NADINE AHN (BCom 1994 UC) was named chief financial officer for Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), effective Nov. 2021. Ahn, a licensed chartered accountant, joined RBC in 1999 and has held progressively senior finance roles. Most recently, she served as senior vice-president, head of investor relations and RBC Capital Markets, finance.
In Oct. 2021, NATASHA BAKHT (BA 1996 UC), a professor of law at the University of Ottawa, received the Huguenot Society of Canada Award for her book In Your Face: Law, Justice, and Niqab-wearing Women in Canada. The award honours the best book — or substantial article — published in Ontario within the last three years that has brought public awareness to the principles of freedom of conscience and freedom of thought. It is Bakht's first book.
LORI-ANN BEAUSOLEIL (BCom 1986 UC) was named as an independent director to the board of NEO Exchange, a group of fintech companies that provide capital markets infrastructure.
Beausoleil, a chartered public accountant, recently retired as a partner at PwC.
SHEILA CHAU (BSc 2001 UC) has been named vice- president of the Solutions Engineering division of Mako Fintech, a fintech platform that automates wealth management workflows. Chau, an expert in digital transformation for the wealth management industry, also holds Project Management Professional and Certified Agile Scrum Master certifications.
TINA CHEN, PhD (BA 1991 UC), a Distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba, has been named to UM's newly created position of executive lead, equity, diversity and inclusion. Chen, a historian, heads a research program focused on Asian experiences and alternatives to colonialism, militarism, and systems of oppression, as well as feminism and cultural politics in China. She has been a leader in EDI initiatives at the university.
Global Atlantic, a worldwide growth equity firm, named GORD CRUESS (BA 2002 UC) as a managing director. Cruess, a lawyer, oversees the firm's legal advice on portfolio investments and liquidity transactions globally.
ALEX DICKSON, PhD (BSc 2006 UC), an associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Michigan State University, was appointed a 2021 Open Science Fellow by Roivant Discovery in Oct. 2021, a program that integrates cutting-edge research from leading academicians with the advanced computational physics research at Roivant. His research group specializes in the development of new algorithms and software for molecular dynamics simulation.
Fyyne, a new app designed by JEFFREY FASEGHA (BCom 2020 UC) and a business partner, helps Black consumers to find appropriate hairstyling services and keep abreast of the latest beauty trends while prioritizing Black-owned businesses. The men created the startup and app as a result of their own challenges getting a good haircut.
ALIZA FINK, DSc (BSc 1996 UC), an epidemiologist, is the new director of research for the National Organization for Rare Disorders. She will lead the strategic development, growth, and implementation of the organization's research and scientific activities and ensure its support for the rare disorders community.
As Innisfil's new chief administrative officer, OLIVER JERSCHOW (BA 1997 UC) will be responsible for leading administration of the municipality. Jerschow previously served as vice-president of employer and stakeholder relations at the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System.
DR. MOIRA KAPRAL (BSc 1989 UC) received the Edgar J. Kenton III Lecture Award from the American Stroke Association at its International Conference 2022 in Feb. The award recognizes lifetime contributions in the field of race- ethnic stroke disparities or related disciplines. Kapral is a professor of medicine at U of T and a senior scientist at ICES, the Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Science.
Northern Superior Resources Inc. has engaged ALAN KING (BSc 1976 UC) in a technical and advisory role. A geophysicist, King will provide geophysical interpretation for the company's various exploration projects in Ontario and Quebec.
Professor RICHARD LEBLANC (BSc 1989 UC) has been initiated as an Academic Fellow of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI). He will be actively involved in creating an increasingly strong and productive link between academia and management consulting practice. Leblanc is a professor in the School of Administrative Studies at York University.
TESSA MURPHY, PhD (BA 2007 UC), an assistant professor of history at Syracuse University, recently published her first book, The Creole Archipelago: Race and Borders in the Colonial Caribbean (University of Pennsylvania). Murphy credits UC for her love of history, her major while studying at U of T.
