Executive team

Craig Earle, MD, CEO

Dr. Craig Earle joined the Partnership in 2017 and is currently Chief Executive Officer. In his previous role, Dr. Earle was Vice-President, Cancer Control, where he led programs and initiatives that deliver on the priorities and actions of the 2019-2029 Canadians Strategy for Cancer Control.

Dr. Earle is also a medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal oncology at Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre, a Senior Scientist at ICES and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He completed his medical training and Master of Science (epidemiology) at the University of Ottawa and a research fellowship at Harvard, followed by 10 years – 1998 to 2008 – at Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts.

Prior to joining the Partnership, he was Head of Clinical Translation at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. He is also a former Director of the Health Services Research Program for Cancer Care Ontario.

Erika Nicholson, VP, Cancer Systems and Innovation

Erika Nicholson joined the Partnership in 2018 and is currently Vice President, Cancer Systems and Innovation. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control achieves its goals across the cancer continuum – prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, clinical care, survivorship and palliative care.

Previously, Ms. Nicholson was Director, Screening at the Partnership, leading the team responsible for improving the delivery of organized screening programs for breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancer in Canada and advancing equitable access to high-quality cancer screening in the provinces and territories. Based in Halifax, she also served as the Partnership’s Atlantic Regional Lead, advancing the Partnership’s pan-Canadian mission and forming strong relationships with system leaders and supporting connections with Indigenous organizations and communities throughout Atlantic Canada.

Ms. Nicholson has over 20 years of strategic leadership experience in cancer control and population health. Prior to joining the Partnership, she held senior positions in the Nova Scotia cancer care system as Senior Director, Provincial Program of Care for Cancer with Nova Scotia Health and as Director, Cancer Prevention and Early Detection with Cancer Care Nova Scotia. In these roles, she was responsible for the overall transformation and management of cancer care services and led the development and introduction of the Nova Scotia’s colorectal cancer screening program.

In addition to her experience in health care, Ms. Nicholson has also held leadership positions in the not-for-profit sector in Canada, and in financial services in Bermuda. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science and a Master of Health Science in Community Health from the University of Toronto, Canada.

Andrea Reed, VP, Strategic Partnerships

Andrea Reed joined the Partnership in 2011 and is currently Vice-President, Strategic Partnerships. In this role, she leads complex, strategic initiatives for the Partnership and works directly with partners – cancer agencies, health organizations and health professionals – across Canada to effect changes in the cancer system.

In fall 2018, Ms. Reed led the Partnership’s largest-ever public engagement to update the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control at the request of the federal government. The Partnership engaged more than 7,500 Canadians, health care providers, health organizations and Indigenous leaders and communities, to better understand the diverse needs, values and priorities of Canadians when it comes to cancer prevention, detection, treatment, survivorship and end-of-life care. This feedback led to the development of the 2019-2029 Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control, which includes five priorities and actions for improving cancer care in Canada, and priorities and actions specific to improving cancer care for First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

Ms. Reed also leads stakeholder engagement for the Partnership, which includes working alongside key partners at provincial cancer agencies and territorial health authorities to drive forward the priorities of the Strategy. She is accountable for driving collaboration across internal divisions and portfolios, partner and stakeholder engagement strategy as well as reporting the outcomes and impact of the Partnership’s initiatives to Health Canada, partners and other stakeholders.

Ms. Reed has over 20 years of experience in communications, stakeholder relations and business planning and development, in the public and private sectors, with a focus on health organizations. Previous roles have included Vice President, Health at Hill & Knowlton Canada, where she is credited with helping to build its health practice into one of the leading practices in Canada and Director, Campaign Communications at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Ms. Reed has also been a consultant to top-tier pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other health sector clients. She holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English from the University of Toronto.

Shelley Tapp, VP, Finance and Corporate Services

Shelley Tapp joined the Partnership in 2024 as Vice President, Finance & Corporate Services and Board Secretary. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring the organization has a sound financial platform to achieve maximum impact for its budget and mandate. Shelley and her team provide strategic financial, technical, operational and infrastructure management to ensure the Partnership’s capabilities, capacity and governance necessary to deliver on the priorities of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control.

Ms. Tapp is a highly accomplished public service executive with over 30 years of extensive leadership and corporate services experience in provincial and municipal governments. Prior to the Partnership, Ms. Tapp was a senior executive at the Ontario Public Service where she served in various leadership roles including the Deputy Minister of Cabinet Office, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Deputy Minister of Transportation, and the Chief Administrative Officer of the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Ms. Tapp has a proven track record of building strong relationships with stakeholders across governments, sectors and jurisdictions. She shares the Partnership’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and reconciliation through her experience leading and championing several initiatives in the Ontario Public Service. She brings a wealth of expertise in effective controllership, accountability, financial and strategic planning, transformational change, program and service delivery, organizational development, as well as an exceptional understanding of complex bureaucracies that operate within political environments.

Ms. Tapp holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and has completed the Queen’s Executive Development Program.