B.A. from the University of Toronto.

Corinne Pruzanski

2025 MARQUEE EVENT LEAD

Corinne Pruzanski is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary for Cadillac Fairview. Cadillac Fairview is one of the largest owners, operators, investors and developers of best-in-class office, retail, multi-family residential, industrial and mixed-use properties in North America, with assets under management across Canada of approximately $30 billion. Corinne oversees the provision of legal services including corporate governance and regulatory compliance, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development, and property operations matters. Prior to this, Corinne was the Chief Legal Officer with the Great Gulf Group of Companies, one of North America’s premier owners, managers and developers of residential and commercial real estate. An accomplished general counsel and senior executive with over 25 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry in Canada, the US and Europe, Pruzanski was previously general counsel for Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (CAPREIT) for more than a decade.  At CAPREIT, she oversaw the company’s growth in Canada and expansion into Europe, first in Ireland with the formation of its first multi-residential REIT, and in the Netherlands with the formation of the first Canadian listed
European multi-residential REIT. 

Prior to CAPREIT, Pruzanski was a partner in the real estate group at Stikeman Elliott LLP, which she joined after starting her legal career at law firms in New York. Her experience includes mergers, acquisitions and capital markets transactions in the multi-family, commercial and hospitality sectors on both sides of the border. She is a member of the board of directors of Women General Counsel Canada and the Distress Centres of Greater Toronto. Corinne is an experienced public company secretary, having served as corporate secretary to the CAPREIT board of trustees as well as the board of ERES REIT, and was corporate secretary and alternate director to CAPREITs’s Irish alternative investment fund manager. 

Lara Speirs
PAST CHAIR

As the Chief Legal Officer and EVP of Public Affairs of Randstad Canada for the last 10 years, Lara is a fluently bilingual C-suite executive and ICD-certified board member, with expertise in legal, HR and public affairs functions.  Lara's 25-year legal career straddles the private sector (HR services & financial institutions) and the public sector (government and Crown corporations).

As the 2022 Canada Law Award finalist for Female Trailblazer of the Year, Lara seeks to drive business growth in balance with strong risk mitigation strategies in the rapidly evolving world of work.  Lara is passionate about promoting a purpose-driven and diverse & inclusive workplace, bringing rigor to the growing gig economy and discipline to the complex web of automation, heightened data security and privacy. In addition to serving as President and board member of Women General Counsel Canada, Lara is an active member of the CD Howe Institute and sits on its Human Capital Council.  Lara also currently serves as an independent advisor to the Board on governance issues for Lac Marois Country Club. Her previous board experience includes serving as: the former chair of the Randstad Charity Foundation, as HR Committee and board member of the Side Launch Brewery and as the former Chair of the HR Committee and board member of Boost Youth & Child Advocacy Centre.

Prior to serving as Chief Legal Officer & EVP Public Affairs, Randstad Canada, Lara was in-house counsel, with expertise in overseeing HR governance, data privacy, compliance, and risk management programs.  Lara started her career as a constitutional litigator with the Department of Justice, after graduating from McGill University with both common law and civil law degrees. Lara obtained her BAH (psychology and health) magna cum laude from Queens University.