Chris Gallant
Chris spent the better part of 20 years living and studying in Germany. He pursued his post-secondary education in Rimouski, Quebec where he attended college, and completed his BA (Hon.) at Mercy College in New York, USA. Over his career, Chris has worked as an executive and business consultant in many countries, including Switzerland, The Bahamas, Brazil, The British Virgin Islands, Canada, The United States, and Germany. His executive level scope of experience encompasses project funding, the Prepaid Financial Card industry, software development, and the launch of technology start-ups.
As the COO of HumanBios GmbH in San Paolo, Brazil, Chris oversaw teams of software developers in several countries as they created new digital wallet technology. In addition, as the CEO of Standard Transactions Worldwide in The British Virgin Islands, Chris provided new strategic leadership as this global organization built brand as one of the first debit card providers to operate in the digital currency arena. Chris has also worked with MasterCard Miami on a gold-backed prepaid card and with RSA on developing security systems for online banking. He was also the entrepreneur responsible for creating one of Canada’s first online shopping malls, a venture that was ultimately acquired by a publicly listed firm.
Currently, Chris resides in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada, and is a frequent Presenter at the United States Clearing House, which clears over 2 trillion US dollars per day. In this role, he advises top managers at US banks about the opportunities to be found in the prepaid industry. He also works as a mortgage broker who specializes in commercial funding and has helped numerous local businesses secure the capital needed for expansion and development. Chris is a seasoned business consultant who has worked with clients in England, The United Arab Emirates, and Spain. As a business consultant, his primary focus is on operations and development.
Chris is married to Krista, has two daughters and one grandson: Cynthia who lives in Cork Ireland, with her husband Keith and son Oliver, and Melinda who lives in Kingston Ontario.
Meet the Board
HDGH: What motivated you to join HDGH’s Board of Directors?
CG: Several years ago, we lost my mother-in-law to cancer. During the year we spent going back and forth to the hospital with my mother-in-law, I saw the stress on our hospital staff, the lack of equipment and means of communication that was needed, and so I thought that my financial background and my years of living and travelling in different countries would be an asset to a hospital board should I be elected.
HDGH: What do you believe are the most prominent health needs in our community?
CG: As we continue to battle the pandemic, I believe that it has become increasingly apparent that mental health is one of the greatest challenges facing our community. In my opinion, stress is the number one killer, as it can take a devastating toll on both your physical and mental health. Mental health has been disregarded for too long. The present pandemic has opened our eyes to this challenge, and I appreciate that fact that we at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare, take mental health very seriously,
HDGH: As a member of the Board, how does the board ensure a healthy, equitable community?
CG:First and foremost, we are an open book. We are transparent and we allow the public to view and join our meetings. We invite anyone to apply to join our board. We do not discriminate, we do not judge, we are united in our goal to create a board that represents all members of our community. We listen, we ask, and we support the community we live in. Not only do we have a board, but we also have sub-committees that address different sectors.