Board Biographies

Hayley Dawson is an associate specialist in the department of Decorative Arts & Design at Waddington’s Auctioneers in Toronto. She holds an MFA in Art Criticism and Curatorial Practice from OCAD University and a BAH in Art History from Queen’s University. Her work focuses on ceramics, glass and silver, including the researching, cataloguing and preparation for auction. Hayley had previously worked with art galleries and arts programs developing and organizing exhibitions; conducting research at other auction houses; and as a teaching assistant at OCAD University, prior to joining Waddington’s. 

Hayley is a painter and illustrator and participated in two art battle competitions in university. She has also leveraged her artistic interests by volunteering with children and youth, assisting in creative workshops, and organizing the annual Vibe Arts Fest for two years.

Rani Glick is a Certified Nutrition Practitioner (CNP), Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner and (ROHP), Wellness Coach and former Arts Management Executive. She offers a range of experience in nutrition, stress management and holistic health practices. Her diverse skills in strategic planning, and conference and professional development workshops have included over 15 national and provincial conferences and association events. She has coordinated 30 professional development workshops and liaised with over 500 members in professional associations and organizations such as the Arts Dealers Association of Canada, Community Arts Ontario and Toronto School of Art. She has also managed million-dollar budgets and coordinated organizational systems, databases, strategic planning initiatives and equity and diversity programs. Rani loves working with corporate teams and individuals.

Susan Golets has spent more than 30 years working in the not-for-profit and public sector. She is an experienced leader with the Ontario provincial government, and  has worked in a variety of ministries. Over the years she has lead transformational change initiatives in complex policy and political environments by: conceptualizing strategic policy frameworks, designing integrated programs, building partnerships and effective relationships with stakeholders, and developing high performing teams to deliver timely results.

She is currently the Director, Sport Recreation and Community Programs Policy Branch for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Susan has a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto and most recently, for six years, served on the board of the Fred Victor Centre, where she also chaired the Service Quality Committee. Susan and Nestor love to travel in Canada and abroad, and they are avid collectors of whatever moves them.

Gilles Latour - President & Treasurer - has contributed to the growth of the Canadian education sector for over 15 years as Chief Operating Officer of the EdCan Network - Canadian Education Association. As COO Gilles’s role included the management of budgets, oversight of all areas of membership, events management, sponsorship and patron development, circulation and publishing areas of the association. For his professional volunteering background Gilles is Past President of the Canadian Society of Association Executive Trillium Chapter – a non-profit professional association providing knowledge and resources to the association sector. Gilles has contributed greatly towards arts related organizations such as the Past President of Craft Ontario (formerly the Ontario Crafts Council), Past President of the Canadian Crafts Federation (CCF/FCMA). Past Board member of Visual Arts Ontario (VAO). Gilles currently sits and Chairs on a number of committees at the professional and arts volunteer sectors.

Charlotte Mickie is a former Director of the Board for the Powerplant and Advisory Board Member of C Magazine, Charlotte is an avid collector of contemporary art.  She currently serves on advisory boards for Images Film Festival, REEL Canada, Gamechanger, and is a returning Expert for ACE (Ateliers de Cinéma Européen). For the past ten years, Mickie has served as a programmer for the Open Roof Film Festival.  Mickie has been a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2018.

On a professional level, Charlotte recently re-joined Celluloid Dreams in the role of Vice-President, Acquisitions and Sales, handling, among other films, BABYTEETH (Venice Biennale Competition 2019, winner of the Marcello Mastroianni prize), Oscar short-listed and Biennale Competition selection THE PAINTED BIRD by Valclav Marhoul, multiple Biennale Donatello award-winner NICO 1988 by Susannah Nicchiarelli, and WENDY by Benh Zeitlin (BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD).

Dr., Michael J. Prokopow is an historian and curator. His areas of expertise include material culture, design and architecture, cultural theory and curatorial practice. He has published widely on aesthetics, craft, and modernism. Most recently he completed a study of a house designed by Canadian architect Arthur Erickson for Vancouver artists Gordon and Marion Smith. In 2016 he co-curated with Dr. Rachel Gotlieb the critically acclaimed, traveling exhibition “True Nordic: How Scandinavia influenced design in Canada.” He is currently working on a survey of contemporary domestic architecture in the pacific west (housing in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia) and a monograph on the practice of British artist Hurvin Anderson. In addition, he is also working on a study of middle class taste in North America between 1940 and 1975. Currently, Michael serves on a number of non-profit boards, including the Arthur Erickson Foundation, C Magazine, and the editorial board of Studio: Craft and Design in Canada. Previously, he served on the boards of the Architectural Conservatory of Ontario and Craft Ontario. He is a faculty member at OCAD University. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Julie Riches - Secretary - has participated in the decorative arts and fine art sector for over a decade. Her participation includes appraisals, auctioneering and volunteering to advance the appraisal profession. She currently serves on the leadership team of the Antiques, Furnishings & Decorative Arts committee at the International Society of Appraisers (ISA). This committee represents 2/3 of the membership at ISA. Further, she volunteers as a member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Chapter of ISA.

Personally, Julie has followed in the footsteps of her family matriarch. She developed an appreciation of antiques and decorative arts at a young age. She is an avid collector of porcelain, pottery, art glass, silver, and militaria. Her passions have led her to become steeped in the arts, providing opportunities to give back while utilizing a network of artists, collectors, and like-minded professionals. Additional volunteerism with non-profits and not-for-profits has focused on the development of new member strategies, membership retention, and the implementation of innovative learning platforms.

Janice P. Warren - Vice President - is a lawyer whose practice focusses on business immigration, primarily representing Canadians wishing to relocate to the United States. She is an ardent collector of art glass, keenly encouraging young makers in Ontario. She was on the Board of Craft Ontario for 10 years as well as chairing its event/fundraising committee. Until recently Janice volunteered in the same capacity with Dress for Success. She was a regularly published restaurant reviewer/critic. 

Henry Wiercinski -  Chair of the CSDA - and practiced business law in Toronto at McCarthy Tetrault LLP,  for over forty years until his recent retirement.  His focus included financial services, structured products, project finance and infrastructure as well as transportation elements related to aircraft and rolling stock financing.  Interested in transportation and urban development,  he is currently Vice-Chair of Rail Safety First, a coalition of residents and business improvement associations that advocates for safe, transparent and accountable rail, Vice-Chair of the Annex Residents Association, and Director of Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan. Henry and his wife Faye are interested in a wide range of art and decorative arts.