BRANKSOME HALL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Manager at RBC Capital Markets
Alex is a change manager at RBC Capital Markets where she specializes in technology product rollout. In her ten years with the organization she has worked across operations, business transformation and technology teams. She is an avid volunteer for youth-leadership, mentoring young leaders through a variety of programs and leading a specialized program to connect youth in underserved communities to opportunities in the financial industry. Alex holds a B.A. in History from Western University and additional certificates in Public Relations and Human Resources. Alex is an alum of Branksome having attended the school from grades 7 to 12, and is the President of the Alumnae Association.
Amanda is Branksome Hall's Deputy Principal. She was previously the Head of the Junior School for four years, Head of the Senior and Middle School for two years and the Head of the Middle School for four years before that. While at Branksome, Amanda has served on various committees, including the DEI Working Group, the Alumnae Awards Committee, Transgender Working Group, and Strategic Planning Committee. Amanda was also the Director of Arts at Appleby College for 11 years and a Drama teacher at The Bishop Strachan School. She holds a Master of International Education in School Leadership from Charles Sturt University, a Bachelor of Education from York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Queen's University.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt
Chad Bayne is a Partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. As a founder and Co-Chair of Osler's Emerging and High Growth Companies Practice Group, he advises various emerging and growth companies across all technology sectors, the venture capital funds and investors that finance them and the strategic acquirers who buy them. Chad is widely recognized as the leading lawyer in Canada for startups and venture capital investors. Chad is the proud father of two current Branksome Hall students.
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager at Fairbank Investment Management
Christine McLean is a Portfolio Manager at Fairbank Investment Management, an investment advisory firm, founded by the former President and Co-Founder of Sprucegrove Investment Management. Christine previously held the position of Director of Research until 2020 at Sprucegrove, a private investment advisor specializing in global equities with $20 billion in assets under management for institutional investors. Christine began her investment career at Sprucegrove in 2004 as an Investment Analyst. Christine serves as a Board Member of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd and Upper Canada College's Foundation. Christine holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration specializing in Finance from the University of Richmond, Virginia. Christine is a Branksome Hall alum and the mother of students at Branksome Hall, Upper Canada College and Royal St. George's College.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director in Global Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets
Claire is a Managing Director in Global Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets. During her tenure at RBC, Claire has also acted as a member of the RBC Capital Markets Diversity Council, Co-Chair of the Women in Capital Markets' Return to Bay Street program and is one of the Executive Sponsors of RFuture, a program designed to support and encourage the firm's next generation of leaders. Claire is also a current Director and former Chair of the Conn Smythe Foundation. Claire is a Branksome Hall alum, having attended Branksome from Grades 7-13, and is a parent of a current Branksome Hall student.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and President of Next Pathway
Clara Angotti is the Co-founder and President of Next Pathway, a software company that enables businesses to automate the end-to-end migration of legacy applications and data warehouses to modern cloud platforms. Clara was twice recognized as one of Canada's Most Powerful Women, and as one of the top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by the National Diversity Council. She was also awarded with the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award. Each year, Clara participates in a mentorship program to provide support and career guidance to women. Clara is also a member of the Board of Trustees for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). She is the parent of a current Branksome Hall student.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Advancement and Community Engagement
Cristina is Branksome's Executive Director of Advancement and Community Engagement. Cristina previously served at Upper Canada College as the Director of Marketing and Communications for seven years. Before that, Cristina was the Acting Assistant Dean of External Relations in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto and also held the position of Associate Director of Advancement Communications and Marketing. Over the course of Cristina's career in the Communications and Marketing industry, she and her teams have garnered more than 30 awards for best branding, websites, advertising, publications, advancement materials and videos. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communications from Concordia University.
Job Titles:
- Advisory Board Member of the Global Risk Institute
Daniel is also an advisory board member of the Global Risk Institute and has served as an advisory board member for the Queen's University Centre for Customer Analytics, the International Financial Risk Institute, a member of the United Way MIG Cabinet, and executive sponsor of the China Bankers Forum. Daniel is also a board member and chair of the risk committee of Deutsche Bank USA.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Immediate past President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife
Donald Guloien is the immediate past President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife. A 36-year company veteran, Mr. Guloien held a variety of leadership roles in insurance and investments operations, global acquisitions and business development. Mr. Guloien is a Trustee and Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee at The Hospital for Sick Children; Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors at Branksome Hall, and a Director and Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Banting Research Foundation. He has served as Vice Chairman of the Mayor of Shanghai's International Business Leaders' Advisory Council, Director of the Geneva Association, a member of the Board of the Business Council of Canada, Past Chair of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, and a member of the Campaign Cabinet for the United Way and the University of Toronto's Governing Council. Mr. Guloien has been named International Business Executive of the Year by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, awarded The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, and received the Arbor Award for his many contributions to the University of Toronto. Mr. Guloien received B.Comm and Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Toronto.
