What Women Want

Brenda Trenowden, BCom, in September 2018 was ranked No. 1 on the list of Top 100 Female Champions in Business, which is compiled annually by the Financial Times and HERoes. Brenda is head of financial institutions, Europe at ANZ, serving also on the company’s U.K. management board. She’s the global chair of the 30% Club, which campaigns to have women make up at least 30 per cent of boards and of executive management teams.

Cansu Tokmakci, BCom, has launched her own line of jewelry, Morya Jewelry, as an ode to the cities to which she has travelled and the people she has met. “I currently have six collections,” she says, “Budapest, Istanbul, Montreal, Rome, Paris and Seville.” Cansu says she designs her pieces with the architecture and culture of those cities in mind. “Each piece is named after a friend from that location as a way to shorten distances between us,” she says.

Christopher A.R. Lythgo, MBA, is still running his consulting firm, Seajay Consulting Ltd., and is active on a number of boards, including the national board of Commissionaires Canada. Christopher is chairman of the board of Commissionaires BC. He’s also on the boards of SkyTrain and West Coast Express. Both are subsidiaries of TransLink, the regional transportation agency for British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.

Connie Lo, BCom, GDA’15, is the co-founder of Niu Body, a natural and certified cruelty-free skincare company. The company launched in 2017. Connie says Niu Body is now carried in more than 300 retail locations across North America and has been featured in such publications as Elle and on CBC. niubody.com

Dave Rodgerson, EMBA, is now the industry solution executive for Microsoft Canada, leading its retail practice. He is also a director for startup iSign Media and sits on the board of advisors for Ryerson University’s School of Retail.

Domenico Amatucci, MBA, has completed an Ontario College Advanced Diploma (OCAD) in Applied Music (jazz piano) from Mohawk College.

Erica Hamel, MBA, Ed’09, and Joshua Hamilton, MBA’16, welcomed baby Felix in June. Erica says Felix was the second of three babies born to MBA’16 classmates within a month of one another in 2018. Margaret Hong, MBA’16, welcomed Jackson in June, and Jenna Archer, MBA’16, welcomed Noah in July. “Three future MBA grads!”

Graham McCallum, BCom, hiked the Kungsleden Trail above the Arctic Circle in Sweden in July, hut to hut from Abisko to Nikkaluokta. At age 91, Graham says he is the oldest hiker to complete this trek since records have been kept of hikers on the trail. Graham is pictured below with his son, Ian, and grandson Tim.

Hong Hoang, EMBAA, and Steve Berhorst, EMBAA’17, launched HaloSentient, Inc., a technology and security consulting firm in Silicon Valley.

Ian Macdonald, BCom, the president of Old Tomorrow Ltd., announced in May 2018 that his Toronto-based craft brewery had purchased Double Trouble Brewing, an Ontario maker of craft beer sold under brands such as Hops & Robbers IPA. Ian also launched a new company, United Craft, that will manage both Old Tomorrow’s and Double Trouble’s brand portfolios. Ian tells us that he has also launched a cider, called Eden Grove cider.

Jeremy Estabrooks, BCom, and his wife, Amanda, welcomed their second daughter, Elizabeth Rose, in May 2018 in New York City. Jeremy says, “Rosie is already much adored by her big sister, Amelia.”

Jessica Lui, BCom, was named to Corporate Knights’ Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability. Jessica is a management consultant at Deloitte and founder of Global Professionals Practicum, a youth-led social enterprise dedicated to developing young adults pursuing STEM careers in underserved communities. Additionally, Jessica is a member of Venture for Canada’s advisory board and a member of the UN International Youth Council and UN Women.

Jim Leech, MBA, was recognized for his philanthropy, receiving the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Greater Toronto chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals on Nov. 21, 2018. Since retiring as CEO of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan five years ago, Jim has focused on helping others. He became the 14th chancellor of Queen’s (a volunteer position) in July 2014.

John Kump, EMBA, was named chief financial officer at the Ledcor Group of Companies in July 2018. He has been with the company for the past 17 years, most recently as chief administration officer. Based in Vancouver, Ledcor is one of Canada’s largest construction companies.

John Stackhouse, BCom, was appointed to the Queen’s University Board of Trustees in June 2018. John is senior vice-president in the office of the CEO at RBC. He is a former editor-in-chief of the Globe and Mail and author of three books: Out of Poverty; Timbit Nation; and Mass Disruption: Thirty Years on the Front Lines of a Media Revolution.

