Donna Miller
Donna Miller is a seasoned finance executive with over 20 years of progressive experience in financial management, reporting, and strategic planning within the long-term care and retirement living sector in Canada. Currently, she serves as Vice President of Financial Services at UniversalCare Canada Inc., overseeing the financial operations across 20+ long-term care and retirement homes, including several under development. Beginning her career as a senior accounting analyst at Extendicare Canada Inc., Donna quickly recognized how strong financial leadership directly impacts the sustainability and quality of resident care, setting the foundation for her career focus on operational excellence and strategic financial stewardship. Known as a trusted advisor and hands-on leader, Donna specializes in building robust financial systems, implementing process improvements through automation, and mentoring high-performing finance teams. Her expertise spans financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, audits, and government compliance, and she has successfully led complex operational and viability assessments for financially challenged homes, earning formal recognition from regulatory authorities. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring organizations under her guidance remain financially sustainable while delivering high-quality care. A lifelong learner and people-first leader, Donna is currently pursuing an MBA at Athabasca University and holds a Certificate in Management Essentials from Harvard Business School Online. She is actively involved in mentoring internationally educated professionals through the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council and supports initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within finance and healthcare. Motivated by purpose-driven work, Donna is dedicated to strengthening operational sustainability, fostering inclusive leadership, and making a meaningful impact in the communities she serves.
• 2026 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Nominee
• Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC)
• Black Female Accountants Network
• Harvard Business School Online
• Lean In
• Center for Mental Health and Addiction
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a long-standing passion for accounting and a commitment to meaningful, purpose-driven work. Early in my career, I recognized that strong financial leadership directly impacts the sustainability and quality of care for residents in long-term care, which shaped my focus on delivering responsible and effective financial stewardship. My strong work ethic was instilled by my grandmother who raised me, and my resilience is rooted in my upbringing in Jamaica, both of which continue to guide how I lead and persevere and have contributed to my nomination for the 2026 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. I build credibility through consistency, reliability, and accountability, always understanding how my role contributes to the broader organizational goals.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to understand how your role fits into the bigger picture. Once you do, you can focus on delivering meaningful results and building credibility through consistency, reliability, and accountability to ensure those results have a lasting impact.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering finance in the long-term care and retirement sector to focus on understanding the bigger picture, such as how finance drives quality care and organizational sustainability. Build strong technical skills, but also develop leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities, because finance in this sector is as much about people as it is about numbers. Seek mentors, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to take on challenging projects, as these experiences will accelerate your growth. Above all, bring integrity, curiosity, and a purpose-driven mindset as these qualities will help you make a meaningful impact on the lives of the residents and your organization.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is balancing financial sustainability with delivering high-quality care to seniors in long-term care. At the same time, the senior market represents a significant opportunity in Ontario, Canada, allowing us to make a meaningful impact while addressing the needs of this growing population.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I am driven by integrity, curiosity, and impact. I care about doing the right thing, continuously improving, and contributing to something meaningful. Professionally, I am motivated by ensuring the safety, well-being, and dignity of the seniors in our care, as well as supporting the growth and development of my team. I am also passionate about mentoring newcomers to Canada and supporting initiatives that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Personally, I value quality time with family which helps me recharge after long workdays. Across both work and life, I prioritize growth, accountability, and building relationships that create positive outcomes.