Board Members

Secretary of the Board of Trustees: L. Knox

Associate Secretary: R. Coupland

Ex Officio Members

• The Honourable Murray Sinclair LLB MSC IPC (Chancellor)
• Patrick Deane (Principal)
• Vacant (Rector)

Elected Members

• David Allgood
• Heather Black
• Doug Bruce 
• Alana Butler 
• Hazel Claxton
• David Court
• Nancy Evans
• Alison Holt

• James Keohane
• Cathy Matthews
• Robert McFarlane
• Bettina Pierre-Gilles
• Victoria Remenda 
• Ali Saghari

• Jaya Sharma
• John Stackhouse
• Colette Steer
• Maryann Turcke
• Patrice Walch-Watson
• Robert Watts 
• Mary Wilson Trider
• Marcus Wong

Ex Officio Members

The Chancellor

The Honourable Murray Sinclair LLB MSC IPC

The Honourable Murray Sinclair’s legal credentials are well known. What is less well known is that he is Anishinaabe and a member of the Peguis First Nation. He is a Fourth Degree Chief of the Midewiwin Society, a traditional healing and spiritual society of the Anishinaabe Nation responsible for protecting the teachings, ceremonies, laws, and history of the Anishinaabe. His Spirit Name is Mizhana Gheezhik (The One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky).

He graduated from law school in 1979. He has been involved with the justice system in Manitoba for over 40 years, first as a lawyer representing Indigenous clients, as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Robson Hall, as Associate Chief Judge of Manitoba’s Provincial Court and as a Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench. He was the first Indigenous Judge appointed in Manitoba and Canada’s second.

He served as Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba and as Chief Commissioner of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). As head of the TRC, he participated in hundreds of hearings across Canada, culminating in the TRC’s widely influential report in 2015. He also oversaw an active multi-million dollar fundraising program to support various TRC events and activities, and to allow survivors to travel to attend TRC events. In 2017 Governor General Julie Payette awarded him and the other TRC Commissioners the Meritorious Service Cross (Civilian) (MSC) for service to Canada for their work on the TRC.

He was active within the profession and his community and was a member of the faculty of the National Judicial Institute training judges about Indigenous law and social justice issues. He has won numerous awards, including the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Manitoba Bar Association’s Equality Award (2001), its Distinguished Service Award (2016) and the CBA President’s medal (2018). He has been named as one of Canada’s Indigenous People’s Counsel (IPC) by the Indigenous Bar Association.

He has received Honorary Doctorates from 14 universities. He retired from the Bench in January 2016, and was appointed to the Senate on April 2, 2016. He retired from the Senate effective January 31, 2021, to return to the practice of law and to mentor young lawyers. He is currently writing his memoirs.

He has been invited to speak throughout Canada and internationally, including the Cambridge Lectures for members of the Judiciary of the Commonwealth Courts.  He continues to maintain an active public speaking schedule.

The Principal

Patrick Deane

Patrick Deane became the 21st Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University on July 1, 2019. He is the former President and Vice-Chancellor of McMaster University, a position he held for nine years.  Prior to that he served as Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at Queen’s and also held a number of academic administrative appointments at Western University and the University of Winnipeg. Dr. Deane is a Professor of English Literature, with his principal research focus being the relationship between cultural production and British politics in the first half of the twentieth century.  He read English and Law at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, before undertaking graduate studies and receiving both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Western University. Dr. Deane was the first recipient of the John Charles Polanyi Prize for Literature in 1988.

The Rector

Vacant

Elected Members

David Allgood

BA'70, JD'74. Most recently David was Senior Counsel with Dentons Canada LLP. Previously David was Executive Vice-President and General Counsel of the Royal Bank of Canada, and Partner Osler LLP 1980-98.  David is an independent business consultant and advisor. His community involvement includes Trillium Health Partners, the Toronto United Way, Pro Bono Ontario (2008-18), and Co-Founder of Legal Leaders for Diversity (2011-16).  David lives in Toronto with his wife Helen Stevenson. Appointed by the Board - current term to 2023.

Heather Black

Sc’80, Toronto, ON. Past Vice President, Architecture and Planning, Latin American Systems, Scotiabank. Morris Hall and Leonard Field Residence Councils. QUAA Board from 2003. QUAA President 2009-2011, with service on Queen’s Advancement Committee and Capital Campaign Cabinet. University Council Reform Committee, 2012-2013, Chancellor Selection Committee, 2014. UC Program Committee, 2014-18. President’s Advisory Committee on Non-Academic Misconduct, 2015. University Council Executive Committee and Nominating Committee. Elected by the University Council to the Board of Trustees - current term to 2023. Current term on University Council to 2022.  

