Our Team
Gerry Wright
Executive Director
Gerry Wright is the Executive Director of Canada’s Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats and a member of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research. He is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, an Associate member in the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and of Pathology and Molecular Medicine. Gerry received his BSc in Biochemistry (1986) and his PhD in Chemistry (1990) from the University of Waterloo working in the area of antifungal drugs under Dr John Honek. He followed this up with two years of postdoctoral research in Chris Walsh’s lab at Harvard Medical School in Boston, where he worked on the molecular mechanism of resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin in enterococci. He joined McMaster in 1993.
Gina Mannen
Director of Operations
With over 15 years of experience, Gina Mannen ensures control and accountability to leadership by operationalizing and implementing the vision of the Global Nexus. Gina oversees financial management, administration, governance, human resources, innovation, strategic and operational management, and infrastructure projects and plays a leadership role in the management of many diverse initiatives. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Fredericton and a Business Administration diploma from McMaster.
Beth Gallagher
Associate Director, Communications
Beth is a strategic storyteller leading communications for the Global Nexus. She is skilled editor, writer, and video producer with experience in integrated communications planning, executive communications, cross-platform content development, and web re-design. She is a former journalist and teacher with degrees in literature, education, and journalism.
Monique Savage Williams
Project Manager
Monique is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She holds bachelors and masters degrees with specializations in Spanish, international relations, and communication for social and behaviour change from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Her project management portfolio includes social policy, manufacturing, and information and communications technology initiatives in the public and private sectors, in Jamaica and in Canada. As a member of Global Nexus, Monique uses her planning, strategizing, and organizing skills to execute diverse events and projects. She always strives to not only meet but exceed stakeholder expectations to help Global Nexus achieve its mandates.
Genevieve Forsyth
Project Coordinator
Genevieve Forsyth is the Project Coordinator for Global Nexus. She is responsible for metrics, information management, knowledge management, research analysis, and project support. Genevieve holds an Honours BA in History from the University of British Columbia, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Western University. Genevieve has a strong and varied research background, having had the pleasure of working on projects related to everything from the BC Gold Rush to tractor repair. When she is not collecting data or coordinating projects, Genevieve enjoys reading and trail running.
Kathy Bronson
Executive Assistant to Gerry Wright
Kathy Bronson is the Executive Assistant to Dr. Gerry Wright, the Executive Director of Global Nexus. Kathy has worked in healthcare for over 28 years supporting various levels of management. Her previous experience gives her unique perspective in her role with Global Nexus. Most recently, Kathy worked as a Call Agent with Criticall Ontario, a Ministry of Health-funded program that supports access to and delivery of urgent and emergent care within Ontario. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Criticall played a key role in supporting health care in our province.
Blake Dillon
Communications Support
Blake Dillon is a multimedia and communications specialist with a diverse background in journalism, graphic design, web development, corporate communications, and brand strategy implementation. Based at the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Blake is responsible for promoting the university’s infectious disease-related projects and research initiatives. Blake also lends communications support to Canada’s Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats.
Gerry Wright
Executive Director
Gerry Wright is the Executive Director of Canada’s Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats and a member of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research. He is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, an Associate member in the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and of Pathology and Molecular Medicine. Gerry received his BSc in Biochemistry (1986) and his PhD in Chemistry (1990) from the University of Waterloo working in the area of antifungal drugs under Dr John Honek. He followed this up with two years of postdoctoral research in Chris Walsh’s lab at Harvard Medical School in Boston, where he worked on the molecular mechanism of resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin in enterococci. He joined McMaster in 1993.
Gerry Wright
Executive Director
Gerry Wright is the Executive Director of Canada’s Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats and a member of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research. He is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, an Associate member in the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and of Pathology and Molecular Medicine. Gerry received his BSc in Biochemistry (1986) and his PhD in Chemistry (1990) from the University of Waterloo working in the area of antifungal drugs under Dr John Honek. He followed this up with two years of postdoctoral research in Chris Walsh’s lab at Harvard Medical School in Boston, where he worked on the molecular mechanism of resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin in enterococci. He joined McMaster in 1993.
Gina Mannen
Director of Operations
With over 15 years of experience, Gina Mannen ensures control and accountability to leadership by operationalizing and implementing the vision of the Global Nexus. Gina oversees financial management, administration, governance, human resources, innovation, strategic and operational management, and infrastructure projects and plays a leadership role in the management of many diverse initiatives. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Fredericton and a Business Administration diploma from McMaster.
