Alberta's government-owned asset manager has named MARLENE PUFFER, PhD (BA 1983 UC) as its new chief investment officer effective Dec. 2022. Puffer joins the Alberta Investment Management Corp. (AIMCo) at a time when the Alberta government is adding money and new clients to the $160-billion fund. Puffer started her career as an assistant professor of finance at the Rotman School at U of T, followed by roles on the trading floor at Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank of Canada.
DR. MORRIS FREEDMAN (BSc 1971 UC), head of the Division of Neurology and Medical Director, Austin Centre for Neurology and Behavioural, Baycrest Health Sciences, received the 2021 Department of Medicine Award in Quality and Innovation from the University of Toronto. Established in 2007, the award recognizes outstanding contributions to the fields of healthcare quality, patient safety, and innovation. Dr. Freedman is also a professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology at the University of Toronto. He has dedicated much of his career to improving care for people living with dementia.
The Township of Brock has appointed LISA CHEN (BCom 1997 UC) as the director of finance/treasurer effective May 2022. Lisa is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto as well as a Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario. Collaboration and team building as well as ensuring decisions are made with a consistent focus through a financial strategic lens will be key for the Township of Brock’s future. The Township is confident Lisa will be a strong leader to help guide the municipality as they move forward.
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has appointed MARCO BAPTISTA PhD (BSc 1995 UC), chief scientific officer. Dr. Baptista will help lead the foundation's mission to advance cures for spinal cord injury (SCI) and paralysis and will provide scientific and innovative oversight of the nonprofit's collaborative approach to accelerating the field toward meaningful therapeutics. Baptista joins the Reeve Foundation from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, where he served as vice-president of research programs.
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutics for rare endocrine diseases and endocrinerelated tumors, announced the appointment of JAMES HASSARD (BSC 1989 UC) as chief commercial officer. Hassard is a commercial leader with more than three decades of experience leading sales and marketing operations for both global and domestic biotechnology companies.
A leader in planning and development for one of New York City's boroughs will be the next director of Palm Springs' planning department. CHRIS HADWIN (BA 2004 UC), who is currently a director of planning for the New York Department of Planning focusing on Staten Island, began in Palm Springs on Aug. 1, 2022. Prior to starting his work in New York, Hadwin served as an associate negotiator and land-use representative with the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs in Toronto, Canada, from 2013 to 2015. He also served as a planner for the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and for Rocky View County in the Calgary area.
ERIC MOORHOUSE (BSc 1980 UC), a professor in the University of Wyoming’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, received the 2022 John P. Ellbogen Lifetime Teaching Award. The award recognizes the long, distinguished, and exemplary career of one senior faculty member who has excelled as a teacher at UW.
The American Astronomical Society (AAS), a major international organization of professional astronomers, announced the recipients for the remainder of its 2022 prizes for outstanding achievements in research and education. The Annie Jump Cannon Award recognizes outstanding research and promise for future research by a female researcher within five years after earning her PhD. The 2022 Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy was awarded to EVE J. LEE (BSc 2011 UC) of McGill University for her illuminating work on the formation of stars, debris disks, and planets.
The Toronto Sport Hall of Fame named ERIN LATIMER (BA 2022 UC) as Para Athlete of the Year. The Toronto Sport Hall of Honour celebrates the exceptional contributions and accomplishments of those who have inspired and/or brought recognition to Toronto through sport. Erin Latimer started skiing at the age of two at Craigleith Ski Club in Collingwood, Ontario. Erin was born with a limb difference of her right arm but grew up competing in able-bodied ski racing until she was introduced to Para-alpine in 2012. Erin began training and competing with the Canadian Para Alpine Ski Team (CPAST) shortly after. She retired from high performance sport in the spring of 2018 to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and continues to be actively involved in the ski community.
Burin Gold Corp. has appointed PERRY ING (BCom 1997 UC) as an independent director. Ing has 25 years' experience in the Canadian mining industry. Over the past 15 years, he has held positions as chief financial officer of Mountain Province Diamonds, Kirkland Lake Gold and McEwen Mining. Prior to that he worked at Barrick Gold and Goldcorp and started his career in the mining practice at PwC. Perry is a Chartered Professional Accountant in Canada, Certified Professional Accountant in the United States, and a CFA Charterholder.
The Health Research Foundation (HRF) of Innovative Medicines Canada announced DR. ALLISON MCGEER (BSc 1974 UC) as the recipient of its distinguished Medal of Honour. Dr. McGeer is an esteemed medical microbiologist and infectious diseases specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital, and professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto.
