NSWOCC® Announces the Appointment of Axelle Pellerin as Chief Executive Officer & Retirement of Cathy Harley
- NSWOCC
- May 1
- 3 min read
Ottawa, ON — May 1, 2026
Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC®) is pleased to announce the appointment of Axelle Pellerin, MBA, BA, as the association’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2026.
Axelle Pellerin is an accomplished healthcare executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience in complex healthcare environments. Axelle began her career in politics working on Parliament Hill, she held multiple leadership roles in cabinet ministers’ offices. She has always had a passion for healthcare and ensuring Canadians have access to the best healthcare when they need it the most. Throughout her career, she has held senior leadership positions with several respected healthcare organizations, including the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, Unity Health Toronto (St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto), and The Ottawa Hospital. Most recently she was the Executive Director of Inpatient Addiction Treatment Facility. She also previously served as Chair of the Board for the Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre, one of only two midwifery-led out-of-hospital independent health facilities in Ontario.
Most recently, Axelle completed her Executive MBA through the Quantic School of Business and Technology.
NSWOCC Members were formally introduced to Axelle during the NSWOCC Annual Members Meeting held as part of the WCET®-NSWOCC® Joint Congress on April 25, 2026, at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. During the presentation, Axelle shared her initial vision and priorities for the association, outlining her commitment to supporting members and advancing the future of wound, ostomy and continence care across Canada.
NSWOCC is excited to welcome Axelle into this leadership role and looks forward to the experience, innovation, and strategic direction she will bring to the association in the years ahead.
Axelle succeeds Cathy Harley, who served NSWOCC as Executive Director and later Chief Executive Officer for 22 years. Since joining the organization in 2004, Cathy played an instrumental role in shaping and modernizing the association while advancing wound, ostomy and continence nursing nationally and internationally.
Under Cathy’s leadership, NSWOCC strengthened its governance structure, achieved financial sustainability to support both short- and long-term strategic objectives, and guided the association through its historic transition from the Canadian Association of Enterostomal Therapists (CAET) to Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) in 2018.
Cathy also championed numerous initiatives that significantly impacted the nursing and healthcare communities, including supporting advanced nursing education in wound, ostomy and continence care; advocating for improved recognition of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOCs); and contributing to increased ostomy reimbursement support in Ontario.
One of Cathy’s most valued accomplishments was working alongside Indigenous nurses to support the development of the Indigenous Wound, Ostomy and Continence Health Core Program in alignment with Truth and Reconciliation efforts. She also contributed to securing a contract with the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care to support the training of Skin Wellness Associate Nurses (SWAN™) in long-term care settings.
Throughout her tenure, Cathy supported the delivery of 21 national conferences and helped oversee the growth and development of NSWOCC’s 11 Core Programs, as well as the association’s two official interest groups: the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP™) and the Canadian Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (CPIAP).
When announcing her retirement in July 2025, Cathy expressed her sincere gratitude to the many Board Directors, Core Program Leaders, volunteers, members, contracted staff, industry partners, aligned associations, and patients she had the privilege of working alongside
throughout her career.
NSWOCC extends its heartfelt appreciation to Cathy Harley for her exceptional leadership, dedication, and lasting contributions to the association and the wound, ostomy and continence nursing community. Her impact and legacy will continue to shape the future of NSWOCC for years to come. The association wishes Cathy a well-deserved, restful, and fulfilling retirement.
In recognition of her more than two decades of leadership and service, Cathy was named an Honourary NSWOCC Fellow during the WCET®-NSWOCC® Joint Congress Banquet held on April 25, 2026, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
CEO Transition Timeline
July 2025 – Cathy Harley announces her retirement
July 2025 – NSWOCC develops a CEO search and transition plan
July 2025 – Candidate search committee established
2025–2026 – NSWOCC works with executive recruitment firm Odgers
Early 2026 – Top three candidates identified
End of February 2026 – Offer extended to the successful candidate
March 2026 – Axelle Pellerin begins transition and onboarding process with Cathy Harley
May 1, 2026 – Axelle Pellerin officially assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer and Cathy Harley officially retires
To read Cathy Harley’s original retirement announcement, visit: NSWOCC CEO Retirement Announcement
