Board Biographies

Susan Golets (Chair), now retired, worked for 40 years in the not-for-profit and public sectors. She spent 34 years working as a transformational leader within the provincial government on issues of homelessness, women’s economic independence, increasing access to postsecondary education for underrepresented groups and more. Susan has been on the CSDA board for several years and chairs the Program Committee as well as the Governance, Nomination and Operations, and Volunteer Committees. In addition, Susan is on the Board of Directors and Governance Committee for Abiona Centre for Infant and Early Mental Health. Susan and Nestor love to travel in Canada and abroad, and they are avid collectors of whatever moves them. During the past year, they’ve also discovered the joys of grandparenthood.

Julie Riches (President) is Principal of Riches Appraisals & Consult. Julie has been involved in the realm of material culture for over fifteen years. Her participation in the decorative arts and fine arts sector includes appraisal work, object identification, charitable auctioneering, valuation workshops, event planning and volunteering to advance the profession of qualified appraisers. She is an accredited personal property appraiser whose practice focuses on elements of decorative arts and design. Following in the footsteps of her family matriarch, Julie learned early on that every object has a story to tell. Her time spent with the CSDA has provided an excellent opportunity to work with others towards building a community through arts and culture. Previous volunteerism with non-profits and not-for-profits has focused on the development of new member strategies, membership retention, and the implementation of innovative learning platforms.

Charlotte Mickie (Vice President) Following a long career acquiring, promoting, and selling arthouse films in the international market, Charlotte now manages a consulting company providing services to industry stakeholders. She also volunteers in the community, serving as head of the Spadina Gardens Tenants Association, participating in the advocacy group No Demovictions, and acting as a director of the Annex Residents Association. Charlotte is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is a passionate follower of contemporary art and an enthusiastic student of material culture.

Shi Qiu (Secretary) is a passionate art professional with experience in both the private and public sectors. He is currently a part of the Curatorial team at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, where he has worked closely with the Chief Curator to realize more than 20 exhibitions, many of which toured across Canada. Prior to joining the McMichael, he worked for many years in decorative arts auction and was one of the leading Asian Art auction specialists in the country. An immigrant and fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Shi’s engagement with the decorative arts and design is continually informed by his cross-cultural background. He received a B.A. and a M.A. in Art History from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Sarah Alford is a craft and design historian with an interrelated art practice. She has undergraduate degrees in Jewellery/Metalsmithing and Art History and was awarded a Fulbright to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she earned an MA in Visual and Critical Studies, and MFA in Fiber and Material Studies. She earned her PhD in Art History and Art Conservation at Queen’s University, Kingston, and has exhibited across Canada, Scotland, and the United States, including the Museum of Arts and Design in New York and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. She has published articles in the Journal of Stained Glass, Journal for Artistic Research, Journal of Design History, and Art Botany in British Design Reform: 1830-1865 for Bloomsbury Press.

Dr. Rachel Gotlieb is a distinguished curator specializing in ceramics and design. As Ruth Rippon Curator at the Crocker Art Museum (2021–2023), she curated Portland Vase: Mania & Muse. Her leadership roles include Chief Curator at the Gardiner Museum (2011–2014) and founding curator of the Design Exchange (1990–2002), where she co-authored the seminal Design in Canada.Gotlieb has shaped major exhibitions including True Nordic: How Scandinavia Influenced Design in Canada (2016) and Canadian Modern (2022–23) at the Royal Ontario Museum. Her scholarship earned her the Theodore Randall International Chair at Alfred University and a Winterthur Museum Research Fellowship (2017). Currently, she leads the redesign of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' decorative arts collection, opening mid-September 2025. Her recent publications include Ceramics in the Victorian Era: Meanings and Metaphors in Painting and Literature (Bloomsbury, 2023) and co-edited Transnational Discourses in Nordic Design (Bloomsbury, 2024).

Stephanie Rebick is a curator, editor and writer based in the unceded territories of the xʷmə kʷəyəm (Musqueam), S wxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwəta (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She is currently Director of Publishing and Content Strategy at the Vancouver Art Gallery. She also frequently collaborates with Information Office, a Vancouver-based art book publisher and design practice. Stephanie has curated and co-curated numerous exhibitions including Fashion Fictions (forthcoming); Where do we go from here?; Modern in the Making: Post-War Craft and Design in British Columbia; Robert Rauschenberg 1965–1980; Out of Sight; Guo Pei: Couture Beyond; Cabin Fever; MashUp: The Birth of Modern Culture; and Grand Hotel: Redesigning Modern Life. She has contributed to a number of publications including KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art; Visceral Bodies; Unreal; Grand Hotel; and MashUp. Most recently she has edited volumes on the work of Jan Wade and Omer Arbel. Her curatorial interests include visual culture, new media and the intersection of craft, design and contemporary art.

Janice P. Warren - is a lawyer who specializes in business immigration, primarily representing Canadians wishing to relocate to the United States. She is an ardent collector of art glass, keenly encouraging young makers in Ontario. She was on the Board of Craft Ontario for 10 years as well as chairing its event/fundraising committee. Until recently Janice volunteered in the same capacity with Dress for Success. She was a regularly published restaurant reviewer/critic. 

Henry Wiercinski - was a partner in a national law firm practicing in business law. Since retirement he consults on legal matters. Henry has interests in transportation, urban development and the arts. He is A Director of the Annex Residents’ Association and vice-chair of Rail Safety First, a coalition that advocates for safe, transparent and accountable rail.

Erin Wiley - is an Associate Specialist, Decorative Arts and Design at Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers in Toronto. Erin earned her BA in Art History from Queen’s University and completed a graduate certificate in Culture and Heritage Site Management from Centennial College. Her past work includes various positions at the Gardiner Museum as well as work in the interior design sector. In belonging to CSDA/CCAD and the Young Professionals & Creatives Committee, Erin hopes to bring together young people from all over the country into conversation about what the decorative arts mean in Canada today.

Anthony Wu - is an Asian Art consultant and researcher for various auction houses and private clients in Canada and the USA. Recently, he has been in charge of setting up Asian Art sales at Heffel, Canada's national auction house. Anthony has a B.A. and M.A. in Art History from the University of Toronto. He is a USPAP-compliant appraiser and a Certified Member with the Appraisers Association of America. He is also a consultant and official Asian Art blogger for the New York-based auction platform Bidsquare.com, a regular contributor to Orientations magazine in Hong Kong, and on the board of the Gardiner Museum and the Canadian Association of Personal Property Appraisers. Anthony is passionate about Asian decorative arts and frequently travels the world to visit museum collections and auction previews.