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Alumni Notes

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1981

Veerinder Kakar, MBA, moved to Santa Monica, CA, and established his own management consulting and motivational speaking firm. He reports enjoying the experience, but wishes some of his former classmates were there, too. 
Published in: Winter 2016
Peter Kinch (BCom) was elected a Fellow in The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, earning the designations FCPA and FCA. Fellowships are awarded for outstanding career achievements, as well as outstanding service to the community and the profession. Peter is a Senior Assurance Partner at Ernst & Young (EY) in Toronto, the firm he joined upon his graduation in 1981. He has served many of the firm’s key financial services clients during his career in Canada and abroad. An advocate for human rights and equity, Peter is a board member and chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee for Children’s Mental Health Ontario and the Executive Sponsor of EY’s LGBT Professional Network, which promotes an inclusive work environment. He is a past president of Family Service Toronto and the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario.
Published in: Summer 2014
Peter Kinch (BCom) was elected a Fellow in The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, earning the designations FCPA and FCA. Fellowships are awarded for outstanding career achievements, as well as outstanding service to the community and the profession. Peter is a Senior Assurance Partner at Ernst & Young (EY) in Toronto, the firm he joined upon his graduation in 1981. He has served many of the firm’s key financial services clients during his career in Canada and abroad. An advocate for human rights and equity, Peter is a board member and chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee for Children’s Mental Health Ontario and the Executive Sponsor of EY’s LGBT Professional Network, which promotes an inclusive work environment. He is a past president of Family Service Toronto and the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario.
Published in: Summer 2014

Frederick Mifflin, BCom, has been appointed to the board of directors at the loyalty firm Aimia. Frederick is vice-chair and partner at Blair Franklin Capital Partners, and currently serves on the boards of Altius Minerals and Uni-Select.

Published in: Winter 2020
Diane Perry (BCom) has retired from LoyaltyOne (Air Miles) after 20 years. She and her husband DJ have opened an online steak shop for BBQ enthusiasts in Toronto, DJSteaks.com. “Only the best, only online! Check it out!” says Diane.
Published in: Summer 2013
Hélène (Ronsse) Robinson (MBA) and her husband Richard, MSc’81, have moved to Brussels, so it is back home for Hélène after 18 years in South Africa and ten years in France. Rich continues on the boards of a number of mining and metals companies, including one based in Canada, and chairs Metalor Technologies International SA in Switzerland. “We are always delighted to receive friends and Queen’s community people passing through,” they write.
Published in: Spring 2009

Cheryl Row, BCom, died peacefully at home in Toronto on Oct. 8, 2019 at age 60, leaving behind her husband, Robert Pugsley, and daughter Courtney. Cheryl was on the women’s championship rowing team at Queen’s, and pursued a career in marketing after graduation. She was an avid squash player, skier, scuba diver and golfer.

Published in: Winter 2020
Christine (Smith) Sinclair (BCom) passed away in April after being diagnosed six years ago with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Chris was a cottage enthusiast and marathon runner. Within the scope of her profession, she was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers and most recently at Ernst & Young, and was named a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2000. She was elected Chair for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO) in 2001. Several organizations benefitted from Chris's valuable leadership and have recognized her with various honours. The ICAO established the Christine E. Sinclair Leadership Award to honour young CAs who distinguish themselves through voluntary community leadership. In 2007, her classmates established the Christine Smith Award for an upper-year student who demonstrates initiative and contributions to the Commerce program, as well as academic achievement. In 2006, the PricewaterhouseCoopers/Christine Sinclair Scholarship was established for a female student entering the fourth year of the Commerce program who demonstrates academic excellence and leadership.
Published in: Summer 2009

Ann Spencer, BCom’81, died Oct. 31, 2021 at age 62. Ann was a chartered accountant whose summers were spent with her family, sailing and visiting her childhood cottage in Lanark County in Ontario. Ann is survived by her husband George and three children, including Mary Spencer, BSc(Eng)’09, MASc’11, and William Spencer, BSc(Eng)’11.

Published in: Spring 2022
Diane Perry (BCom) has retired from LoyaltyOne (Air Miles) after 20 years. She and her husband DJ have opened an online steak shop for BBQ enthusiasts in Toronto, DJSteaks.com. “Only the best, only online! Check it out!” says Diane.
Published in: Summer 2013