The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority was designed to have a governance model that provides a voice for regional concerns and a territorial board of management that can use this regional knowledge to improve care and outcomes for clients throughout the Northwest Territories.
There are three main functions of governance in the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority:
Public Administrator
The Public Administrator (PA) provides overall direction and leadership to the NTHSSA and facilitates the NTHSSA's legislated mandate to:
- deliver health services, social services, and health and wellness promotional activities within the NWT;
- manage, control and operate each health and social service facility for which the NTHSSA is responsible; and
- manage the financial, human and other resources necessary to perform the NTHSSA’s duties.
The PA establishes broad strategic direction, establishes policy at a governance level and has overall accountability for the Authority, whereas the day-to-day operational responsibilities rest with the NTHSSA CEO, COOs, & management team.
The PA is accountable to the Minister of Health and Social Services and provides advice to the Minister on strategic directions for the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services system.
Current Public Administrator:
- Dan Florizone
Resources:
- Public Administrator Work Plan
- Updated Public Administrator Work Plan
- Update to RWC Chairs, January 2026
Regional Wellness Councils
Created in 2016, Regional Wellness Councils (RWCs) bring together residents from each region of the Northwest Territories to provide community voices to the health and social services system. RWCs represent the Hay River area, Fort Smith, Sahtu, Dehcho, Beaufort Delta, and Yellowknife area, which includes Lutsulk’e and Fort Resolution. Each council is made up of seven members appointed by the Minister of Health and Social Services. These members ensure that regional perspectives, priorities, and community feedback are reflected in territorial planning. RWCs may also gather input directly from residents on health and social services in their region.
For information on appointments to Regional Wellness Councils, visit the Government of the Northwest Territories’ public committees, boards, and councils page.
Every RWC is led by an appointed Chair, who guides discussions and represents their council at quarterly meetings hosted by the PA. At these quarterly meetings, RWC Chairs raise regional issues and offer strategic advice that supports focused, accountable, and solutions-driven leadership, helping the NTHSSA continuously improve patient and client care.
The current RWC Chairs include:
- Ms. Ethel-Jean Gruben, Chair, Beaufort Delta
- Ms. Gina Dophus, Chair, Sahtu
- Mr. Muaz Hassan, Chair, Dehcho
- Ms. Dianna Korol, Chair, Fort Smith
- Ms. Barb Hart, Chair, Hay River
- Mr. Alex Nitsiza, Vice Chair, Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency
- Vacant, Chair, Yellowknife
Learn more about the Regional Wellness Council and Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency Chairs by reading biographies here.
Resources:
Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Leadership Team
The NTHSSA Leadership provides strategic direction to all health and social programs at the operational level. Each geographical region of the NTHSSA has a COO that oversees the operations for that region. This is paired with an executive office in Yellowknife.
The current NTHSSA Leadership includes:
- Chief Executive Officer, Kimberly Riles
- Chief Financial Officer, Marissa Martin
- Executive Director, Clinical Integration, Joanne Engram
- Executive Director, Corporate and Support Services, Kristy Jones
- Executive Director, Child, Family and Community Wellness, Arlene Lavoie-Stobbs
- Territorial Medical Director, Dr. Keith Menard
- Chief Operating Officer - Beaufort Delta Region, Roger Israel
- Chief Operating Officer - Sahtu Region, Mireille Gionet
- Chief Operating Officer - Dehcho Region, Wilson Dimsdale
- Chief Operating Officer - Fort Smith Region, Lisa Sanderson
- Chief Operating Officer - Yellowknife Region, Jennifer Torode
- Chief Operating Officer - Stanton Territorial Hospital, Lorie-Anne Danielson