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, ReMaak Events Inc., to develop strategic events and programs for clients. At CCHF develops strategies with the Board, and delivers events for CCHF.

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 including Canadian College of Health Leaders, Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society.

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 to reduce childhood scald burn injuries by advocating building/plumbing code safety changes affecting 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 Burill

president / founding director

Gordon is President of Teegor Consulting Inc., a consulting firm specializing in healthcare engineering and construction. He spent 13 years as a design engineer, followed by 7 years as the Director of Engineering for a New Brunswick Health Authority before branching out to Teegor Consulting Inc. in August of 2004.

He is a Registered Professional Engineer with 20 years of experience in the design, construction, and maintenance of healthcare facilities, and is a faculty member for the Healthcare Construction Certificate of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering.

Gordon is an active member of several CSA committees, where he serves as Vice‑Chair of the Technical Committee for Health Care Facility Engineering and Physical Plant, as well as on a number of Technical Sub‑Committees.

He is also a member of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, the National Fire Protection Association’s Health Care Section, a former Council Member of the International Federation for Hospital Engineers, and a Past President of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society.

Mike Hickey

director

Mike Hickey last worked as the Director, Facilities Management and Support Services for Northern Health Authority based in Prince George, BC. He retired in 2013 after working for 35 years in the facilities management side of healthcare.

He has completed the management programs of Modern Management, Quality Management for Healthcare Professionals, Health Services Management, and Long-Term Care Senior Management (academic excellence award winner) through the Canadian Healthcare Association.

Mike has represented BC on the National Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee with the Canadian College of Health Service Executives, as well as their National Energy and Environmental Stewardship Awards team. He has held membership on the CHA National Advisory Committee for Management Programs across Canada, and 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 Certificate program, a joint effort of CHES and ASHE (American Society for Healthcare Engineering), and serves as a faculty member and technical subcommittee member for CSA Standard Z317.13-22, 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.

He is a past President of the Board of Directors for the Prince George Hospice Society, as well as a lifetime member of that organization. He also volunteers as a board member with the Canadian Centre for Healthcare Facilities.

Mike is a past recipient of the prestigious Hans Burgers Award (CHES 2016), a national award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare Engineering in Canada, making him a lifetime member of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering 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.

michael keen

founding director

With over 30 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 $4 Billion in redevelopment planning.

Michael has been a champion for positive transformational change and continuous quality improvement for over 30 years in healthcare standards. As a member of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) he provides leadership in standards development, with emphasized focus in the Healthcare Sector.

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.