Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award

Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award recognizes mid-career alumni, normally less than 30 years from an undergraduate or graduate program who is making significant contributions in their field of endeavour, setting an example for future alumni to follow. 

Award eligibility and criteria

Candidates should be:

  • A Queen's alumnus/alumna more than 10 years out but not more than 30 years from graduation
  • Someone who has achieved significant success in one or more fields of endeavour and has demonstrated effective leadership in one or more areas or the community
  • An inspiration to the Queen's community

2024 Recipient

Daniel Tisch

  • Artsci'91, MBA'96

Daniel Tisch smiling wearing a blue shirt, black jacket and glasses

Daniel Tisch is a business, public policy, and community leader, having held executive roles in government and the corporate sector, and senior governance roles at public institutions and non-profit associations. He is known globally as an expert in public relations, public policy, community engagement, crisis and reputation management. 

Before being named chief executive officer (CEO) of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in January 2024, Daniel spent 20 years as an entrepreneur, building Argyle Communications into Canada’s largest management-owned engagement, communication, and reputation advisory firm. Under Daniel’s leadership, Argyle grew to $38M in revenue, 155 employees and ten North American offices and earned Canadian or Global Agency of the Year honours six times between 2017 and 2023. 

Earlier in his career, Daniel held senior communications roles in the Canadian government, including serving as Senior Policy Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. In the latter role, he was a member of the Canadian delegation to the G7 Economic Summit. 

Daniel’s long association with Queen’s University began with two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in political studies and a Master of Business Administration. He went on to lecture on communications and leadership at the Smith School of Business for 25 years and was appointed an adjunct faculty member in 2022. Daniel also served ten years on the Queen’s Board of Trustees, the final four as vice chair, and 16 years on the University Council. Finally, he has made Queen’s a focus of his philanthropy, endowing a bursary for Indigenous students pursuing business education. 

Born in Spain to a Latin American family and raised in Toronto, Daniel speaks English, French, and Spanish. He is also a certified corporate director, with an Institute of Corporate Directors, Director (ICD.D) designation in corporate governance from the University of Toronto. In his other volunteer activities, Daniel has been a leader in the international Scouting movement and a board member of Social Venture Partners International.