Doug Bruce

BSc(Eng)'85, MBA'01 Edinburgh School of Business, UK. Elected University Council representative to the Board of Trustees. On the Queen’s University Council Doug has been a member of the Program Committee (two years as chair) and past member of the Council Executive Committee. In addition to his work on the Board of Trustees he is an advisor to the Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative (QICSI) and mentors student participants. As a co-founder of a software company, Doug is directly involved with all aspects of the business; legal, financial, HR, sales, and marketing. His goal is to leverage this broad background to make a strong contribution to the many issues facing Queen’s. Elected by the University Council to the Board of Trustees - current term to 2024. Current term on University Council to 2023.

Alana Butler

Alana Butler is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education. She is currently the co-Chair of the University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity (UCARE) and is a member of SEEC (Senate Educational Equity Committee). She is the Vice President of the Black Canadian Studies Association (2020-2021) and is Chair of the Canadian Sociology Association’s Black Caucus (2020-2021). She graduated with a Ph.D. in Education from Cornell University and is a certified secondary school teacher. Her current research focuses on at-risk children and youth, equity and inclusion, and socio-economic equality. Elected by the Faculty - current term to 2024. 

Hazel Claxton

B.Com (Hons) ’83. Hazel Claxton retired in 2018 from Morneau Shepell where she was EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer (2013 – 2018). Previously, she spent 29 years at PwC (1983-2012) where she held a wide variety of leadership roles including Canadian Leadership Group member, Human Capital Leader, lead relationship partner for priority clients, Corporate Advisory and Restructuring Group partner, and Chair of PwC’s Women in Leadership initiative.  Hazel sits on the boards of TELUS Corporation, University Pension Plan Ontario (2020 - present) where she is Chair of the Audit, Finance and Actuarial Committee, and Unity Health Toronto (2017 – present), where she is Chair of the Resources Committee and the Audit Subcommittee.  Previously, she was a director on the boards of St. Michael’s Hospital (2015 – 2017) and Shaw Festival (2009 – 2014), where she was Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee. Hazel is a CPA, CA and also holds the ICD.D designation, having graduated from the Rotman School of Management's Institute of Corporate Directors Program. Appointed by the Board – current term to 2022.

David Court

Bcom '79, MBA '83 (Harvard). Mr Court is a Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company having worked in 5 offices globally.  He was on McKinsey's global Operating Committee and Board of Directors, and in addition to serving clients was the Firm's Global Director of Technology, Digitization and Communications.   David is currently a board member at Canadian Tire Corporation, Brookfield Business Partners, Public Service Pension (PSP) Investment Board, National Geographic Partners, Women's College Hospital and Plan Canada International.  He formerly chaired the Smith School of Business Advisory Board and currently chairs the Advisory Board for Georgian Partners, a Venture Capital Firm focused on Artificial Intelligence as well as some of their portfolio companies. Appointed by the Board - current term to 2023.

Nancy Evans

Nancy joined the staff of Queen’s in 2017 as Executive Director, Marketing & Communications, Smith School of Business. Prior to that she held senior private and public sector leadership roles including Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations for a provincial electricity regulator, Senior Vice President of the corporate and financial services practice at Environics Communications (now Proof Strategies) a leading Canadian communications agency, and Director, Global Communications at Manulife Financial, among other roles. She holds the Chartered Director designation and currently serves on the board of Quinte Health Care. Previously she served on the boards of The Scarborough Hospital, Frontier College, and Success Collaborative/ Dress for Success Kingston. A member of the LGBTQ+ community, she resides with her partner in Kingston and Prince Edward County. Elected by the Staff - current term to 2024.

Alison Holt

BAH'87. Managing Director, Offord Group, and Senior Consultant and Principal, Marts & Lundy in the field of management consulting in the charitable sector. Council Trustee 2018-current. Member of University Council 2003-current. Previously served as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of Council, Chair of the University Council Reform Planning Group, and member of the Chancellor’s Selection Committee. Current member, Board of Trustees External Relations and Development Committee and Governance and Nominating Committee. Member of the Marts & Lundy Board of Directors. Volunteer engagements include: LEAP|Pecault Centre for Social Impact Advisory Committee; Montcrest School Board of Directors; former member of Child Development Institute Foundation Board and Integra Advisory Board; Past Vice-President, Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education; and past board member, Queen’s Alumni Association. Staff member in Queen’s Advancement 1988-1999. Queen’s Herb Hamilton Award Winner 2000. Elected by the University Council to the Board of Trustees - current term to 2024. Current term to 2024.

