The Empire Club of Canada Announces

 2021-22 Board of Directors  

July 22, 2021 

​

  The Empire Club of Canada is pleased to announce its Board of Directors for its 118th season.  

  

As Canada’s go-to forum for conversations that matter, the Empire Club of Canada’s Board of Directors play an integral role in supporting the organization’s mission through the development and production of over 40 events annually, including its signature “Nation Builder of the Year Award”.  

 

On Thursday, June 24th at the Empire Club’s Annual General Meeting, 35 Directors were elected to the 2021-2022 Board, including a new President, Kelly Jackson.  

  

“Public dialogue has immense power to connect people to ideas and each other. For more than a century, the Empire Club of Canada has been a platform for critical conversations and as a club of record continues to uniquely chronicle this public discourse,” said Jackson. “I am excited to see how the diverse experiences and perspectives of our Board members will help build on that legacy and create new opportunities for Canadians to engage on the important issues of our time.”  

  

The past season offered virtual events only due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, engaging audiences across the country and abroad. The Club is optimistic that the upcoming season will see its virtual events complemented with the return of in-person events as soon as it is safe and viable.  

  

 

Board of Directors 2021-2022 Season  

  

Simmer Anand  

Manager, Indigenous Relations, Hydro One Networks  

  

Chris Benedetti  

Managing Partner, Sussex Strategy Group  

  

Carrie Bois, Treasurer  

Chief Executive Officer, C+B Consulting  

  

Megan Boyle  

Director of Public Affairs, Red Bull Canada  

  

Richard Carleton  

CEO, Canadian Securities Exchange 

 

Matthew Cauz  

Radio Host, TSN 1050  

  

Shakir Chambers  

Principal, Earnscliffe Strategy Group 

 

Pierre Cyr  

Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs, Fleishman Hillard HighRoad, Ottawa  

  

Jenna Donelson, Secretary  

Public Affairs Manager, Humber College  

  

Kent Emerson  

Principal, Valorem Insights  

  

Dr. Mohamad Fakih  

President & CEO, Paramount Fine Foods 

  

Kulvir Singh Gill, 3rd Vice-President  

Senior Strategist, Clareo   

  

Kelly Jackson, President  

Associate Vice-President, Government Relations, Marketing and Communications, Humber College  

 

Barbara Jesson  

President and CEO, Jesson Communications  

  

John J. Kirton  

Director, G7 Research Group, G20 Research Group, BRICS Research Group; Professor, Political Science, University of Toronto  

  

Michael Kobzar  

Director of Sales, Power Transmission & Distribution, Ontario, Siemens Energy Canada  

  

Arthur Kong  

Director of Project Development, Next Generation Manufacturing Canada   

  

Atrisha Lewis  

Partner, McCarthy Tetrault  

  

Dr. Gordon K. McIvor  

President, Empire Club Foundation  

  

Carla Nell  

President & Chief Executive Officer, Burlington Chamber of Commerce  

 

Tenny Nigoghossian  

Fundraising and Strategic Consultant, Arts & Culture Sector  

  

Farah Qasemi  

Lead Account Partner, IBM  

  

Sal Rabbani, 1st Vice-President  

Managing Partner, BDC Advisory Services, Business Development Bank of Canada  

  

Keerthana Rang  

Director, Communications, Radical Ventures  

  

Rick Roth  

Vice-President, Strategic Communications, Global Public Affairs, Ontario  

  

Daniel Safayeni  

Vice-President, Policy, Ontario Chamber of Commerce  

  

Marsha Seca  

Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs, Edelman  

  

Natasha Smith  

Partner, Miller Thomson LLP  

  

Tim Smitheman  

Vice-President, Rubicon Strategies  

  

Antoinette Tummillo, Immediate Past President  

President, Antoinette Tummillo & Associates Inc.  

  

Sue VanderBent  

CEO, Home Care Ontario  

  

Michael Van Soelen  

Managing Principal, Navigator Ltd.  

  

Jan Westcott, 2nd Vice-President  

President & CEO, Spirits Canada  

  

William (Bill) F. White  

Chairman, IBK Capital Corp.  

  

Paul M. Yeung  

Director of Public Affairs, JTI-Macdonald Corp.  

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