The Board

Board members are appointed to carry out the TSB's mandate. A list of current Board members and their background and experience is presented below.

Wendy A. Tadros
R. Henry Wright
Jonathan Seymour
James P. Walsh

Wendy A. Tadros
Appointed Acting Chair 9 December 2005
Appointed Member 1 July 1996

Wendy A. Tadros was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As the daughter of a navigator in the Canadian Armed Forces, she travelled extensively within Canada during her childhood. Mrs. Tadros obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, in 1978, followed by a Bachelor of Law from the University of Western Ontario, in London, in 1981.

Mrs. Tadros is a lawyer with extensive experience in the transportation sector. After being called to the Bar of Ontario, she held a variety of management and legal positions with the National Transportation Agency (NTA) of Canada and its predecessor, the Canadian Transport Commission. Among the senior legal counsel positions she held with these agencies over a 13-year period was her role in the late 1980s as lead counsel representing the Canadian Transport Commission before the Commission of Inquiry into the Hinton Train Collision, headed by Mr. Justice René Foisy. She was also Assistant General Counsel for the NTA, in which capacity she worked on the Agency's input into a comprehensive national review of transportation legislation in the early 1990s.

In 1992, Mrs. Tadros was appointed Inquiry Coordinator for "The Road to Accessibility: An Inquiry into Canadian Motor Coach Services." In this position, she managed pre-consultations and public hearings across Canada, as well as the writing of the final inquiry report.

As Director of Legal Services for the NTA, Mrs. Tadros was accountable for a wide range of legal services and staff. During her tenure as Director, she worked on the development of a training program for tribunal members and helped deliver the training at the Canadian Centre for Management Development.

She has been a member of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada since 1996.

Robert Henry Wright
Appointed Member 8 November 1999

R. Henry Wright was born in Cobourg, Ontario. He studied at Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Quebec, where he was elected President of the Students' Council and was a member of the university's Board of Governors. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1980.

Mr. Wright has extensive experience in administrative and strategic management in the public and non-profit sectors. He was an auditor for the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services and has served at the senior management level for a number of non-profit organizations, including Covenant House in Toronto, Burlington Association for the Mentally Retarded, and Peel Children's Centre in Mississauga.

As a private consultant operating his own business, Mr. Wright has assisted various organizations in developing strategic approaches in the areas of financial, human resource, and project management.

Immediately prior to being appointed to the TSB, Mr. Wright served as a consultant to the Business Development Bank of Canada, advising in the areas of government and public relations.

Travel and Hospitality Expenses

Jonathan Seymour
Appointed Member 2 November 1999

Jonathan Seymour was born in England. After attending the School of Navigation at Warsash, Southampton, he served as a deck officer on British merchant ships with P&O and the United Baltic Corporation.

Mr. Seymour attended the University of Sheffield, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Accountancy and Financial Administration, and Business Studies in 1972. After graduating, Mr. Seymour joined Geest Industries, an Anglo-Dutch group involved in the production and distribution of agricultural and horticultural products. In 1973, he transferred to the Geest Line, an in-house ship-owning company operating a fleet of refrigerated ships deployed mainly in the banana trade from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom. He held various positions with Geest Line, including Chartering Manager and Commercial Manager.

In 1977, Mr. Seymour joined Cunard in London as Commercial Manager, Fruit Carriers following a major expansion of its cargo fleet. He was subsequently appointed General Manager, Operations for the company's cargo fleet. In 1980, Mr. Seymour joined Everett Orient Line in Yokohama, Japan. This American-owned company owned and operated an extensive fleet of container, refrigerated, and general cargo ships operating throughout Asia and controlled most of the banana shipments from the Phillippines to Japan and the Middle East. Following the sale of the company to Japanese interests, Mr. Seymour moved to western Canada where he worked initially for Genstar Marine, the offshore affiliate of Seaspan International.

In 1986, Mr. Seymour established an independent consulting practice in Vancouver specializing in policy and economics work within the marine and other transportation fields. In addition to consulting, he was marine policy advisor to the British Columbia government from 1989 to 1992 and Executive Director of International Maritime Centre in Vancouver from 1993 to 1998.

Travel and Hospitality Expenses

James P. Walsh
Appointed Member 17 May 2004

James P. Walsh was born in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, in September 1949.

Mr. Walsh was the Member of the House of Assembly in Newfoundland and Labrador for the district of Conception Bay East-Bell Island from 1989 to 2003. Most recently, he served as Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, and also served as Minister of Tourism and Culture, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, and Parliamentary Secretary responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. Mr. Walsh also served as Caucus Chairman and Vice-Chair of the Public Account Committee.

Before entering politics, Mr. Walsh worked in public and private broadcasting in both radio and television. He was the founding Director and past President of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, Director of the Better Business Bureau, National Director of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, and Provincial Chair of the Federal Business Development Bank Community Business Initiative Program for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Walsh has also been an active leader in his community, serving as President of a number of organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce and Canada Jaycees. He was formerly a member and Director of the Harbour Authority of Conception Harbour. He serves on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Newfoundland and Labrador, was a founding member and Board Member of the Newfoundland & Labrador Parks & Recreation Association, and was past President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Restaurant and Foodservices Association.

In 2003, Mr. Walsh received the distinction of Honorary Life Member of the Transportation Association of Canada. Also, in recognition of his many years of community work, Mr. Walsh was awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal and the 125th Anniversary Medal.

Mr. Walsh is married to the former Barbara Best, and they currently reside in Ottawa. They have four children.

Travel and Hospitality Expenses