Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island

Who We Are


The Workers Compensation Board works to protect Island workers and employers through the administration of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The WCB is governed by a Board of Directors whose mandate is to represent the ownership of Prince Edward Islanders in overseeing the organization's performance. Among the Board of Directors' responsibilities are the approvals of WCB policies, budgets and assessment rates.

The Board of Directors is made up of a Chair and an equal number of worker and employer representatives. Together, they reflect a balance of stakeholder interests in the Island's workplace compensation and safety system.

The Board of Directors’ approach to stewardship and oversight of the WCB is set out in its governance policies. The policies are reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to reflect governance best practices and are aligned with the WCB’s vision, mission and values.

Board Governance Policies

Responsibility for the WCB's operations is delegated by the Board of Directors to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO is responsible for the development and implementation of the WCB's programs, processes, policies and procedures.

Our organizational chart describes the way the WCB is structured and how we work together.

There are many ways you become more involved in the WCB:
  • To apply to become a Board member, please visit the Engage PEI website.
  • To find out about opportunities to become a member of the WCB staff team, visit the career opportunities section of our website.
  • To provide input into WCB policies, click on policy consultation.
  • If you have suggestions about how we can improve our service, please contact our customer liaison service.
If you have any questions about who we are or the work that we do, please contact us.

WCB Board of Directors

 Chair
Jim MacPhee Jim MacPhee graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Prince Edward Island and received his chartered accountancy designation in 1973. Mr. MacPhee has had a long standing career as a Chartered Accountant since 1973 and brings valuable experience from serving on various Boards such as the Veteran Review and Appeal Board, Canada Revenue Agency Board of Management, Canada Revenue Agency Audit Committee and the Holland College Foundation. Mr. MacPhee is also a dedicated volunteer, serving on various community Boards such as the Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross and the Montague Curling Club.

Worker Representatives
  Nancy MacFadyen has had a long career in the health care sector as a registered nurse in both acute care and in the community. As a staff nurse, nurse manager, educator and leader, she has experience in a variety of settings. Nancy has actively participated in her profession throughout her career by being a member/director of many associations and organizations, the most recent being President of the Association of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island and a director on the Canadian Nurses Association Board.
  Blair Weeks graduated from UPEI with a BA in Political Studies in 1987 and a Masters from Queens University in 1992. He began a career in public administration in 1989 with the PEI Department of Education and stayed there until 2005. In 2005, he served as the Staff Researcher with the Commission on PEIs Electoral Future, and later on as the Legislative Editor for the Province for 2 years. Blair also worked in positions at the Department of Social Services, Department of Health and Health PEI. In 2011, he became the Policy, Research and Education Analyst at the PEI Union of Public Sector Employees and retired in 2022. Blair is currently the President of the Charlottetown Curling Club and Rebuilding Committee.
  Valerie Robinson was an experienced employee of Health PEI and served on numerous committees for the PEI Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists, chairing numerous consecutive Convention Committees. At the National level, Valerie has served on the Board of Professional Development Committee to promote higher learning, education and continuous efforts for self-improvement. Valerie is currently a Trustee for the Public Service Group Insurance Plan (PGSIP) and has extensive experience in this capacity.

Employer Representatives
  Krishna Burugadda is currently employed as Senior HR Generalist at Sekisui Diagnostics in Charlottetown and has over 5 years of experience in the human resources industry in a variety of roles. Mr. Burugadda has extensive training and experience in occupational health and safety, labor relations and currently holds both Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) and Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR) designations.
  Gail Ellis joined ADL in June of 1989 after graduating from UPEI with a BBA and obtained her CPA CMA designation in 2003. She accepted the position of Corporate Treasurer in 2005 and later added the duties of Corporate Secretary in 2013. Gail is also tasked with the Senior Management Team of providing oversight to Special Projects, including the newly formed Cooperative Leadership Program and the Dairy Pathway Project Expansion underway at the cheese plant.
  Alan MacKinnon is a retired Chartered Accountant and was a partner in an international accounting firm. He specialized in business advisory and corporate restructuring. He is a former President of the Canadian Association of Insolvency Restructuring Professionals and has served on numerous professional, charitable and community organizations. He currently serves as Business Manager for Georgetown Port Inc.
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WCB Chief Executive Officer

Cheryl Paynter Cheryl Paynter, BBA, CPA, CA, ICD.D Cheryl recently earned her Lean Six Sigma green belt designation along with her ICD.D designation having completed the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program. Cheryl has worked extensively in private industry in the public accounting sector and in varying levels of management of financial, operational and sales roles in the hospitality sector.

Cheryl joined the Province of PEI’s economic development Crown agency, Innovation PEI in 2011 as CEO and transitioned to the CEO of Tourism PEI after a year in a dual role, where she served until early June 2019 where she transitioned to the Workers Compensation Board of PEI.

Cheryl is a graduate of the 2015 Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC) and is past president and honorary life member of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, past Audit & Environment Chair and board member with Maritime Electric Co. Ltd., past Governor of Atlantic Canada Economic Council, past board member of various industry and community, and minor sporting groups. She currently is a board member of the PEI Marathon and the Community Foundation of PEI and is a proud member of the 100 Women Who Care, Charlottetown chapter and the planning committee for the 2022 GGCLC conference.
 
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