McKinsey & Company announced the appointment of ROBERT PALTER (BA 1992 UC) to managing partner Canada. Robert has been with the firm for 28 years working with Canada’s business and civic leaders across a wide range of sectors in the Canadian economy, including infrastructure, real estate, private equity, institutional investing,
In December 2022, recipients of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's (SSHRC) 2022 Impact Awards were announced. These awards are the highest honour bestowed by SSHRC. They recognize outstanding Canadian researchers and their research achievements, research training, knowledge mobilization, and outreach activities funded partially or entirely by SSHRC. SEMRA SEVI (BA 2012 UC), of Columbia and Western Universities, was recognized with the Talent Award for her research focusing on voting behaviour, political representation, public opinion, legislative policies, partisanship, and political methodology. The Talent Award
Mental Health America (MHA) held its Annual Delegate Assembly in June 2022 and voted in six new national board members, including JASON Z. QU (BA 2010 UC). MHA is overseen by a volunteer board of directors composed of mental health and business professionals, affiliate leaders, people with lived experience, and advocates for its mission. Meeting quarterly, the board directs the strategic objectives and policies of the organization.
PAUL M. SNIDERMAN (BA 1963 UC) received the 2022 Ithiel de Sola Pool Award. The Ithiel de Sola Pool Award and Lectureship is presented triennially by the American Political Science Association (APSA) to honor a scholar whose research explores a broad range of fields pursued by Ithiel de Sola Pool including political theory, political behavior, political communication, science and technology policy, and international affairs. Sniderman delivered the Pool Lecture in Sept. 2022 as part of the APSA Annual Meeting.
Fresh Express Delivery Holdings Group Co., Limited has appointed HIN SHEK WONG (BCom 1994 UC) as an independent nonexecutive director effective Jan. 2022. Besides having over 27 years of experience in the investment banking industry, Wong has been involved in the management, business development , and strategic investment of listed companies in Hong Kong with operations in the finance, information technology, hotel, manufacturing, and environmental protection industries.
SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust announced the appointment of PETER SLAN (BA 1992 UC) as chief financial officer, effective Oct. 2022. Peter Slan has been active in banking, capital markets, and real estate for over 29 years through his various roles at Scotiabank and Ernst & Young LLP. Prior to Scotiabank, Mr. Slan worked for Ernst & Young LLP as a Chartered Professional Accountant focusing primarily on real estate clients.
The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence have recognized exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines since 1994. They are offered annually at the national (Certificate of Excellence) and regional (Certificate of Achievement) levels for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Excellence in STEM and Excellence in Early Childhood Education. SARAH TORRIE (BSc 2002 UC), Physics Teacher, Victoria Park Collegiate Institute, was the recipient of a Certificate of Excellence in STEM. Sarah creates effective and engaging digital lessons, activities ,and assessments for her students, facilitating real-life experiments at research labs, STEM events and interesting field trips.
DR. LAUREL TRAINOR (BA 1976 UC), was the recipient of a YWCA of Hamilton Women of Distinction Award in the category of art/ culture/design. As a neuroscientist, Trainor is the founding director of the McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind, a hub of cutting edge research on all aspects of live musical performances — from its therapeutic potential to an audience’s emotional reaction to music. Trainor works with scientists and clinicians on using music to promote wellness, including better outcomes in children with developmental disorders. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Trainor is also a symphony flautist.
LivePerson, a global leader in customer engagement solutions, announced the appointment of Chief Marketing Officer RUTH ZIVE (BA 1992 UC), effective Oct. 2022. In joining LivePerson, Zive becomes a three-time enterprise software CMO. She previously served as CMO of Ada, where her leadership helped transform the company through triple-digit growth. Prior to Ada, she served as CMO of Blueprint Software Systems and was founder and CEO of MarketingWise, a life-cycle marketing agency that helped B2B companies develop and promote high-quality marketing content.
CLP Holdings Limited announced the appointment of BETTY S. YUEN (BCom 1979 UC) as a non-executive director of the company effective Jan. 2023. Yuen is a Chartered Professional Accountant who began her career in public accounting in Canada and worked for ExxonMobil for 13 years before joining CLP in 1999. She was the managing director of CLP Power Hong Kong between 2002 and 2009, with overall responsibility for the operations of the Hong Kong business.
The Board of Hingtex Holdings announced that MING BUN (DAVID) WONG (BCom 1995 UC) has been appointed as an independent non-executive director, effective Aug. 2022. Wong is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), a Certified Management Accountant of the Institute of Management Accountants and a Certified ESG Planner of the International Chamber of Sustainable Development.
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) announced the appointment of DR. JANET LYNN TOMKINS (BSc 1977 UC) as CDA president for 2022-2023. Dr. Tomkins practiced general dentistry for nearly 40 years, primarily in her own practice in Toronto. Dr. Tomkins earned both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees from the University of Toronto. She is a clinical instructor in the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine at U of T’s Faculty of Dentistry, where, in 2006, she received the Dr. A. Bruce Hord Master Teaching Award for excellence in clinical teaching