Job Titles:
- Head, Research & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Dr. Mira Gambhir completed an award-winning doctoral dissertation on diversity education and has reviewed curriculum and consulted on equity and inclusion issues for non-profit and government organizations such as the Ontario Ministry of Education. She is a scholar and published author in the fields of inclusion, teacher education and global education. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, with a specialization in comparative international and development education. Over the course of her career, she has taught across the spectrum of schooling from Kindergarten to the graduate level.
Job Titles:
- Head of the Junior School
- Head, Junior School
Emily is Branksome Hall's Head of the Junior School. She has previously served as Deputy Head of the Junior School at Trinity Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia, and taught at Chatsworth International School in Singapore, and at Beanstalk International Bilingual School in Beijing, China. Nearly 10 years ago, she began her teaching career at Branksome as a PYP Teacher and Residence Assistant. She holds a double Master's of Education (Educational Leadership and Information Technologies) from Charles Sturt University, a Bachelor of Education (Primary/Junior) from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University.
Eva is the proud mom of a Branksome student as well as a Branksome alumna. She is also a respected entrepreneur-turned-investor and one of the few women leading a venture fund in Canada. As the founding and general partner of Two Small Fish Ventures, Eva and her team invest in early-stage, transformative technology companies. Before launching TSFV, Eva was a founding team member of Wattpad where she helped the company scale from hundreds to tens of millions of users. Eva is heavily involved in the Canadian innovation ecosystem and regularly speaks at industry events, mentors founders and startups, and sits on the board of many organizations. She received a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive Vice - President and Group Head of Capital Markets at CIBC
The father of two Branksome students, Harry Culham is the Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head of Capital Markets at CIBC. He is Chair and CEO of CIBC World Markets Inc., and is a member of CIBC's Executive Committee. Harry also chairs the CIBC Children's Foundation, is a member of the Faculty Advisory Board for the Sauder School of Business Women in Capital Markets Advisory Council. In addition, Harry is a Board Member at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Head, Academics and Professional Learning
Heather has been devoted to education at Branksome since 2000, and is currently Head, Academics and Professional Learning and a Science teacher. Heather started at Branksome as an MYP and DP Science teacher in the Senior & Middle School for seven years and has since filled various positions, including Head of the Middle School and Head of Academics. She was also the IB Middle Years Program Coordinator for eight years and has attended and led IB Curriculum and Leadership Workshops since 2001. She previously worked at TVOntario for four years and was a Science teacher and Department Head at St. George's School of Montreal. She holds both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Education from McGill University. Heather's daughter Saffi'19 is a graduate of Branksome.
Jennifer Narjes, Executive Assistant to the Principal, at (416) 920-6265, ext. 208, or principal@branksome.on.ca.
A Branksome Hall alum, Karen joined the Board of Governors in 2017 and has served on multiple committees including audit, governance and strategy. She has also served as the President of the Alum Association. Karen is Vice President, Sales, Service and Operations at Tangerine Bank, a subsidiary of Scotiabank. She has worked at Scotiabank for over 15 years, holding a variety of roles across Capital Markets, Wholesale Banking, Retail Banking and Operations. Karen received a Master's degree in Economics from Queen's University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of King's College and Dalhousie University in Halifax. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their two daughters.
Karen has been Branksome Hall's Principal for 24 years and is the CEO of Branksome Hall Global. In 2012, Karen founded Branksome Hall Asia, an international school on Jeju Island, South Korea. Karen also introduced the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program to Branksome in 2001, making it Toronto's only all-girls, all-years IB World School. She has represented Branksome Hall Global by speaking around the world on topics ranging from International Education and Canada's Foreign Policy to Employee Wellness Programs. Karen is a graduate of the Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She also holds a Master of Education from the University of British Columbia and both a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts from Western University. Prior to leading Branksome Hall, Karen was a Principal in the Toronto District School Board and previously taught at Havergal College.
Job Titles:
- Head, Centre for Strategic Leadership
As Branksome's new Head, Centre for Strategic Leadership, Karrie has been with the school for nearly 40 years. In her time at Branksome Hall, Karrie has served as the Deputy Principal, Head of the Senior and Middle School, Vice-Principal, Director of Admissions, and an English teacher. Karrie is on various Branksome Hall Strategic Planning Committees, led Branksome's Transgender Working Group, and has been on the Leacock Foundation Board of Governors since 2005. Karrie holds a Master of Education in Administration Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University and has a Certificate of Education in English from Homerton College in Cambridge, England. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Enrolment Management
Kimberly Carter is the Executive Director, Enrolment Management for Branksome Hall, overseeing admissions, boarding and financial assistance. Prior to this position, Kimberly was Director of Enrolment Management from 2015-2018, Director of Admissions from 2012-2015 and Associate Director of Admissions from 2009-2012. As a former Branksome Hall student, boarding advisor, classroom teacher, and advisor, Kimberly brings a wealth of personal experience and knowledge to the recruitment and admission of prospective students.
