​

 

 

Michael Clair, Chair
Mike Clair is a former senior administrator with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and with Memorial University of Newfoundland. He now acts as a consultant in regional development, governance, innovation, immigration, tourism, culture and public policy. He is fluent in French and holds an MBA and a 6th degree black belt in Aikido, a martial art in the Japanese tradition. He and his wife, Mary Win, have two grown sons and are grandparents to 4 wonderful grandchildren.
 

​

​​

​​

​

​

​

​

Dr. Jill Allison, Secretary
Jill Allison is a medical anthropologist working in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland.  Her research explores structural or systemic barriers to health and wellness and the cultural and political contexts in which health care is delivered and received.  She is passionate about health equity and social justice and serves on a number of boards and organizations dedicated to improving access to wellness.  She has lived and worked in a number of provinces across Canada and countries around the world. She arrived in Newfoundland 21 years ago with her partner and four children and is now a  grandmother. She loves running, hiking, music and art as well as reading and writing.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Green, Treasurer
Mike Green brings over 15 years banking experience to the Board. He has been involved with starting and running three small businesses and has helped numerous others. He has written many business plans and reviewed countless others. Mike has a Bachelor of Commerce and MBA from Memorial University. Mike also has almost 15 years experience is Health and Wellness. He was an inaugural member of the Vandals Rugby Club and was involved in rugby as player, coach and referee for over 20 years. He is an avid hiker, runner, and camper and enjoys walking his dogs. He is a player and a board member of the first great grand master ultimate frisbee league in Canada. Mike is married, has two children, four step children, and 3 grandchildren (with another grand child expected this summer).

​​
 

 

 

Joseph Donkers, Vice Chair

Joe has worked in municipal accounting roles for 17 years at the Towns of Wabana (2008-2012) and Portugal Cove - St. Philip’s.  He holds a BA from Memorial University (Linguistics, Russian Studies) and currently studies to become a Certified Professional Accountant.

Within Bell Island Support Network, Joe has applied his accounting and community development experience in a variety of ways:
 

- Played foundational role as treasurer from 2002-2024;

- Developed financial policy, procedure, and tools;

- Advocates cooperative approaches to meet personal needs.
 

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

Christopher Burt, Member At Large
Christopher Burt is a lawyer with Legal Aid NL. He lives in Portugal Cove with his two beautiful children and his strong, brilliant and equally beautiful fiancé. He is one of a handful of bilingual lawyers at Legal Aid NL, being fluent in French and English, and continues to learn other languages in his spare time. He also continues to play and coach rugby, against the advice of all around him, for the Swilers Rugby Club. He holds an MBA from the University of New Brunswick that focused on sustainable community development and social enterprise. Other interests include reading, fitness, gardening/farming, cooking, and being a good dad.
 

​
 

​

 

 

 

 

 

David Hammond, CD BBA MER CPHR
Member at Large
David was born on Bell Island and graduated from St. Michael’s High School in 2000.  Residing in Paradise, he’s a proud husband and father of two children. He still has family on the island and recently purchased and renovated a seasonal home there. He is familiar with the constraints associated with the island’s infrastructure, healthcare system and transportation network. He possesses a Bachelor of Business degree, a professional designation as a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and a Master’s degree in Employee Relations. He is currently enrolled in McMaster University’s Labour Relations Certificate program while concurrently earning an Executive Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor. He worked for ten years as a Human Resources Consultant with Eastern Health and  previous Director of Corporate Services with the Registered Nurses’ Union of Newfoundland and Labrador and Currently the Executive Director of the Registered Nurses’ Union of Newfoundland and Labrador. David holds the rank of Major with the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve and serves as Deputy Commanding Officer of First Battalion, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment. In his spare time, David enjoys spending time on Bell Island with his family including his two dogs Louie and Tulo.

​
 

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

Dr. Todd Adamowich, Member at Large

​Todd, with a Ph.D. in Social  Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, integrates grounded theory into social work practice, focusing on professional relationships as the 
crucible for professional interventions. His academic journey includes an MSW, specializing in Individual, Family, and Group practice, and an Honors BA in Psychology. As an adjunct faculty member at various universities, including Windsor and Laurier, Dr. Todd shapes and teaches practice and research courses. Operating a private practice since 2007, he offers psychotherapy, consultation, and training, emphasizing mental health, treatment for PTSD, relational counselling and self-development. His diverse clinical background spans roles in family counselling centres, college campuses, and child and adult mental health positions. Committed to continuous learning, Dr. Todd holds certifications in narrative therapy, crisis intervention, trauma-focused behavioural therapy, psychodynamic and attachment-based interventions and contributes actively to social work research and publications.

​

​

​

 

​


 

Kandice Gosine MSW, RSW, Member at large

Kandice has been a social worker since 2017, holding both a BSW and MSW from Memorial University. She has experience working in the areas of child protection, community development, system navigation, and is currently employed as a Mental Health Manager with the Labrador-Grenfell region of the province (NLHS). With a large portion of her work experience being in Labrador, she has developed an unwavering appreciation for our Indigenous population and places an emphasis on continued learning, self-reflection and allyship. Coming from Bell Island, she can relate to the realm of struggles that exist in the community. Practising from a trauma-informed lens, she is committed to advocating for support and overcoming barriers to continue to make our beautiful island thrive. She also understands the importance of relationship building and honouring those with lived experiences. Aside from her professional life, Kandice enjoys spending time creating memories with her two young daughters, staying active and reading a good book.