James Keohane

Jim Keohane recently retired as the President & CEO of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) after a successful 21-year career with that organization. During his tenure as CEO, HOOPP was consistently one of the top performing pension funds globally. Jim is a frequent speaker on the topics of Liability Driven Investing by pension plans, risk management in pension plans, and retirement income security. After completing his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Ottawa, Mr. Keohane obtained his MBA at Queen’s University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has completed the Directors Education Program (Rotman School of Business) at the Institute of Corporate Directors. Mr. Keohane is a board member of AIMCo and is a former board member of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance and of Home Capital Group. He also serves as a Senior Fellow of the CD Howe Institute. Mr. Keohane was selected as member of the Ontario Technical Advisory Panel on Retirement Income Security. He is a volunteer with the United Way of Greater Toronto and was the Major Giving Chair in 2018. Appointed by the Board – current term to 2025.

Robert McFarlane

BCom'83, MBA’85 Western, ICD.D. EVP & CFO TELUS Corporation 2000–2012 and Clearnet 1994–2000.  In 2007 named Canada’s Top CFO and in 2011 was awarded the Kathleen Beaumont Hill Award for outstanding contribution to Queen’s and Canada.  Currently Member of the Board of Economical Insurance; Member of the Board of HSBC Bank Canada and Chair of its Audit, Risk & Conduct Review Committee; Member of the Executive of the BC Chapter of the Institute of Corporate Directors; Chair of the UBC Information Technology Advisory Council; Chair of the Greater Vancouver Advisory Board of The Salvation Army. Appointed by the Board - current term to 2021.

Bettina Pierre-Gilles

Bettina is an experienced director and executive with 23+ years of financial, commercial and business development experience at the CFO level. Bettina is very experienced with Audit Committee and Governance Committee active participation, and focuses on collaboratively working with fellow board members and co-workers to provide effective partnership and strategic leadership guidance to the Management team in order for them to succeed in their daily management of the corporation. Bettina has acquired extensive experience in cross-border Mergers & Acquisitions, including work on transactions in China, India, Asia, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union, Africa, South America, Europe and North America. Bettina is Chair of the Board of the Piikani Investment Corporation, holds an MBA from Queen’s Smith School of Business, is a CPA, CMA and an ICD.D. Appointed by the Board - current term to 2024.

Victoria Remenda

Dr. Vicki Remenda, Head of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering (GSGE) has served Queen's University chairing and serving on numerous committees at all levels, and in two faculties. As Senator, she was part of writing team for the first Academic Plan (2011). She used her Chair in Teaching and Learning (2006-2009) to spearhead Inquiry@Queen’s, the longest running undergraduate research conference in Canada. As Associate Dean in Faculty of Arts & Science (2015-2017), Vicki held the Teaching and Learning and Cyclical Program Review portfolios. As department head since 2017, Vicki has undertaken significant fundraising, hired seven new faculty members and is director of the innovative, on-line professional masters program, Masters of Earth and Engineering Resources Leadership. Elected by the Faculty - current term to 2023.

Ali Saghari

JD'22. My interest in governance and policy stems from my days as an undergraduate. Studying Political Science sparked my desire to pursue positions where I felt I could make some form of impact. During my undergraduate years I became involved with student governance. There I saw the impact students can make on their own academic lives when their interests are presented. I hope to continue working for the interest of peers and I look forward to serving all graduate students to the best of my ability. Elected by the Graduate Students - current term to 2022.

Jaya Sharma

Jaya Sharma is a Health Sciences student in the Class of 2024 at Queen’s University. Her interest in student government and advocacy was sparked while volunteering as a First Year Intern in the Alma Mater Society. She also enjoys playing the French Horn and was the First Horn player in the Queen’s Symphony Orchestra in the 2020-21 year. She is interested in a career that combines both health care and politics, and is excited to learn how the decision-making process works at Queen’s. Elected by the Undergraduate Students - current term to 2023.

John Stackhouse

As Senior Vice-President, Office of the CEO at RBC, John is responsible for interpreting trends for the executive leadership team and Board of Directors with insights on how these are affecting RBC, its clients and society at large. Prior to this, John was editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail (2009-14), editor of Report on Business, and from 1992-1999, a foreign correspondent based in New Delhi, India. He has authored four books including Planet Canada (2020), Out of Poverty, Timbit Nation, and Mass Disruption: Thirty Years on the Front Lines of a Media Revolution. John is a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs, C.D. ‎Howe Institute and on the boards of Literary Review of Canada and the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada. Appointed by the Board - current term to 2024. 

Colette Steer

B.PE. from the University of Western Australia, B.A. (Sports Administration) from the University of Canberra, Colette spent the first fifteen years of her career working in national and international basketball. Since moving to Canada she changed careers and has been working for the School of Graduate Studies since 2007.  Her role has given her the opportunity to collaborate with many central services, departments and Faculties. She is currently on several working groups, such as the Committee for International Student Success, the Aboriginal Student Access and Support Working Group, the Food Insecurity working group, the Group UX/UI Centre of Excellence, Research RoundUp, the Senate Committee for Scholarships and Student Aid and the Mental Health Working Group. Elected by the Staff - current term to 2023.

Maryann Turcke

Ms. Turcke is currently a Senior Advisor to Brookfield Asset Management in the Infrastructure division, serving on various portfolio company boards. Prior to Brookfield, Ms. Turcke was the Chief Operating Officer of the National Football League. In this capacity she oversaw broad facets of the league including marketing, technology, social and digital media, NFL Network, brand, global events and corporate functions. Renowned for a wide breadth of executive leadership roles and team building skills, Ms. Turcke was previously the President of Bell Media, Canada’s largest media company. Under her leadership, Bell Media built its position as the country’s top multimedia company, with innovations in TV and on-demand content as well as continued investment to ensure Canadians have the very best choice in primetime programs and coverage of live events, news, and sports on TV, radio, and digital platforms. Prior to leading Bell Media, Ms. Turcke was formerly Executive Vice-President of Bell Field Operations, leading Bell’s team of 12,000 installation and service technicians in delivering Fibe TV, Internet, and other Bell residential and business services. Ms. Turcke joined Bell in 2005 as Vice-President, Customer Experience and Operations for Small and Medium Business. A member of the Women’s Executive Network Hall of Fame she was also named the 2015 Woman of the Year by Women in Communications and Technology. In 2016, she was named one of Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential People. In 2018, she was named one of Adweek’s most Powerful Women in Sports and one of Forbes 50 Most Powerful Women in US Sports. Ms. Turcke Chairs the advisory board of the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Queen’s. Ms. Turcke holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Queen’s University, a Master of Engineering from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Business Administration from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s. Appointed by the Board of Trustees - current term to 2024.

Patrice Walch-Watson

Patrice is Senior Managing Director, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at CPP Investments, where she serves on the senior management team and leads the global legal, compliance and corporate secretarial functions. She is a seasoned business lawyer and trusted advisor with deep experience in transactions, regulation, corporate governance and providing strategic counsel. Patrice was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN in 2019 and was recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the most influential General Counsel in Canada. In 2020, Patrice received a “Legend in Law Award” by The Burton Award Program recognizing her outstanding reputation in the legal profession and a demonstrated track record of addressing complex matters of national or global significance. Patrice is currently a member of the Advisory Council to the Dean of Queen’s University Law School and sits on the Board of Directors for the CDL Rapid Screening Consortium. She holds the ICD.D designation. Appointed by the Board - current term to 2024.

Robert Watts 

A graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and fellow at the Harvard Law School, He is the Vice President of Indigenous Relations at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization. He was an Adjunct Professor and Distinguished Fellow at Queens University in the School of Policy Studies. Previously, he was Chief of Staff and Chief Executive Officer for the Assembly of First Nations and Interim Executive Director of the Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Bob was awarded the Indspire award for Public Service and recently received an honorary Doctor of Laws from MacMaster University. Bob is well known for his commitment to reconciliation and Indigenous knowledge. Robert is of Mohawk and Ojibway ancestry and resides at Six Nations Reserve. Appointed by the Board - current term to 2024.

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Mary Wilson Trider (Board Chair)

Mary is President & CEO of Almonte General Hospital and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital. She is a graduate of the Smith School of Business (B.Comm) and a FCPA, FCA.  Mary is active in numerous healthcare industry committees.  Previous Board service includes Ontario 211 Services Corporation, United Way of York Region (Past Chair), Booth Centennial Healthcare Linen Services (Past Vice Chair) and the National Ballet Endowment Foundation. Elected by the University Council to the Board of Trustees - current term to 2025. Current term on University Council to 2025.

"In conversation with the new chair of the Board of Trustees" (Queen's Gazette - September 11, 2020)

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Marcus Wong

BAH’03, West Vancouver, BC, City Councillor. CEO, AURUS Athletica. Provincially-appointed tribunal adjudicator. Spokesperson, major utility company. Communications advisor to cabinet ministers. Canadian Olympic Committee. Canadian Embassy (Washington, DC). MSc (Birmingham). GOVERNANCE EXPERIENCE: West Vancouver Police Board, Queen’s University Council (2008-2014), Queen’s Alumni Association, BC Association of Police Boards, Canadian Association of Police Governance, West Vancouver Track & Field Club, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, BC Luge Association, Richmond Art Gallery, University of Birmingham Senate. Member, Institute of Corporate Directors. AT QUEEN’S: Solar Car, MCRC, Withinsight, NTYLC, Queen’s Bands, Reunion Coordinator. Elected by the University Council to the Board of Trustees - current term to 2024. Current term on University Council to 2023.

By-Law No. 1 of the Board of Trustees provides for conferral of the honorary title of trustee emeritus/a upon retired trustees and chair emeritus/a upon retired Chairs of the Board.

*Deceased