Board of Directors

Rita Mezei, Executive Director, Founding Director

Rita is Executive Director and Founding Director at the Canadian Centre for Healthcare Facilities operating as an independent consultant to develop strategic events and programs for clients. At CCHF she is responsible for the day to day operations, develops strategies with the Board, and leads the development of programs. Rita’s passion is working with stakeholders to promote changes to improve systems for better outcomes. She has developed collaborative relationships with a number of national and regional partner associations, governments and the private sector.

Rita has over 20 years of experience working in national, non-profit associations in healthcare and childhood safety. She worked at the Canadian Standards Association as Project Manager, Healthcare and Community Safety Group for 6 years until 2010. At CSA she led the development of a number of healthcare facility standards including, ‘Canadian Healthcare Facilities – Design, Construction and Renovation’.

At Safe Kids Canada (SKC) – a national program of the Hospital for Sick Children, she was Manager of Advocacy where she led successful injury prevention campaigns including, reducing hot water temperatures in building/plumbing codes to reduce childhood scald burn injuries in homes and institutions, and improving toy standards and baby product safety using evidence-based information and working with key stakeholders. She was also Policy Director at the Canadian Environment Industry Association facilitating the growth and impact of the environmental businesses in Ontario.

Rita obtained a Masters of Science degree in Planning from the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from McMaster University. Rita served as a volunteer Board member of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in Chatham, Ontario. Currently, she lives in British Columbia.

Gordon Burrill, President and Founding Director

Gordon Burrill is President of Teegor Consulting Inc., an international consulting firm specializing in healthcare engineering and construction. He spent 13 years as a design engineer, followed by 7 years as the Director of the Engineering for a New Brunswick Health Authority in Canada before branching out to Teegor Consulting Inc. in August of 2004. He is a Registered Professional Engineer with 25 years experience in the design, construction, operations and maintenance of healthcare facilities and is both a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager and a Certified Healthcare Constructor.

He is member of the Standing Committee on Building and Plumbing Systems to the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, a member of the National Fire Protection Association’s Health Care Section, a former Council Member of the International Federation for Hospital Engineers, Past President of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society and a member of the Canadian Societies for Civil and Mechanical Engineering.

Gordon is currently the vice-chair of the Canadian Standards Association’s Technical Committee for Health Care Facility Engineering and Physical Plant and an active member on several of their technical subcommittee. Gordon is also a member of the NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code technical correlating committee and technical committees for fundamentals and mechanical systems.

Michael Hickey, Director

Mike Hickey was the Director; Facilities Management and Support Services for Northern Health Authority based in Prince George BC, after working for 35 years in the Facilities Management side of healthcare. Twenty-one years have been in St. John’s NL, his city of birth, while the last 14 years have been in Prince George. Prior to moving to northern BC, Mike served as an Assistant Director of Facilities Management with the Healthcare Corporation of St. John’s and has worked in both acute care and long-term care.

Mike’s background is in Power Engineering. He has also completed the management programs of Modern Management, Quality Management for Healthcare Professionals, Health Services Management, and Long-Term Care Senior management (academic excellence award) through the Canadian Healthcare Association. He has represented BC on the National Energy Efficiency Advisory committee with the Canadian College of Health Service Executives and held membership on the CHA National Advisory Committee for Management programs across Canada. He has also served as an Education Consultant with CHA for the Modern Management program. He is a past Chair of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES), as well as past National President of CHES. Mike is also a Faculty member for the Canadian Healthcare Construction Program course, a joint effort of CHES (Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society) and ASHE (American Society for Healthcare Engineering).

He is also a faculty member of the Canadian Standards Association for CSA Standard Z317.13-12, Infection Control during Construction, Renovation and Maintenance of Healthcare Facilities. Mike is still very active as a consultant in the field of Healthcare Engineering, operating under the name of MF Hickey Consulting. In his spare time, he serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Prince George Hospice Society.

Cliff Harvey, Founding Director

Cliff Harvey, Chief Planning Officer for Niagara Health.  Niagara Health is a regional healthcare provider with multiple sites and a growing network of community-based services.  Cliff is collaboratively leading Niagara Health through the planning, design and implementation of their capital infrastructure project, allowing Niagara Health to position themselves for the future.  Using Design Management methods, he is building holistically upon governance, strategy, project management, planning, design, and procurement to deliver the right project.  Design Management supports a culture of innovation, creativity and transformation, and builds a structure for the organization to successfully deliver on their strategic vision – from discovery to execution to operations – while still supporting strict governance, comprehensive reporting, and effective business decisions.

Cliff’s professional roles include Senior Architect at the Ontario Government, Senior Hospital Executive, and a practising Architect. Cliff searches for excellence through continuous learning and professional curiosity, always challenging himself to be better and to stay ahead of the curve.  Cliff volunteers his time to boards, committees, professional task groups, and advises on educational programs, all focused on health and design. Cliff is an international speaker on health and design.

With over 25 years of experience, Michael Keen is recognized as a leader in healthcare infrastructure and development of the built environment of care. As Vice-President & Chief Planning Officer at Unity Health Toronto, he provides corporate leadership for the development and implementation of strategic capital plans. In this capacity, he currently leads over $750 million in redevelopment as well as a significant renewal of inpatient, outpatient and surgical programs.

Additionally, Michael has been a champion for positive transformational change and continuous quality improvement for over 25 years in healthcare standards. As a member of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standards Development Council he provides leadership in the role of Chair of the Strategic Steering Committee for Health & Well-Being.  Furthermore, Michael is also a faculty member in the education of Healthcare Facility Planning & Design and has overseen research projects to inform evidence-based decision-making, in essence supporting his commitment to system learning.

Internationally, Michael was past chair of the Healthcare Technical Committee at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the inaugural chair of the infectious diseases committee.