Board of Directors
Passion for the arts, diverse skills and deep roots in our community
Jane Foster
Chair
Dr. Foster joined UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Center of Depression Research and Clinical Care in May 2022. Her work focuses on linking a person’s 30 trillion gut microbes and their propensity for mental illness.
In the past 20 years, Dr. Foster has developed an internationally recognized translational research program. Her multidisciplinary expertise includes behavioral neuroscience, molecular biology, immunology, neuroimaging, microbiome, and bioinformatics in both preclinical and clinical research domains.
Dr. Foster’s research program has developed high-quality analytical pipelines for biological data and has developed novel analytical tools for integrating data across modalities. Dr. Foster’s involvement in the broader psychiatric community across Canada, the US, and Europe, provides a unique opportunity to study the complex neurobiological underpinnings of microbiota-brain and neuroimmune systems in psychiatric illness in clinical populations and to explore underlying biological mechanisms in animal models.
Verônica Heringer
Vice Chair
Verônica Heringer is a seasoned professional with a rich background in digital media, product management, and audience development. She proudly embraces her “carioca da gema” identity and her journey reflects the values of diversity, dialogue, and unity, instilled by her Rio de Janeiro upbringing.Upon immigrating to Canada in 2006, Verônica actively contributed to the burgeoning Brazilian and Latin American community in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her unconventional path led her from a journalism degree to roles in TV programming and social marketing, ultimately becoming a Product Leader in EdTech and Media.
Candice Keem
Treasurer
Candice Keem has over 15 years of experience in social services, specializing in the developmental disability sector. Known for her unwavering dedication, leadership, and collaborative approach, Candice has driven organizations toward growth in quality assurance, event production, case management, and social capital building.
Her commitment to inclusivity has earned her the Burlington 150 Award from the Provincial Parliament and Burlington Accessibility Award from the City of Burlington. As a former Board Member for Burlington Sound of Music Festival, Candice was pivotal in establishing the event’s first accessible seating area and inclusive performance series, while serving as primary advocate for disability matters.
On the Arts for All Board, Candice continues to champion community inclusion and opportunities for all. Her passion for empowering individuals to live fulfilling lives with equal access and respect drives her ongoing commitment to advocacy and social change.
Brenda Ferguson
Member
Brenda Ferguson is the C.E.O. of Today’s Family Early Learning and Child Care, a not-for-profit charitable early learning and child care agency serving 6000 families in Hamilton, Halton, Haldimand Norfolk, and Oxford; employing more than 300 caregivers, support staff, and licensed home child care providers.
Brenda is an active participant in numerous community initiatives supporting early learning and child care, governance, and the arts with a focus on improving the lives of children. Her many professional and voluntary community activities include:
- Board Chair of the Home Child Care Association of Ontario
- Former Board President of Culture for Kids in the Arts (now Arts for All)
- Former Vice Chair Centre 3 for Artistic and Social Practice
- Member Quality Early Learning Network
- Co-Chair CMSM Hamilton
Liz Harrington
Member
Elizabeth (Liz) Harrington is a strategic communications leader with more than 16 years of experience in public service, healthcare, and the charitable sector. She currently serves as Head of Communications and Public Relations at CANZA, where she leads national initiatives that strengthen trust, collaboration, and transparency.
A former dancer and graduate of the Professional Program at the Quinte Ballet School of Canada, Liz is passionate about the transformative power of the arts and their role in building inclusive, connected communities. Her professional career has been guided by values of equity, creativity, and public good.
Liz brings expertise in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and governance to her role on the Arts For All Board, helping advance its mission to make the arts accessible for everyone in Hamilton.
Melissa Stenhouse
Member
Melissa has remained nearby and connected to the vision of Arts For All for many years, serving as a steward of partnership, supporting system-level development, and championing the model and transformation of early arts pedagogy. Her work invites an unravelling of traditional approaches and a shift in focus toward how children play, create, and make meaning through the arts.
She serves as a leader in the early learning and child care sector with a distinct passion for defining quality throughout childhood, guided by the voices, wonder, and ways of knowing of every child and the role they play in neighbourhoods. Melissa’s leadership is grounded in the belief that the arts are not simply an experience for children, but a way of listening to them, creating spaces where curiosity, relationships, and imagination shape what quality can become.
Evren “Oz” Ozdemir
Member
Through Evren Oz Productions, he collaborates closely with agencies, producers, and directors to craft bespoke music that elevates story, strengthens brand identity, and enhances the emotional impact of visual media. Alongside his creative work, he is committed to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of creators, sharing his experience and encouraging emerging artists and producers to use the tools of modern music production in service of stronger storytelling.