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Huron Appoints New Board of Governors

Huron
Feb 27 2021

LONDON, ON, February 27, 2021: Huron University College is proud to announce the appointment of its first Board of Governors. This group of prominent business and community leaders will have a direct impact in the immediate and long-term future of the University.

“We live in challenging times, and our institutions need leaders with vision and a commitment to build a better world.” Huron President Dr. Barry Craig said. “We are confident the breadth of knowledge, expertise, experience, and skills of the new Board will position Huron well for many years to come.”

Mr. Prem Watsa, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive of Fairfax Financial Holdings, is the Chancellor of Huron. He says the appointment of this Board indicates great things for the University.

“Under Barry Craig’s leadership, in the last four and a half years, Huron University College has grown from strength to strength,” Prem Watsa, Chancellor of Huron said. “With his stewardship and vision, he has truly accomplished the impossible and made Huron into what it is today.  I am excited to see what Barry, along with the outstanding Board of Directors that he has assembled, continues to do going forward.”

Each Board Member plays an integral role in Huron’s leadership structure, as they advise the University and enhance and expand Huron’s impact as the foremost teaching, research and experience-led school in the world. Their engagement as advocates for the University is particularly important in the current precarious times.

“As a former Huron student and a Liberal Arts graduate, I know first-hand how important this kind of education is to society,” External Member of the Executive Committee, Melinda Rogers – Hixon, Deputy-Chair, Rogers Communications Inc. said. “Huron’s mission of creating Leaders with Heart is especially needed today. I am proud to be part of the Board that is supporting Huron’s vision for the future.”

Newly elected Board of Governors include:

Board of Governors Leadership
Brian Porter – President & CEO, Scotiabank & Chair, Huron’s Board of Governors
Wes Hall - Executive Chairman & Founder, Kingsdale Advisors & Vice-Chair, Huron’s Board of Governors
Melinda Rogers-Hixon – Deputy Chair, Rogers Communications Inc. & External Member of the Executive Committee, Huron’s Board of Governors
Yola Ventresca – Partner, Lerners LLP & Secretary of Huron’s Board of Governors

Board of Governors
Michael Medline - President & CEO, Empire Company Ltd. & Sobeys Inc.
Kelly Meighen - President, TR Meighen Family Foundation
David ‘Patch’ Patchell-Evans – Founder & CEO, GoodLife Fitness
Leigh Allen - Director, Reinsurance Group of America Inc.
Jane Caskey - Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Andrew Aziz - Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Gerald Slemko - CEO, Trudell Medical Ltd. & Chair, Ellis Don
Al Donald - Partner, Deloitte Canada
Suzanne Fleming – Managing Partner, Communications & Branding, Brookfield Asset Management
Caleb James Hayhoe - Founder & Chairman, Flowerdale Group Ltd.
Frank Holmes – CEO & Chief Investment Officer, U.S. Global Investors
Lisa Jones Keenan - Vice-President of Sales, Xplornet Communications Inc.
Ranjita Rajan – Founder & Chair of Trustees, The Karta Initiative
Susan Farrow – Occupational Therapist & Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Andy Truong – Executive Director, AKD International Inc.

In addition to the elected board members, the following individuals were elected as ex-officio members of Huron’s new Board of Governors:
Dr. Geoff Read - Provost & Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Huron University College
Dr. Dan Smith - Dean, Faculty of Theology
Vivek Prabhu - Vice-President & Toronto Lead, Public Affairs, Hill & Knowlton Strategies
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd Townsend - Bishop, Diocese of Huron
Dr. Ingrid Mattson - Professor of Islamic Studies at Huron, London and Windsor Community Chair in Islamic Studies (Elected by Faculty of Theology)
Dr. Neil Bradford - Professor of Political Science & Chair, Governance, Leadership and Ethics, Huron (Elected by Faculty of Arts and Social Science)
Ziyana Kotadia - President, Huron University College Students’ Council (Elected by Huron student body)

“Huron has already made outstanding contributions locally, nationally and around the world,” Board Member Michael Medline, President & CEO of Empire Company Ltd. and Sobeys Inc. said. “As an alumnus, I know the value of the liberal arts education offered there. It has benefitted my own career, and I am excited to be part of this new chapter in Huron’s distinguished history.”

With the aim of redefining Liberal Arts education, Huron is creating a university experience unlike any other that prioritizes ethical leadership and community engagement as much as the pursuit of academic excellence. Our University provides elite yet accessible education with the mission of developing Leaders with Heart from all backgrounds, especially those who have historically been marginalized.

“Huron has a long and rich history and is held in high regard as an academic institution,” said Board Chair Brian Porter, President and CEO, Scotiabank. “I am proud to be joining its Board of Governors and look forward to working with the Board, faculty, staff, and students to build on Huron’s strengths.”

For a complete list of Huron’s Board of Governors, visit: https://huronu.ca/about/governance/

 

Media Contact:

Jon Munn, Director, Marketing and Communications
Huron University College
1 (519) 521-4890