Board Of Directors

At Sophia Recovery Centre, we have a wonderful team with a wide range of expertise, creating well rounded support for our community. Many of the team have lived with the impacts of addiction and recovery, and everyone has a passion for supporting women and their families.

Bio

Lynn Nagle, RN, PhD, FAAN, FCAN

Lynn is best known for her leadership and expertise in health care administration and digital health in a variety of clinical and academic settings. She has served on numerous provincial, national and international community boards, expert panels and advisory committees focused on the advancement of digital health.

She is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Brunswick, the University of Toronto, and Western University.

Born and raised in the Saint John area, Lynn has recently returned to the province and is now volunteering her time and expertise to support organizations that further enrich our community.

Lynn Nagle, RN, PhD, FAAN, FCAN

Director, Immediate Past Chair

Bio

Dr. Tracy Meyer, BSc, MD, FRCPC

Tracy completed medical school at Queen’s University and then a residency at Dalhousie. It was there that she developed a love for the east coast and an interest in marginalized populations and substance use disorders. Today her practice is a mix of Emergency Medicine and Addiction Medicine.

Through her work, she has seen the benefits Sophia Recovery Centre can provide for women. It fosters a warm and welcoming community for women and allows them to have a safe place to explore new chapters in their lives.

She has been a board member since December 2020 and is thrilled to be a part of its growth.

Dr. Tracy Meyer, BSc, MD, FRCPC

Chair

Bio

Julie Trites

Julie grew up in Saint John before moving to Halifax to study journalism at the University of King’s College. Her curiosity and love of storytelling ultimately led to a career in corporate communications and change management. She helps organizations identify and share compelling stories that move people to change their attitudes or behaviours.

Julie is also a mental health advocate who has shared her own experiences with anxiety and depression through blogs and podcasts. She’s inspired by the work of Sophia Recovery Centre and looks forward to using her skills and experience to support other women in their recovery journeys.

Julie Trites

Vice Chair

Bio

Karen Palmer, CPA

Karen, a CPA, is currently the Accounts Payable Manager for Horizon Health Network. Her project and construction background honed her cost control and variance analysis skills.

She is also experienced in financial statement reporting & analysis, process improvement, and change management.

She and her husband have three grown children and are recently managing the change to an empty nest.

Karen Palmer, CPA

Treasurer

Bio

Paula Nicholson

Paula is the Director of Learning and Development with the Huestis Insurance Group in Saint John.

With over 20+ years of senior-level management, she has had the tremendous opportunity to lead teams, participate in numerous major projects, and develop key strategic initiatives. She attributes much of her success to her ability to build strong relationships with team members through a collaborative approach and a clear communication style.

Paula and her husband enjoy hiking on the weekends in the beautiful province of New Brunswick and are in relentless pursuit of new waterfalls to view!

Paula Nicholson

Secretary

Bio

Dr. Kim Barker

Since 2019, Dr Kim Barker is the Regional Medical Officer of Health for the Saint John region of New Brunswick.

Prior to that, she was the Chief Medical Officer of Health in Nunavut and has held numerous positions overseas with a particular interest in indigenous populations and vulnerable groups in general.

She is a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada with a specialty of PHPM (Public health and preventive medicine), and also holds a Masters in Public Health and is certified with the Canadian College of Family Physicians.

Dr. Kim Barker, MD, CCFP, MPH, FRCPC

Director

Bio

Emilie Wells, BA, MPA

Emilie has been a member of Sophia's Mission Advisory Committee since 2021 and joined the Board of Directors in 2022.

She brings a strong analytical- and evidence-based skill set to her work, developed during her time in government, academia, and both the national and international not-for-profit sectors. Emilie also serves on the Board of Directors at the Saint John Free Public Library.

She holds a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University along with a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Political Science and Psychology from Mount Allison University.

Emilie Wells, BA, MPA

Director

Bio

Diane Ganong

Diane began her career as a nurse working in Montreal and Toronto before returning to New Brunswick. She started volunteering for community organizations when her 3 children were young.

Diane developed an interest in international development and worked with UNICEF Canada for 25 years.

Over the years, she opened a couple of businesses including Bistro on the Boulevard in St Stephen, NB.

Diane is on the board of several organizations including: Fundy Region Transition House, Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center, Saint Andrew’s Paddling Club, and Windsor Foundation.

She is working on her bucket list which includes travel with friends and experiences with her 5 grandchildren.

Diane Ganong, RN, BA

Director

Bio

Holly Richards

Holly Richards, CHE MN BNRN BA CPMHN(c) CMSN(c)

Director

Bio

Shannon Hunter

Shannon Hunter is President and CEO of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation (SJRHF), the primary fundraising partner for New Brunswick’s largest tertiary care hospital and the New Brunswick Heart Centre.

She is committed to supporting women in leadership and has built and leads an all-female leadership team, fostering a culture where women are supported to grow, thrive, and lead with confidence. Since 2024, she has driven significant organizational growth, increasing philanthropic revenue by 35% while cultivating a high-performing, people-first culture.

An executive leadership graduate with more than 20 years of experience, Shannon is known for leading complex, high-impact initiatives.

Shannon lives in Rothesay, New Brunswick, with her husband, Peter, and their nine-year-old twin daughters.

Board Of Directors

Lynn Nagle, RN, PhD, FAAN, FCAN

Director, Immediate Past Chair

Dr. Tracy Meyer, BSc, MD, FRCPC

Chair

Julie Trites

Vice Chair

Karen Palmer, CPA

Treasurer

Paula Nicholson

Secretary

Dr. Kim Barker, MD, CCFP, MPH, FRCPC

Director

Emilie Wells, BA, MPA

Director

Diane Ganong, RN, BA

Director

Holly Richards, CHE MN BNRN BA CPMHN(c) CMSN(c)

Director

Shannon Hunter

Director

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