WeirFoulds welcomed ARMAN POUSHIN (BA 2017 UC) to the fold as an associate in the Commercial Leasing Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, Arman was legal counsel at an international real-estate company.
NEETA SAHADEV (BA 2008 UC) has been promoted to partner with the law firm White & Case LLP. Sahadev is based in Palo Alto, Calif., where she specializes in mergers and acquisitions.
The Directors Guild of Canada awarded its DGC National Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series to TIM SOUTHAM (BA 1984 UC) for his work on an episode of American Gods called The Rapture of Burning. The series was created for Amazon Prime Video.
After more than 20 years with Scotiabank, most recently as a managing director, ELIAN TERNER (BCom 1994 UC) is joining the National Bank as head of metals and mining.
LAURA TENNANT (BSc 2017 UC) and her husband, John, also a U of T graduate, have released a record of experimental music together as the band clothmother. The name refers to psychologist Harry Harlow's experiments about monkeys and comfort, which the duo studied in Professor Dan Dolderman's PSY100 class.
Five UC GRADUATES were named to the Order of Canada in Dec. 2021, four as members, one as an officer. The members are: ROBERT D. EISENBERG (BA 1936 UC) for his commitment to the revitalization of Toronto's architectural heritage and for his community service benefiting the environment and youth; the HON. MME. JUSTICE SANDRA CHAPNIK (BA 1962 UC) for her leadership in the community and in the legal sector, where she has promoted the advancement of women and encouraged best practices in the field; BARBARA L. LANDAU, PhD (BA 196417UC), for her contributions to dispute resolution and family law reform as both a psychologist and lawyer and for her advocacy of interfaith initiatives; and LYNN S. POSLUNS (BCom 1981 UC) for her contributions to research on women's cognitive health and aging through the founding of the Women's Brain Health Initiative. Meanwhile, CAROL M. TATOR (BA 1962 UC) is now an officer of the Order of Canada for her advocacy of social justice and for her commitment to identifying and dismantling systemic racism in Canadian society.
(Photos: Top Row R to L: Robert D. Eisenberg, The Hon. Mme. Justice Sandra Chapnik Bottom Row R to L: Barbara L. Landau, Carol M. Tator)
In Oct., two UC GRADUATES were named as recipients of the Women's Executive Network 2021 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards. Since 2013, ANGELA L. BROWN (BA 1981 UC) has been president and chief executive officer of Moneris Solutions, a leader in payments solutions for Canadian businesses, and sits on the board of Altus Group and the advisory boards of several non-profits. TINA M. CHEN, PHD (BA 1991 UC) is a professor of history at the University of Manitoba where she has received international recognition for her work in feminism, anti-colonial movements and cultural politics in modern Chinese and world history. She is also active in promoting action for anti-racism, equity, access, diversity and cross-cultural understanding.
(Photos: R to L: Angela L. Brown, Tina M. Chen)
MELISSA VINCENT (BA 2017 UC), writer, editor and producer, is making a name for herself in the world of music journalism. In addition to a cover story for Elle magazine, she has also written for such publications as Billboard, the Globe and Mail, Canadian Business and Vice. She also sits on the board of the Polaris Music Prize.
SHANNON WILEY (BA 2006 UC) has been appointed as a principal with Montgomery Sisam Architects. Wiley, who has been with the firm for more than 10 years, was central to the success of U of T's multi-award-winning Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
A clinical psychologist pastor, ROD WILSON (BSc 1974 UC) is the author of a new book, Thank You. I'm Sorry. Tell Me More. How to Change the World with Three Sacred Sayings. Wilson currently works with Lumara Grief and Bereavement Care Society, the Society of Christian Schools in BC and In Trust Center for Theological Schools, among others.
SZU-MAE YOON (BA 2001 UC) has been appointed chief marketing officer for Hong Leong Assurance Malaysia. Yoon has worked in banking and insurance for 16 years, holding leadership positions across the Asia-Pacific region.