Judy (Stoute) Moore, MBA, Artsci’71, died Dec. 6, 2018. Judy loved golf, curling, good food and wine, travel, laughter and, most of all, friendships. She was a chartered accountant for more than 40 years and volunteered for a number of charities. She is survived by her husband, Robert Moore, MBA’75, and children Ainsley, Devon and Blair, Artsci’10.

Kerri J. McTaggart, AMBA, writes, “After five years as executive director of a national organization, I left to join a tech-based startup in Edmonton.” NexOptic Technologies Corp. is a lens and consumer product design company that Kerri says aims to “enhance the way we view the world around us.” The company is publicly traded and has additional offices in Calgary and Vancouver. From left: Jenna Archer, Margaret

Lisa Rice Madan, BCom, MPA’89, was appointed Canada’s ambassador to Portugal in September 2018. Lisa joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1992 and has since held numerous positions in international business development, trade policy and investment promotion for the government.

Marie Delorme, EMBA, joined the Queen’s University Board of Trustees in June 2018. Marie is CEO of the Imagination Group of Companies. She is also a member of the Order of Canada.

Max White, BCom, writes that he’s now working full time in music. He plays in the underground Montreal rock bands Light Bulb Alley and the Count Ferrara. He also co-founded the psychedelic blues punk duo, the White Brothers Band, with his brother Jackson. They made their debut at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto in July 2018. Max says he’s working on a number of new projects including the White Brothers Band’s debut album, and Light Bulb Alley’s third LP.

Mika (Reeve) Bathurst, BCom, and her husband, Jonathan, welcomed their first child, daughter Norah, on March 10, 2018 in Ottawa.

Neil Longhurst, MBA, Artsci’70, and Ginnie Welsman, MBA’77, married on Nov. 8, 2018 in Carlsbad, Calif., where they will live year-round. Neil says he spent the last five years splitting his time between Toronto and California.

Nik Nanos, EMBA, Artsci’88, writes that his book, The Age of Voter Rage, has been published in the United Kingdom. The book examines the voter anger that led to, among other things, the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president and Emmanuel Macron as France’s president, and the pro-Brexit vote in the U.K. Nik tells us that he also started a two-year term as chair of the board of Carleton University.

Paul Pellizzari, BCom, Artsci’92, joined Hard Rock International in July 2018 as vicepresident of global social responsibility. Before this, Paul led social responsibility for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, integrating responsible gaming into OLG’s strategy, and earning global recognition. OLG was twice named “Best Overall Responsible Gaming Program in the World” by the World Lottery Association.

Peng-Sang Cau, BCom, was named Woman Exporter of the Year for 2018 by the Organization of Women in International Trade. Peng is president and CEO of Transformix Engineering in Kingston. The company works in the advanced manufacturing sector and is the inventor of CNCAssembly. In her acceptance speech at the award gala in Toronto, Peng urged other women to “be fearless. Do not allow artificial barriers to stop you from achieving your dreams.”

Raymond Enone Ngabe Ejang, MMIE, recently welcomed a new member to his family: daughter Zoey. Raymond lives in Montreal with his wife, Margaret. They also have a son, Evan.

Robert Mashohn, EMBA, has started a new position as vice-president of finance and administration with Rock Construction and Mining Inc., a civil construction contractor with operations across Canada.

Ryan Aimers, BCom, came back to Homecoming 2018 – and did so for a good cause. Ryan and his former Queen’s housemates organized a 24- hour Homecoming run from Toronto to the house they lived in as students, at 254 Alfred St. in Kingston. On Oct. 18, each participant (10 in total) took turns running relay-style five kilometres at a time, and the crew ran all night, trailed by an RV, to arrive in time for Homecoming the next day (final time: 21 hours 45 minutes).

Tim Wardrop, MBA, PHE’79, has started a new role as a practice management consultant with BMO Nesbitt Burns.

Vir C. Advani, MBA, tells us that he and his wife, Chloe, were blessed with a baby boy Sept. 21, 2018. “Aden K. Advani came into this world weighing a whopping 9 lbs., 6oz. Both Aden and Mommy are doing well. Dad, on the other hand, hasn't slept in a month!” he says.