At an age when most children were still figuring themselves out, Julie McBrien (BN’95, she/they) was learning to move forward without her mother. 

When Julie reflects on her life, everything traces back to one defining moment. “The big life event for me was when my mother passed away. I was 12 years old. She was 49.” 

In the years that followed, her father, suddenly raising two young daughters on his own, showed her what it meant to keep going. “He truly modelled resilience. I definitely learned that from him.”

But even then, something else took root — an understanding of care, loss and what it means to stand beside someone in their most vulnerable moments.

Finding purpose in what was lost

Julie didn’t follow a predictable path. By her own description, she “wasn’t a good student” in high school. But she held onto something constant: the example her mother had set, and the experience of losing her. “I think part of me going into nursing [was] because my mom was a nurse. I wanted to keep that connection.”

Over time, that connection became something more intentional. It was a way of making meaning out of something that once felt senseless. “I thought… how could I take a terrible experience and turn it into something positive, helping support patients or families or the healthcare system because I’ve got this unique insight?”

That perspective changed how she understood care. “You have a patient in front of you that might be sick or have cancer… but they have a partner, they have kids, they have a family, they have caregivers.” It wasn’t just about treatment; it was about empathy. It was also about knowing what it feels like to be the one waiting, hoping and holding on.

Becoming, quietly

When Julie arrived at UNB 36 years ago, she found space to grow into that understanding. “I was shy, quiet, kept to myself. But I think the fact that UNB… wasn’t too big, it gave me the chance to feel safe.”

In smaller classes, among close-knit peers, she began to open up. “I was able to get to know... and make friends with those in my nursing class and really develop[ed] that relationship.” 

That same openness shaped her career. “I never said no to an opportunity. Even if I felt a little unsure... I said, I will learn it.” Step by step, she built a career that would eventually take her into leadership roles she never imagined — including her current role as president and CEO of Middlesex Hospital Alliance, overseeing two community hospitals in Ontario. Along the way, she continued her education, earning her master’s degree in health administration while working, further strengthening the leadership skills she was already putting into practice.

Leading with what matters most

Today, Julie’s role is complex, fast-paced and filled with decisions that impact entire communities. “Every day there’s people looking to me for clarity.” But what anchors her leadership is the perspective she brings. “I’m proudest of leading in a way that I never lose sight of the human side of the work that I do.”

That perspective was rooted in personal experience. “Every decision ultimately affects people’s lives.” And so, even at the highest level, her work comes back to something simple: holistic care; care that sees the whole person.

Showing up — and changing what’s possible

For Julie, leadership isn’t just about systems. It’s about whether people feel like they belong. As a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, that understanding is deeply personal. And early in her time with her organization, it was put to the test.

A complaint came forward from two fathers preparing to welcome a child through surrogacy. When they visited the hospital, their experience was anything but inclusive. “They felt they were being discriminated against because they were two dads who wanted to come in and see the ultrasound for their baby.” That moment was eye opening. “It hit close to home for me… but it [was also disheartening] to think that our hospital [could give] that type of experience to a family.”

What she heard next was even more concerning — that it wasn’t an isolated incident. Instead of distancing herself from that discomfort, Julie chose to act. “It was going to be important for me… that I had to be an authentic leader and a courageous healthcare leader.” She began by making inclusion more visible.

In her first year, Julie led the effort to raise the Pride flag outside both hospitals for the first time. “It may seem like a small thing, but... it was a gesture in the right direction.” But she didn’t stop there. She and her wife became active in the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community, showing up at events, building relationships and ensuring the hospital had a meaningful, visible presence. And then, a year later, something happened. The same father who had once filed a complaint returned to the hospital — not to raise concerns, but to stand alongside them.

“The dad brought his daughter to the Pride flag raising. He said, ‘I see what you’re doing.’” For Julie, that moment was everything. It was proof that trust can be rebuilt and inclusion isn’t just policy. It’s action and perseverance. And that change happens not all at once, but one action at a time.

But it hasn’t stopped there. Julie’s work is also expanding to include stronger relationships with local Indigenous communities, with a growing focus on cultural safety, trauma-informed care and meaningful engagement.

“Building relationships with local First Nations is definitely a big focus for us right now... I want everyone who comes through our doors to feel welcome. There's still work for us to do there as well.”

The life she’s built — and the one she carries

Looking back, Julie doesn’t define her journey by titles or accomplishments alone. “I think what makes me most proud is that I have been able to stay grounded in the values and experiences that shaped me early on.” Those values show up in the way she leads and listens; and in the way she works to improve systems for the people who rely on them.

And though her mother didn’t get to see the life Julie would go on to build, her influence is everywhere. “Leadership is about impact. How you show up for people, how you navigate change and how you help create opportunities for others… that’s what’s really important.”

It’s a philosophy shaped by love, loss and everything that followed. Because in the end, Julie didn’t just build a career. She built a life rooted in authenticity. And if there’s one thing that feels certain, it’s this: she became everything her mother hoped she would be and more.