Gina Mannen
Director of Operations
With over 15 years of experience, Gina Mannen ensures control and accountability to leadership by operationalizing and implementing the vision of the Global Nexus. Gina oversees financial management, administration, governance, human resources, innovation, strategic and operational management, and infrastructure projects and plays a leadership role in the management of many diverse initiatives. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Fredericton and a Business Administration diploma from McMaster.
Beth Gallagher
Associate Director, Communications
Beth is a strategic storyteller leading communications for the Global Nexus. She is skilled editor, writer, and video producer with experience in integrated communications planning, executive communications, cross-platform content development, and web re-design. She is a former journalist and teacher with degrees in literature, education, and journalism.
Beth Gallagher
Associate Director, Communications
Beth is a strategic storyteller leading communications for the Global Nexus. She is skilled editor, writer, and video producer with experience in integrated communications planning, executive communications, cross-platform content development, and web re-design. She is a former journalist and teacher with degrees in literature, education, and journalism.
Monique Savage Williams
Project Manager
Monique is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She holds bachelors and masters degrees with specializations in Spanish, international relations, and communication for social and behaviour change from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Her project management portfolio includes social policy, manufacturing, and information and communications technology initiatives in the public and private sectors, in Jamaica and in Canada. As a member of Global Nexus, Monique uses her planning, strategizing, and organizing skills to execute diverse events and projects. She always strives to not only meet but exceed stakeholder expectations to help Global Nexus achieve its mandates.
Monique Savage Williams
Project Manager
Monique is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She holds bachelors and masters degrees with specializations in Spanish, international relations, and communication for social and behaviour change from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Her project management portfolio includes social policy, manufacturing, and information and communications technology initiatives in the public and private sectors, in Jamaica and in Canada. As a member of Global Nexus, Monique uses her planning, strategizing, and organizing skills to execute diverse events and projects. She always strives to not only meet but exceed stakeholder expectations to help Global Nexus achieve its mandates.
Genevieve Forsyth
Project Coordinator
Genevieve Forsyth is the Project Coordinator for Global Nexus. She is responsible for metrics, information management, knowledge management, research analysis, and project support. Genevieve holds an Honours BA in History from the University of British Columbia, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Western University. Genevieve has a strong and varied research background, having had the pleasure of working on projects related to everything from the BC Gold Rush to tractor repair. When she is not collecting data or coordinating projects, Genevieve enjoys reading and trail running.
Genevieve Forsyth
Project Coordinator
Genevieve Forsyth is the Project Coordinator for Global Nexus. She is responsible for metrics, information management, knowledge management, research analysis, and project support. Genevieve holds an Honours BA in History from the University of British Columbia, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Western University. Genevieve has a strong and varied research background, having had the pleasure of working on projects related to everything from the BC Gold Rush to tractor repair. When she is not collecting data or coordinating projects, Genevieve enjoys reading and trail running.
Kathy Bronson
Executive Assistant to Gerry Wright
Kathy Bronson is the Executive Assistant to Dr. Gerry Wright, the Executive Director of Global Nexus. Kathy has worked in healthcare for over 28 years supporting various levels of management. Her previous experience gives her unique perspective in her role with Global Nexus. Most recently, Kathy worked as a Call Agent with Criticall Ontario, a Ministry of Health-funded program that supports access to and delivery of urgent and emergent care within Ontario. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Criticall played a key role in supporting health care in our province.
Kathy Bronson
Executive Assistant to Gerry Wright
Kathy Bronson is the Executive Assistant to Dr. Gerry Wright, the Executive Director of Global Nexus. Kathy has worked in healthcare for over 28 years supporting various levels of management. Her previous experience gives her unique perspective in her role with Global Nexus. Most recently, Kathy worked as a Call Agent with Criticall Ontario, a Ministry of Health-funded program that supports access to and delivery of urgent and emergent care within Ontario. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Criticall played a key role in supporting health care in our province.
Blake Dillon
Communications Support
Blake Dillon is a multimedia and communications specialist with a diverse background in journalism, graphic design, web development, corporate communications, and brand strategy implementation. Based at the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Blake is responsible for promoting the university’s infectious disease-related projects and research initiatives. Blake also lends communications support to Canada’s Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats.
Blake Dillon
Communications Support
Blake Dillon is a multimedia and communications specialist with a diverse background in journalism, graphic design, web development, corporate communications, and brand strategy implementation. Based at the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Blake is responsible for promoting the university’s infectious disease-related projects and research initiatives. Blake also lends communications support to Canada’s Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats.