ALGONQUIN COLLEGE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Morning Show Co - Host and CTV Ottawa Morning Live Co - Host
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- Coordinator - Professor Academic Upgrading - Algonquin College Smiths Falls Centre
Of Cree and Inuit ancestry, Audrey has had extensive management experience working in health, education, technology, and human resources in public, non-profit, and corporate sectors. She has served in leadership positions in a number of national, provincial, and local organizations involved with organizational development or policy issues affecting Aboriginal communities. These include Director of Educational Services (Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus), Director of Education with the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists, Director with Donna Cona Inc., Health Director with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Aboriginal Coordinator with Ontario Ministry of Education, Academic Chair, School of Health and Human Services (Nova Scotia Community College), and Executive Director with Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada (now Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association). Audrey has a small consulting practice and recently retired from her role as part-time Chaplain at the Carlington Community Chaplaincy.
She is well-known in the Ottawa area as a motivational speaker and facilitator and presented at many conferences on cultural safety, organizational change, diversity, humour in the workplace, stress and change management and other topics.
She holds an Masters in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, a Masters of Arts (Sociology & Organizational Behaviour) from the University of Calgary, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from McGill, a Teaching Diploma (Later Childhood) from MacDonald College and is a Myers-Briggs Instructor.
Audrey is an ardent volunteer and has served and chaired in a number of national and provincial organizations involved with health, library and church related organizations. Currently, she is serving as Co-Chair on the All My Relations Circle for the Anglican Diocese 0f Ottawa and will be completing her second term on the Board at Algonquin College. Audrey-Claire Lawrence was appointed to the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2017, and appointed Chair of the Governance Committee on September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Officer
- Senior Officer, Enrolment & Financial Aid - Registrar 's Office, Admissions, Registration & Financial Aid
- Senior Officer, Enrolment & Financial Aid Registrar 's Office
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- Fitness and Lifestyle Coordinator
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- Director of Campus Services
Brent Brownlee is the Director of Campus Services for Algonquin College. Campus Services is responsible for providing goods and services to the students, employees and the broader College Community to enhance the Algonquin College experience and promote student success.
Previous to taking on the Director role, Brent led the Food Services management team at Algonquin College for many years, leading an innovative and successful in-house Food Services operation. Brent is a strong advocate for student experience and has spearheaded the first-ever Strategic Plan for Algonquin College's Campus Services.
Prior to joining Algonquin College, Brent enjoyed a long career in the hotel and hospitality services industries. He has a degree in Sociology from the University of Ottawa and an MBA in Hospitality and Tourism from the University of Guelph.
Brent is a member of the Canadian College and University Food Service Association (CCUFSA) and the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS).
Job Titles:
- Community & Student Affairs
Job Titles:
- Counsellor - Counselling Services
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- Senior Vice President, Academic
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Board
- President
Claude Brulé is Algonquin College's ninth President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to taking on this leadership role in August 2019, Claude served as the College's Senior Vice President Academic (2012-2019).
As Senior Vice President, Academic, Claude was responsible for the academic institutes, schools, faculties, and associated services. He has provided leadership to the advancement of digital learning through initiatives such as Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD), as well as e-text and other digital resources. He also guided the development of a new 14-week term model that launched in September 2019, as well as the College's Learner-driven Plan - which is reimagining personalized learning at the College.
Claude has served the College at nearly every level of its leadership team. Prior to his roles on the Algonquin College Exec utive Team, he was the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Trades at Algonquin College (2007-2012), responsible for the School of Advanced Technology, the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence, and the Heritage Institute, a rural campus in Perth, Ontario.
Upon joining the College in August 1999, he first served as the Academic Chair of the Information and Communications Technology Department (formerly the Computer Studies Department). Throughout his tenure at the College, Claude led several large projects and initiatives at either the Faculty or College level. His most significant achievements have been related to his involvement, as the main point of contact for the user group, on three major high-performance building infrastructure projects, including the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence.
Prior to joining the College, Claude was an officer in the Canadian Forces, in the Air Force occupational branch of Communication and Electronics Engineering, in a career that spanned 22 years. He graduated from the Royal Military College in Kingston in 1982 with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics and again in 1990, earning a Master's of Science in Mathematics. Among his many tours of duty over the years, he was an instructor at the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics (CFSCE) from 1985 to 1987, and subsequently, the Senior Staff Officer for Strategic Planning and the Chief of Staff of the same school from 1993 to 1997. Between his two tours at CFSCE, he lectured in the Mathematics and Computer Science department as an assistant professor at the Royal Military College from 1989 to 1993.
Claude is an active member of the community and serves on several boards, including Polytechnics Canada, Invest Ottawa, and the Ottawa Community Loan Fund (OCLF). He is also a member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and was promoted to Senior Member in 2018 for his significant contributions to the profession.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Notable Alumni and Faculty Team
- Senior Vice President, Global Digital Planning Director at BBDO New York
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- Manager, Pembroke Campus Operations
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- Member of the Board
- Student Representative
Cyan is a graduate of the Computer Systems Technician and is currently completing her Honours Bachelor of Public Safety undergraduate degree. As a class representative during her first year, Cyan advocated passionately for student rights and the accommodation of College Assisted Learning students. Cyan aims to achieve a career of public service and eventually return as an instructor in her chosen field.
Cyan is a long-time volunteer with the Kiwanis East Ottawa Est club (KEOE), responsible for organizing and/or supporting numerous events such as: the Petrie Island O Canada Orleans event, Children's Aid Society Trivia Night, Aktion Club, and the seasonal haunted barn fundraiser known as sKreamers. In 2020 she was elected Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est club secretary. She lists Brent McEvoy and Charles Nixon, her prior supervisors at the college, and Kiwanis Division 12 Trustee Harley Bloom as her mentors. All of whom inspired her greatly to push forward and create a name for herself.
She believes that anything can be obtained through dedication and moxie. Cyan Shields was appointed to the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2021, and was re-appointed for a second term of office effective September 1, 2022.
Cyril McKelvie is currently working as a Vice President of Jabil Photonics (JP) business unit, where he is responsible for strategy, M&A and all key customer engagements. Mr. McKelvie is a well-seasoned executive with over 25 years of senior management experience in research and development, new product development and operations. Prior to his position at JP, Mr. McKelvie was a consultant with Marlin Equity and was the lead on the restructuring of the operations, supply chain functions at Marlin's acquisition of Coriant Networks. Prior to his position at Marlin, Mr. McKelvie was President and CEO of Marport Technologies, a world leader in sonar equipment for the commercial fishing and defence industry.
Job Titles:
- CEO of Soshal Group, Marketing Magazine 30 under 30 ( 2012 )
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Human Resources
Dr. Gail Beck, O. Ont., MD, CM, FRCPC, is the Clinical Director of Youth Mental Health at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre in Ottawa, Canada. She completed medical school and her residency in Psychiatry at McGill University. Her career has focused on championing the health needs of children and youth.
Dr. Beck is a Past President of the Academy of Medicine Ottawa and of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada. She is the Past Chair of the Board of the Ontario Medical Association. She has represented Canada and Medical Women's International Association at the World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Dr. Beck received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for her work with children and youth. In 2011, Dr. Beck was named to the Order of Ontario, her province's highest honor.
Dr. Beck lives with her husband in Ottawa, Canada and was appointed to the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2017, appointed Chair of the Governance Committee on September 1, 2019, appointed Board Vice Chair on September 1, 2020, and appointed Board Chair on September 1, 2022.
Job Titles:
- Dean, School of Business and Hospitality
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Finance and Administration
- Chartered Professional Accountant
Duane McNair is the Vice President, Finance and Administration and has worked at Algonquin College since 2000. Duane previously held the positions of Director, Finance and Administrative Services, Business Administrator in the Faculty of Arts, Media and Design and Manager, Financial Services at the College. Prior to working at the College, Duane held various financial management roles for social services agencies and financial institutions.
Duane is a chartered professional accountant (CPA) and holds an MBA from Laurentian University. He is a graduate of the Bachelor of Mathematics program at the University of Waterloo and holds the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation. He currently serves on various provincial working groups and committees in support of the Ontario public college system and is the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Ontario College Application Service and a member of the Board of Directors of the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa.
Job Titles:
- Student Success Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Corporate Planning
Emily Woods is the Director of Corporate Planning and has worked at Algonquin College since 2008. Previous to her current role, Emily held various positions including Associate Director of Financial Services, Business Administrator of Facilities Management, and Supervisor of Operational Accounting. Before working at the College, Emily held various financial roles in the healthcare and retail industries.
In 2021, Emily was the recipient of the Gerry A. Barker Award for Leadership. Emily is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), holds an MBA from Royal Roads University, and a Bachelor of Arts (English and Classical Studies) from Queen's University.
Gabrielle Berard is a public affairs and advocacy professional specializing in health care policy. She is passionate about helping organizations understand how government works to support the alignment of business objectives with political priorities.
Gabrielle leads federal government engagement on behalf of Novo Nordisk Canada, a global health care company based in Denmark dedicated to the development innovative treatments for patients living with serious chronic diseases. In her current role, she advocates for Novo Nordisk in Ottawa to government decision-makers and industry associations. She holds additional responsibility for the development of community partnerships to support the company's commitment to chronic disease prevention.
Prior to joining Novo Nordisk, Gabrielle spent over a decade working in the fields of government and health policy. As a senior staffer to two federal finance ministers, she provided political advice on a range of health and social policy files to support the development of three federal budgets. Since leaving politics, Gabrielle has built a career in health policy and advocacy, advising and representing professional associations, not-for-profit organizations and private corporations to achieve their government affairs and public policy objectives.
Gabrielle holds a Masters of Public and International Affairs from the University of Ottawa, and an Honours Bachelors of Arts from McGill University. Gabrielle Berard was appointed to the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2021, and was appointed as Vice Chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee on September 1, 2023.
Grant Perry is the Chief Financial Officer, and has worked at Algonquin College since 2002. Grant previously held the positions of Director, Finance and Administrative Services, Business Administrator, Facilities Management, and Accounting Manager, Corporate Training. Prior to working at the College, Grant held various financial management roles at both large and small enterprises and financial institutions.
Grant is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and holds an Honours degree in Commerce from Laurentian University. Grant is also an Algonquin College graduate of the Business Administration Accounting program. In 2019, Grant was chosen as the recipient of the Gerry A. Barker Leadership Award in recognition of excellence in leadership. Grant is a long-term member of the Board of Directors of Acceso International, a Canadian not-for-profit that promotes and enables greater access to all levels of education in Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant, Vice President, Finance and Administration.
Izabela Buglar is the Executive Assistant of the Vice President of Finance and Administration. Izabela has worked at Algonquin College since December 2019 and has over 13 years of executive administrative experience supporting C-Suite executives in various roles. Prior to working at the College, Izabela held various administrative positions within a number of diverse organizations and industries, with recent experience as the Executive Assistant to the President, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Glenview Management/Glenview Homes.
Izabela is a graduate of Algonquin College holding a diploma in Business Accounting and is actively pursuing a Project Management Essentials certificate.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Notable Alumni and Faculty Team
- TSN Reporter
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Vice Chair of the Board
Mr. McCracken retired as director of education for the Ottawa Catholic School Board after a distinguished career in public education.
Mr. McCracken has been an active member on the board of directors of a number of organizations in the Ottawa community and provincially including: Campaign Chairperson, United Way Ottawa; Chairperson, United Way Board of Directors; Chairperson, Success By 6; President, Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa; Chairperson, Board of Governors, The Ottawa Hospital; Chairperson, Board of Directors, Ontario Hospital Association; Director, Shepherds of Good Hope; and Director, University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Mr. McCracken's honours include: The EXL Award for exemplary leadership presented by the Canadian Association of School Administrators; The Benemerenti Medal conferred by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for distinguished service to the Catholic Church and Community; The Distinguished Civic Award for Humanitarianism awarded by the City of Ottawa; The Distinguished Leadership Award conferred by The Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers Association; The Special Award for Distinguished Service to Catholic Education conferred by the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association; The Community Builder of the Year Award, United Way Ottawa; Quality of Life Award, St. Joseph's Women's Centre; Lifetime Achievement Award, Volunteer Ottawa; Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, Governor General of Canada; and Lifetime Membership awarded by Ontario Hospital Association. May 20, 2010 was proclaimed as James G McCracken Day in the City of Ottawa in recognition of his contributions to education and community service.
Mr. McCracken holds a B.A. (hons) from Carleton University, a B.Ed from the University of Toronto, and a M.Ed. from the University of Ottawa. James McCracken was appointed to the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2019; appointed Vice Chair of the Governance Committee on September 1, 2020; appointed Chair of the Governance Committee on September 1, 2021; appointed Board Vice Chair on September 1, 2022; appointed Board Chair on September 1, 2023.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Notable Alumni and Faculty Team
- Fox News Weather Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Notable Alumni and Faculty Team
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- Horticulture Program Professor and Technician Shared Tips on How to Keep Your Garden Healthy During This Extreme Heat Wave!
Jason Vodden, Horticulture program professor and technician shared tips on how to keep your garden healthy during this extreme heat wave!
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant
- Member of the Board
Jeff was born into an entrepreneurial family here in Ottawa where he continues to reside with his family.
A proud Algonquin College alumnus, he is a polished executive connector with many years of operational, revenue development and stakeholder engagement experience in local professional service environments. Jeff is an exceptional communicator and a published author of "The Ten Count: Howard Darwin's Remarkable Life in Ottawa".
Since graduating from Algonquin, he earned a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute, a Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Services) and is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Other major personal charitable affiliations include the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation (former Board Chair), and Habitat for Humanity, Global Village. Other volunteer boards served include the Ottawa Sports Council and the Ottawa Sports Awards.
Jeff is a management consultant and was the founding Executive Director of Ottawa Markets; the City of Ottawa's largest Municipal Services Corporation. He originally spent more than 30 years in financial services and has experience in aviation (private pilot - night rated); amateur sport (Ottawa 67's), and professional sport (Ottawa Lynx).
After serving the Algonquin College Foundation Board, Jeff Darwin was appointed to our college Board of Governors in 2018 and was appointed Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee for September 1, 2023.
Job Titles:
- Director, Technology Evangelism at Apple Inc
Job Titles:
- Member of the Notable Alumni and Faculty Team
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- Member of the Notable Alumni and Faculty Team
Job Titles:
- Business Administrator ( Acting )
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- Administrative Assistant ( Acting )
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- Library Technician - Resource Centre - Library
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- Executive Assistant to the Director President 's Office and Communications
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President, Experiential Learning and Innovation
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Administrative Staff Representative
Laura Jarrell is a proud alumna of Algonquin College (Business - Marketing, class of 2002). She has
worked at the College for eleven years in a variety of administrative positions, leading teams to achieve exceptional results using a collaborative, data-driven, and student-centric approach. Laura currently leads Program Quality and Renewal in Academic Development, facilitating academic program reviews and supporting faculty to develop meaningful improvement plans. Since moving into this position in 2020, Laura and her team have delivered dramatic improvements in review completion rates, timelines, and stakeholder satisfaction.
Previously, Laura held administrative positions in the Registrar's Office, the International Education Centre, and Information Technology Services. During her time at the College, she has taken on a leadership role for several strategic initiatives. She co-led the design and launch of Student Central, a new integrated student service centre. She also co-led the Flexible Schedules and Timetables Working Group of the Learner Driven Plan, aimed at improving processes and student experiences. Laura also led the development of the College's International Student Application system, to support the College's enrolment growth and improve the admission experience for international students.
Laura is a keen collaborator and is always seeking opportunities to bring together cross-functional groups to support student success. She founded and led the Integrated Communications Working Group, aimed at improving the alignment and integration of student on-boarding communications. She also recently led a Program Data Working Group, tasked to replace a legacy dataset with new enrolment reports designed to better understand program trends and support key decision-making.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) (Honours) from the University of Ottawa and she is currently completing a Master of Education at Memorial University (expected completion Fall 2023). She was appointed to the Board of Governors for her first term in an interim election, effective May 9, 2022. She ran for re-election in 2023 and won by acclamation.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Student Services
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- Manager - Community Employment Services
Job Titles:
- Budget Officer, Hospitality
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- Vice President, Advancement
Job Titles:
- Director, Risk Management
Michael Laviolette is the Director, Risk Management and has worked at the College since 2019.
Mike previously held the position of Manager, Security and Emergency Services. Prior to working at the College, Mike completed a 31 year career with the Ottawa Police Service where he served in many different capacities including Patrol Operations, Professional Standards, Human Resources and Criminal Investigations . Mike retired at the rank of Inspector where he was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Directorate responsible for Homicide, Intimate Partner Assault, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse and the Victim Crisis Unit. Mike has worked with many community organizations which includes having served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Humane Society.
Mike is a graduate of Algonquin College holding a diploma in the Law and Security Administration program (1985) as well as a Bachelor of Policing degree from Charles Sturt University. He is currently pursuing his Canadian Risk Management Certification.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Government Relations and Special Advisor to the President
Job Titles:
- Associate Chair, Management of Part - Time Teachers
Job Titles:
- CBC Washington Bureau Chief
Job Titles:
- Faculty Marketing Officer
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President, Global, Online, and Corporate Learning
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Internal Control
Paul Gardner is leading the development and implementation of the College's Internal Control Framework. As the Senior Manager for Internal Control, Paul has introduced training programs in Contract Review and Approval, Financial Integrity, Fraud Awareness, and Conflict of Interest.
Previously, Paul spent 4 years as the College's Senior Manager for Special Projects. In this position, he advanced a dozen Board approved major capital projects and was instrumental in securing more than $30M in Provincial and Federal government grants.
In 2018, Paul was awarded the President's Star for his work in developing the College's Healthy Living Education investment case, and the Chris Warburton Award of Excellence from the Algonquin Students' Association for his work in developing the investment case for the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre.
Paul holds a Master of Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship degree from the Smith School of Business at Queens University, a Chartered Professional Accountant designation, and an Honours degree in Commerce. Paul is Prosci Change Management Certified and is a CPA Certified Master Controller.
Perth Library Contact Information (613) 267-2859 ext. 5644 illpert@algonquincollege.com https://www.algonquincollege.com/lrc/library/aboutus.htm Back to Kendra's Info.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Ottawa Mission
Job Titles:
- Budget Officer, Business ( Acting )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Chairman of Academic & Student Affairs Committee
Rodney Wilson was the former Board Chair, Algonquin College Foundation. He is employed by Ciena Corporation as Chief Technologist for Advanced Network Architectures & External Research where he is responsible for Ciena's interactions with universities, government programs and international research initiatives. His role in Ciena's CTO Group, is to orchestrate successful intersections between emerging technology innovations, research results and advanced architectures with Ciena R&D business groups.
Prior to Ciena, he held various roles at Nortel and Bell Northern Research including Director of Broadband Switching, leader for Optical Ethernet R&D and Senior Advisor to the Chief Technology Officer. Various other career adventures included design and operation of University of Toronto's global bibliographic service and Bell Canada data services operations.
Mr. Wilson was originally trained in electrical engineering at Ryerson Polytechnic Institute in Toronto, Ontario. He is a graduate of the Executive Management School at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors, and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) He proudly received an honorary degree from Algonquin College in 2022. He lives in Ottawa with his wife, Linda.
Rodney Wilson was appointed to the Board of Governors on October 22, 2020, appointed Vice Chair of the Academic & Student Affairs Committee on September 1, 2021, appointed Chair of the Academic & Student Affairs Committee on September 1, 2022 and was appointed Chair of the Academic & Student Affairs Committee on September 1, 2023.
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Truth, Reconciliation & Indigenization
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director, Facilities Management
Ryan Southwood is the Executive Director Facilities Management and has worked at the College since 2019. Ryan previously held the position of Associate Director, Facilities Planning. Prior to working at Algonquin College, Ryan had a 22 year career with the Canadian Armed Forces as a Military Engineer in the Canadian Army. During his military career, Ryan had operational tours in Afghanistan and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In Canada, he has responded to domestic emergencies including the Ice Storm in 1997 and the Calgary Floods in 2013.
Ryan has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Master's of Science (Planning) from the University of Guelph. Ryan is a registered professional planner in the province of Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Executive Assistant
- Assistant to the Executive Assistant, Vice President, Finance and Administration
Sarah Stilling is the Assistant to the Executive Assistant of the Vice President of Finance and Administration. She has worked at Algonquin College since 2022 and brings over four years of administrative experience from various roles with recent experience from the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
Sarah is a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) and a graduate of the Master's of Counselling program at Yorkville University. She is supporting the Office of the Vice President, Finance and Administration on a part time basis, while pursuing counselling experience with an external counselling firm.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Founder and CEO of Umber Realty Inc
Shaun Denis is the founder and CEO of Umber Realty Inc., a full service brokerage that handles commercial and residential real estate transactions. Umber began in Ottawa in 2014, and quickly made inroads into the Ottawa market. Over the next 8 years, under Shaun's leadership, the company expanded its Ottawa base, adding offices in Toronto and Vancouver. Umber delivers quality client service while continually striving to innovate and improve real estate practices. For example, Umber was an industry leader in using virtual reality technology to enable prospective buyers to easily gain a full perspective of a property without an in-person visit.
Shaun comes from a family of educators. He is passionate about learning and sharing knowledge. Umber provides its employees with a full training program to assist them in effectively carrying out their work. In addition to promoting continuous learning for his employees, Shaun has participated as an industry representative on panels at Algonquin College designed to help students prepare for entering the job market. He understands the value of a strong partnership between post secondary education and the business sector, and has actively worked to promote this relationship.
Shaun graduated from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Arts (2009) and a Bachelor of Education (2010). In 2010, he acquired his Ontario real estate license. He worked 4 years in the real estate industry gaining practical experience in the field, before establishing Umber.
Shaun's charity work includes the Snowsuit Fund, Santa's Little Helpers (a musical group that performs for seniors' homes) and the Special Olympics. Shaun Denis was appointed to the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2022.
Job Titles:
- International Student Success Specialist
Job Titles:
- Student Success Specialist
Job Titles:
- Student Success Specialist
Having spent over 30 years in management and as a Partner in three large international professional services firms, Stephen firmly believes in the importance of life long learning and giving back to the community and doing his part in improving and enriching the lives of the families in the community in which he lives in. He is an active participant on the Board of Algonquin College and is committed to realizing the Board's strategic vision.
His experience in the professional services industry, within a global practice and with working for clients in the federal, provincial and municipal public sectors, the not-for-profit domain and in the private sector has given him a broad perspective on the requirements for education and training in a wide range of employment sectors and cultures.
Stephen brings extensive experience in managing risks gained in an environment where he was personally liable for both his and his partners actions.
His background includes working internationally, nationally, and locally. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Huron College, a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Western Ontario, is a Certified Management Consultant and has earned numerous certifications over the years. He has completed both the Good Governance and Advanced Good Governance from the College Centre Stephen was a Lieutenant Governor in Council appointment to the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2019, and re-appointed in 2021. He has been Vice Chair of the Governance Committee of the Audit and Risk Management Committee and was appointed Vice chair of the Board and Chair of the Governance Committee effective September 1, 2023.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Governance Committee
- Member of the Board
Steve Barkhouse is a proud alumnus of Algonquin College who graduated from the Business Administration - Human Resources Management program in 1988. He is the Founder/Owner of Amsted Design Build, Restore-all Corporation, Promus Ottawa, and Bytown Environmental. Steve has remained active with the college for many years serving on the Building Construction Technician advisory board since 2003 and sat on the Algonquin College Centre for Construction Excellence Campaign Cabinet from 2009 to 2011, and Co-chaired the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence Steering Committee in 2009, successfully meeting the fundraising goals for the building.
He has spoken to students in classes regularly about opportunities in the Construction industry and was a speaker at convocation to inspire graduates.
Steve was recognized as an Algonquin College Alumni of the Year and was nominated for a Premier's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013, and a recipient of the 2017 Alumni of Distinction Award. Steve Barkhouse was appointed to the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2017, appointed Vice Chair of the Audit & Risk Management Committee on September 1, 2019, appointed Chair of the Audit & Risk Management Committee September 1, 2020, and appointed Chair of the Governance Committee on September 1, 2022.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Administrative Services - Perth Campus
Tony Pollard was President of the Hotel Association of Canada from 1991 until his retirement in 2016. In this capacity he led the work of the Hotel Association of Canada in making the Canadian lodging industry more productive, competitive and profitable. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, he studied at Western University and McGill University and graduated from Concordia University with a
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science and from Carleton University with a Masters in Philosophy (Canadian Government and International Politics). He has 42 years of government relations experience having served earlier in his career as Special Assistant to the federal Minister of Transport and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State.
In addition to being the advocate and spokesperson for the Canadian lodging industry, Mr. Pollard has written various publications including "Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes" and "Green Key - An Overnight Success Eleven Years in the Making". In 2011 he was the winner of the USA Today Award of Excellence for his publication "Hospitality for Chinese Guests". He is a frequent guest lecturer at many colleges and universities as well as a speaker at national and international conferences. He has appeared as a travel industry and government relations expert on CNN, Sky News, the BBC, NBC and ABC, and in Canada on Canada AM/ Your Morning, BNN Bloomberg and CBC Newsworld.
Mr. Pollard also served as the CEO and Managing Director of Green Key Global, operators of the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, the Green Key Meetings Program and the Green Key Carbon Calculator. The Green Key Program, an environmental assessment and certification tool for hotels, was established by the Hotel Association of Canada in 1997 and was expanded under his direction into more than 30 countries.
Mr. Pollard has held a variety of voluntary positions including that of Vice-President of the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA), member of the Board of Directors of the IHRA and HR Canada, Advisory Committee Member to Algonquin College, the University of Guelph, and Humber College. He was a founding member of the Government Relations Institute of Canada and was previously the volunteer President of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. He served as an active member on many Destination Canada/Canadian Tourism Commission committees and was a member of the Editorial Board of Hotelier Magazine and Canadian Lodging News.
Mr. Pollard has been recognized nationally and internationally with awards including the Ordre du Merite Hotelier du Quebec, the Pinnacle Award, the Pistilli Environmental Award and the Confrérie Internationale des Amis de l'Hotellerie et de la Restauration.
In 2012 Mr. Pollard was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for dedicated service to his peers, to the community and to Canada. That same year he was also the recipient of Hotelier Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2015 Algonquin College awarded Tony Pollard with an Honorary Degree. In addition he was recognized with the Responsible Travel and Tourism Leadership Award from Baxter Media.
In 2015 Algonquin College awarded Tony Pollard with an Honorary Degree. In addition he was recognized with the Responsible Travel and Tourism Leadership Award from Baxter Media.
Tourism HR Canada presented a Special Award to Tony Pollard in 2016 recognizing his contribution to advancing progressive HR practices across Canada's tourism sector.
In 2016 the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia presented Tony Pollard with its Tourism Champion Award.
The Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association, the Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association, the Quebec Hotel Association and the Greater Toronto Hotel Association all made Tony Pollard Lifetime Members of the respective Associations in 2016. In November 2016 the Tourism Industry Association of Canada inducted Tony Pollard into the Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame.
Since his retirement from the Hotel Association of Canada, Mr. Pollard has served in an advisory capacity to industry, various levels of government and the non-profit sector. Tony Pollard was appointed to the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2022.
Job Titles:
- Clerk Academic - Perth Main Office
Job Titles:
- Director, President 's Office and Communications
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Professional Development Program Developer With the Centre for Organizational Learning
- Support Staff Representative
Valerie Sayah is a Professional Development Program Developer with the Centre for Organizational Learning and Human Resources. In conjunction with Algonquin and other Eastern Region College partners she coordinates the planning, development, and implementation of a variety of professional and organizational learning initiatives for Algonquin College employees. She is also the lead for the College Orientation program and welcoming new employees to Algonquin College.
Valerie is a graduate of the first cohort of the Bachelor of Commerce program via an articulation agreement between Algonquin College and Nipissing University (2011). As a long-standing dedicated employee of Algonquin College, Valerie believes in life-long learning and continues to sharpen her saw by participating in ongoing education to keep herself current in the professional learning and development field. As an alumna of Algonquin College, Valerie is a graduate of various programs including the Business Administration Advanced Diploma with a major in Human Resource Management, Project Management Certificate and Teachers of English as a Second/Foreign Language Graduate Certificate. Over the years, Valerie has also completed both of Colleges Ontario Good Governance and Advanced Good Governance Certificate programs. Valerie is passionate about employee and student success - she also welcomes opportunities to assist new professional immigrants to Canada; as a part-time professor with the Language Institute, she also teaches in the Colleges Ontario Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT) program. To further her interest in helping to build intercultural competence and social justice in her circles of influence, Valerie is a Qualified Administrator with Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), a standard adopted by/for Algonquin College employees. Over the years, Valerie has participated as a mentee and a mentor in the College Leadership Mentorship program. Valerie was part of an organizing Team that received the 2014 Algonquin College Team Award in recognition of teamwork and outstanding service to the College. In past years, Valerie worked in Facilities Management for 15 years and was a core team member of a re-engineering initiative that moved the department to a team-based environment; as a training facilitator, she co- designed and delivered a multi-year team-based training program for all department employees with learning modules delivered focused on Interpersonal, leadership, client service and team-building skills. Guided by the newly approved and exciting Algonquin College 3-year Refresh Strategic Plan, largely focused on its learners and its people, Valerie is looking forward to working in collaboration with her Board colleagues, to make effective decisions for Algonquin College learners and employees.
Valerie Sayah was appointed to the Board of Governors on September 1, 2017 for her first term of office, and was re-elected for a second term of office effective September 1, 2020.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive Assistant & Governance Expert, Board of Governors & President 's Office
Job Titles:
- Executive Support Clerk, Board of Governors & President 's Office
Job Titles:
- Chief Digital Officer
- Acting Chief Digital Officer, Information Technology Services
Yen Do is the Acting Chief Digital Officer, Information Technology Services, and has worked at Algonquin College since 2016. Yen previously held the positions of Associate Director, IT Service Delivery, and Manager, IT Application Development at the College. Yen has over 20 years of experience in various leadership roles in the private and public sectors.