Melanie Muncaster has been named the new executive director for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC).
Muncaster will replace current lead Bruce Strapp, who has headed the provincial funding agency for eight years. He announced his retirement from the position in early 2018, and his final day on the job will be May 4.
Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Muncaster has served in a number of roles at NOHFC since joining the organization in 2004, including finance and program manager, and assistant director, and led the development of many of the current programs offered by the funding agency.
In 2013, Muncaster was bestowed the 2013 Amethyst Award from the Government of Ontario – the highest honour an Ontario public servant can receive – for her work with the Elliot Lake Provincial Economic Revitalization Team.
Muncaster previously held various roles in the financial services sector, particularly in commercial lending and business development, as well as the energy and utilities sector.
She is an active volunteer and has participated in several boards, including the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation, Women in Crisis Algoma Inc. and Destiny Sault Ste. Marie.
Muncaster holds a bachelor of business administration degree, with a specialization in economics, from Algoma University and is a member of Economic Developers Council of Ontario.
With its annual $100-million budget, the NOHFC has a mandate to promote and stimulate economic development initiatives in Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects that stabilize, diversify and foster the economic growth and diversification of the region.
