Association of Public Health Business Administrators Representative / Affiliate Rep to the alPHa Executive

Cynthia St. John is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Southwestern Public Health, a merged public health agency serving the Oxford, Elgin, and St. Thomas communities.

Prior to its 2018 merger, Cynthia was as the Executive Director of Elgin St. Thomas Public Health for 18 years. Cynthia now leads an organization of approximately 200 employees responsible for providing public health programs and services to a population of over 200,000 in southwestern Ontario.

Cynthia began her career in the charitable sector having had the privilege of working with exceptional organizations at a local, national, and international level.  Organizations include: the YWCA, a Toronto-based Community Health Centre, Dying with Dignity Canada, and Canadian Society of Association Executives.

Her areas of expertise include board governance, strategic planning, and business areas such as human resources development, finance, and risk management.

Outside of work, Cynthia continues to spend time on matters that impact communities.  She currently serves as a Board member of the Hospice of Elgin, the Central Community Health Centre, a board member and executive member with the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), and she is Past President of the Association of Ontario Public Health Business Administrators.  She has previously served on the Board of the Southwest Community Care Access Centre (SWCCAC), the Southwest Local Health Integration Network (SWLHIN), YWCA Canada, United Way of St. Thomas Elgin, the World Federation of Right-to-Die Societies, and Sistering – a drop in centre for marginalized and homeless women. Through this volunteer work, Cynthia has been able to advocate for important social causes, champion board governance, spearhead fundraising initiatives, and volunteer on the front line. 

Cynthia is the recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for volunteerism and the recipient of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies Distinguished Service Award for leadership work at the provincial level for affecting change. Cynthia holds a Masters of Business Administration with a specialization in Leadership. 

When she is not at work or volunteering, Cynthia enjoys travelling, hiking, and family time with her husband Ron and daughter Madeline.

• Back to the Board of Directors list