Kimberly is a trained International Baccalaureate (IB) teacher. She holds a bachelor of education degree from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT) and an honours bachelor of arts from Queen's University, specializing in Sociology and French. Kimberly earned her Diploma in School Leadership through the Canadian Accredited Independent School (CAIS) Leadership Institute in 2008. Kimberly was invited to join the Enrollment Management Association (EMA's) Admissions Leadership Council in 2015 and has just assumed the role of Co-Chair for the Admissions Leadership Council. Kimberly was also honoured to be asked to co-facilitate the Admissions & Enrollment Headways cohort for the International Coalition of Girls Schools for the 2022-23 year.
Kurankye Sekyi-Otu has enjoyed a 29-year career spanning business development, marketing and executive leadership within asset management and capital markets organizations. Most recently, Kurankye was the Chief Strategy Officer and a member of the executive leadership for Polar Asset Management Partners. At Polar he was responsible for the global distribution strategy, marketing and the implementation of the firm's strategic business initiatives. Prior to Polar, Kurankye held business development and marketing roles at other Canadian asset managers and the capital markets unit within a Canadian bank. Kurankye graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics from York University and holds the CFA and ICD.D designations. He joined the Branksome Hall Board of Governors in 2021 and is also a Board Member of the United Way Greater Toronto. Kurankye is the father of a current Branksome Hall student.
Job Titles:
- President of the High - Rise Division for the Remington Group
Michael Bratty is President of the High-Rise Division for The Remington Group, a multi-generational, family business with more than seven decades of experience in land development, commercial and residential construction, and property management. He has served on the Building Committee for St. Michael's Hospital and the Toronto International Film Festival Bell Lightbox Committee. Michael is the proud father of three Branksome Hall students.
Michael has been a partner of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in Toronto since 2002. Michael's practice focuses on Canadian and international merger and acquisition transactions and he has advised on many of Canada's highest-profile M&A transactions. Michael previously sat on the advisory board of the North York Harvest Food Bank. Michael is the proud father of a current Branksome student and a Branksome graduate.
Job Titles:
- Head, Innovation and Strategic Projects
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People & Culture for BMO Financial Group
Mona Malone is Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People & Culture for BMO Financial Group. Throughout her 20 years at BMO, Mona has held a variety of diverse roles in Human Resources and the business including Retail Banking Sales Leader in the Greater Toronto Area, VP Product and Marketing Officer at ePost (a joint venture between Canada post and BMO), Chief HR Officer of Canada's Personal and Commercial Banking Group and Chief Talent & Learning Officer.
In 2021, Mona was a winner of the Report on Business Best Executive Award. She is also a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her community service with youth development organizations.
Mona holds an Honours Business Administration degree from Ivey Business School at University of Western Ontario. She is the Chair of the Advisory Council for the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership at the Ivey Business School, Chair of the Branksome Hall Board of Governors, and a member of The Long Run Initiative Board of Governors. Mona, a Branksome Hall past parent, lives in Toronto with her husband and three children.
With more than two decades of increasing responsibility for budgets, asset management and planning at York University, Ran Lewin has expertise in many areas of finance and administration. As Assistant Vice-President, Budgets & Asset Management at York, Ran oversaw financial planning and budgeting for the third largest university in Canada. His skills include enterprise risk management, process design and optimization, financial analysis and management, budgeting and forecasting. Previously an Audit Manager for KPMG in Johannesburg, South Africa and Toronto, Ran holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Johannesburg, a Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting from York University, and a Senior Certificate in Not-for-Profit and Charity Finance Leadership from Chartered Professional Accountants Canada.
Rod Bolger spent over two decades in senior positions working at large banks - Bank of America and Citigroup (both in the US) as well as more than a decade at Royal Bank of Canada (in Canada). He recently served as group Chief Financial Officer at RBC for five years from 2016-2021. Prior to joining banking, he served multiple roles for more than a decade at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in NYC, London UK, and NJ. He also served as CFO for a global cryptocurrency firm for a few months. He spent eight years on the Board of Dixon Hall Neighborhood Services, a multi-derive not-for-profit agency that offers a wide range of supportive programs and services to several Toronto communities, acting as Chair of the Board for three years. Rod is a dual Canadian/US citizen; he is a graduate of Georgetown University and earned an M.B.A. from Columbia University. Rod is the father of two current Branksome Hall students.
Sachin Shah - CEO, Chief Investment Officer
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Investment Officer
- Managing Partner
Sachin Shah is a Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Brookfield Asset Management, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield's insurance solutions business and Vice Chair of Brookfield's Renewable Power Group. As CIO, he is actively involved in all investments made by the firm and oversees its growth into new lines of business. As CEO, he oversees a seasoned team focused on providing capital-based solutions to insurance companies and their stakeholders. As Vice Chair, he supports business development initiatives for the renewables business.
Mr. Shah joined Brookfield in 2002 and most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Renewable Partners where he was instrumental in growing the platform into a global business diversified across multiple technologies.
Mr. Shah earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto, is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and serves as Chair of the Board of the Ryerson University Brookfield Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.