Leadership

NBNU leaders, many of whom are nurses, are elected officials who protect our members’ rights in the workplace. This team takes action to improve our members’ working conditions and maintain our rights under the collective agreement.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the highest governing body of NBNU. Members representing each Local attend to vote on resolutions and motions. The outcomes guide the work of our Board of Directors, leaders and shape the union’s priorities in the coming year. The Board, which includes a President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, four Unit Representatives, two members at large and an Executive Director (ex-facto member), ensures that the decisions made by delegates turn into action.

The Board of Directors oversees all activities of the Union that take place between our AGMs. It also:

  • Addresses issues that have an impact at the provincial level
  • Provides direction to our President and Executive Director
  • Liaises with the executive council of Local Presidents for input

The Board and its committees meet regularly throughout the year to address key issues, provide leadership and ensure the Union remains accountable to its members.

Our President holds the highest leadership role at NBNU. They report to the Board of Directors and are responsible for:

  • Overall management of the Union
  • Carrying out all policies
  • Presiding at provincial union meetings
  • Sitting as an ex-officio member on all Union committeest

For external matters, the President is the official NBNU spokesperson. They also represent New Brunswick on the Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Union as a national officer.

The Board of Director hires the Executive Director (ED) to serve as chief negotiator for NBNU. The ED works closely with the President to manage activities and staff of the Union.

While the ED sits on the Board, they are an ex-officio and non-voting member.

Our Union offers a wide array of member services that relate to collective bargaining, labour relations, grievances, representation, education and communication. The provincial office staff coordinate the delivery of these services directly or indirectly through bargaining units.

Over 100 Local Presidents are elected by the membership, and represent their respective bargaining units to form the NBNU Executive Council.

These leaders gather feedback and work to resolve issues that nurses face at the Local level. The Council reviews and approves reports, as well as provides input and direction to the Board.

In addition to the AGM, the Council meets at least once a year. These meetings are also an open forum for communication between Locals and the Board on important matters with provincial impact.

Member involvement with the Union usually takes place through your Local (more specifically, your Bargaining Unit). These are often organized in workplaces—for example, your hospital or long-term care facility could have its own Local. In some communities, a Local could be a collection of workplaces that come together.

We have more than 100 Locals across New Brunswick. They are led by Local Presidents—elected by members to support them with handling and filing grievances, navigating professional practice concerns and local political lobbying needs. Local Presidents also bring members’ concerns, questions and insights to provincial meetings and to the Board.

Local meetings usually take place every month and are open to all members.

We are 10,000 nurses united by our diverse backgrounds and unique cultural experiences. We practice everyday unionism – showing up for each other, advocating for our profession, and building solidarity in every workplace. We are nurses first, and our union reflects the values of nursing: care, courage, and community. Together, we reclaim our power by standing together and bringing the union into the hallways, break rooms, and bedside moments. As members, we:

  • Participate in any level of Union leadership
  • Attend Local and provincial meetings
  • Collaborate with and support our Local leaders
  • Communicate with and stay informed about each other and the Union’s activitiest

power in solidarity

NBNU is a place where members belong equally regardless of seniority, job or region. We find our strength in rallying equals together, knowing that solidarity is the antidote to isolation, unity the pathway to power.

Leadership Directory

From the Board of Directors to the Provincial Office Staff and Labour Relations Officers, this directory makes it easy to find the right contact for your questions, workplace concerns or Union involvement.

  • Paula Doucet

    President

  • Catherine Little

    1st Vice-President

  • Renée Boudreau

    2nd Vice-President

  • Maria Cormier

    Secretary-Treasurer

  • Patrick Gallant

    Unit Representative, Hospitals

  • Laurie Leger-Lester

    Unit Representative, Community Care

  • Jason Robin

    Unit Representative, Nursing Homes

  • Debbie Carpenter

    Unit Representative, Nurse Managers and Nurse Supervisors

  • Angela Miller

    Member at Large – Licensed Practical Nurse Representative

  • Raelynn Lagacé

    Member at Large – Nurse Practitioner Representative

  • Matt Hiltz

    Executive Director

  • Sarah Bonnar

    Manager of Operations

  • Kathy Allen Palmer

    Manager of Finance

  • Alix Saulnier

    Communications Officer

  • Marise Bye

    Labour Relations Administrative Specialist

  • Jennifer Heade

    Administrative Officer

  • Joanne Quinn

    Education Officer

  • Esther Bayer

    Experience & Technology Officer

  • Madison Guay

    Reasearch, Education and Communications Administrative Assistant’

  • Jessie St-Pierre

    Receptionist

  • Ellen Thompson

    Labour Relations Officer

  • Kim Price

    Labour Relations Officer

  • Josée Gaudet

    Labour Relations Officer

  • Tina Richardson

    Labour Relations Officer

  • Michèle Brown-Gellert

    Labour Relations Officer

  • Mélanie Malenfant

    Labour Relations Officer

  • Shirley Avoine

    Labour Relations Officer

  • Laura Donaher

    Labour Relations Officer

Constitution & By-Laws

Our constitution sets out how we operate as a democratic union in which members have their say in decisions and policies.

Download the PDF

Policy Manual

NBNU operates through a set of structural policies that guide how our leadership and staff work.

Download the PDF