HONOURARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS

BRAINSUITE SOCIAL CABINET

JEANNE BEKER

Jeanne Beker, journalist, author and fashion entrepreneur, is one of the most iconic and influential women in the fashion industry, both in Canada and around the world.

Host of Canada’s leading fashion series Fashion Television for 27 years, Jeanne  is a featured columnist for The Globe and Mail and Post City Magazines, a published author of 5 books, and was guest curator of a recent exhibit at The Design Exchange, “Fashion of Politics”.  She is also creative director of a number of lines of clothing, shoes and accessories that bear her name, sold across Canada at The Bay, The Shoe Company, and The Shopping Channel.  Jeanne has just been named “Style Editor” for the Shopping Channel, where she launches her new series, entitled “Style Matters with Jeanne Beker” on March 12th.

In 2012, Jeanne was honoured with the prestigious Canadian Award of Distinction at the Banff World Media Festival, and also received a Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award in the Arts & Communications category. In 2013, The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television presented her with an Academy Achievement Award for Exceptional Contributions to the Canadian Television Industry. Last year, she was named to the Order of Canada.

Photo credit: Gabor Jurina

CATHERINE (KIKI) A. DELANEY

Kiki Delaney is President of C.A. Delaney Capital Management Ltd., an investment counselling firm which provides independent investment management services to institutional and private clients.

Kiki began her career in the investment business in Toronto at Guardian Capital Group, where she was an analyst and portfolio manager and finally Executive Vice-President. Prior to founding Delaney Capital Management in 1992, Kiki was a Partner and Executive Vice-President of Gluskin Sheff + Associates for 7 years.

Kiki is a past Director of the Toronto Society of Financial Analysts. In addition, she is a past president of the Ticker Club.

Kiki is the Chancellor of OCAD University. As well, Kiki serves on the Board of Trustees of the Hospital for Sick Children, is co-chair of SmART Women for the Art Gallery of Ontario, a member of the Leadership Council of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, co-chair of the Endowment Campaign of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Brain Health Initiative.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Kiki earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba. In 1977, she gained her Chartered Financial Analyst designation. She was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree (honoris causa) from the University of Manitoba in 2011.

In October, 2006, Governor General Michaëlle Jean appointed Kiki a Member of the Order of Canada.

TERRIE-LYNNE DEVONISH

Terrie-Lynne Devonish is currently General Counsel at Staples Canada and the former Chief Operating Officer for Aon’s Canadian Commercial Risk Solutions business. Prior, Terrie-Lynne served as Aon’s North American Chief Compliance Officer, and as the Chief Counsel for Aon’s Canadian operations.

After completing a B.A. from Collège Glendon, York University in 1992, Terrie-Lynne obtained an LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1995. She was called to the Ontario bar in Canada in 1997 and was licensed in the state of Illinois in 2018. Terrie-Lynne is a Director of the National Theatre School of Canada, and is a member of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, the Ontario Bar Association and the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. She volunteers with the Cabrini-Green Legal Aid Clinic in Chicago. Terrie-Lynne and her team were one of the finalists in the ZSA/Financial Post’s Canadian General Counsel Awards in the Social Responsibility category in 2015, and Terrie-Lynne was chosen as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™ in 2007.

ARLENE DICKINSON

Arlene Dickinson is a visionary entrepreneur and leader with a remarkable track record of success. She is the Founder and General Partner of District Ventures Capital, a venture capital fund that invests in innovative companies in the food & beverage and health & wellness sectors. Under her leadership, District Ventures Capital has become a leading force in the industry, with a portfolio of ground-breaking companies that are transforming the way we live and eat.

Dickinson is also the Co-Managing Partner of Believeco:Partners, an independent Canadian-based owner, operator, and builder of the foremost marketing, communications, and engagement agencies in North America. It was Dickinsons vision that brought this platform to life resulting in the creation of a powerhouse marketing consolidator.

Beyond her business ventures, Dickinson is a sought-after speaker, three-time best-selling author, and philanthropist. She is widely recognized for her role as a Venture Capitalist on the hit television series, Dragons’ Den, where she currently has starred for over 15 seasons.

Dickinson's leadership and entrepreneurial prowess have earned her numerous accolades over the years, including induction into the Southern Alberta Business Hall of Fame, the Marketing Hall of Legends, recognition as one of Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Awards. Dickinson served as an honorary captain of the Royal Canadian Navy for over 10 years, visiting our troops overseas numerous times.

With her unwavering commitment to excellence, her passion for innovation, and her deep dedication to her community and country, Arlene Dickinson is a true Canadian icon and a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and vision.

JANICE FUKAKUSA

Janice Fukakusa is Chancellor, Ryerson University. In addition, Janice serves as a corporate director with extensive banking and financial services experience. She previously served as RBC’s Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer and a member of RBC’s Group Executive, from which she retired in January 2017 following a distinguished 31-year career.

Janice currently serves on several boards of corporate and not-for-profit organizations, including Cineplex, and as Chair of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Chair of the new Crown Corporation, Canada Infrastructure Bank and Chair of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Foundation. In 2007, she was inducted into Canada’s Most Powerful Women Hall of Fame and, in 2016 she was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker magazine for the fourth consecutive year. She was also selected as Canada’s CFO of the Year by Financial Executives Canada, PwC and Robert Half in 2014.

Janice has the professional designations of Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator. She was appointed Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (FCPA) in 2011. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts from University of Toronto and holds a Master of Business Administration from Schulich School of Business York University and in 2016 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from York University.

ROSIE MACLENNAN

Trampoline champion Rosie MacLennan is a 2-time Olympic Gold Medal winner and the 2015 Pan Am Gold Medal winner. At age 11, Rosie began competing internationally and was the Canadian National Women’s Champion in 2005, 2009 and 2011. At the 2007 World Championships in Quebec City, Rosie earned a spot for Canada at the Beijing Olympics alongside longtime friend, synchronized trampoline partner and fellow Olympian Karen Cockburn. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rosie qualified for the finals and finished in 7th place. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Rosie received a score of 57.305 for her final routine. With her score, she reached a new personal best and earned Canada’s only gold medal at the Games.

Rosie suffered her first concussion 2 months before the London Olympic Games. She sustained her 3rd concussion 1 month prior to the Toronto Pan Am games, where she still successfully won the gold but had a second impact about 2 weeks after the Pan Am Games, which nearly derailed her chances of competing in the 2016 Olympics. Nonetheless, Rosie made history at Rio 2016 when she became the first trampolinist to ever win back-to-back Olympic gold medals.

Rosie graduated from the University of Toronto with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health. She is an MSc candidate at the University of Toronto, studying athletes rights and responsibilities. Rosie actively advocates for athlete rights, brain health, Right To Play and Jumpstart.

HEATHER REISMAN

Heather Reisman is the founder, Chair and CEO of Indigo, Canada’s largest book, lifestyle and specialty toy retailer, and co-founder of Kobo, a leading global eReading company. Ms. Reisman was born in Montreal and educated at McGill University.

For the first 16 years of her career Ms. Reisman was Managing Director of Paradigm Consulting, the strategy and change management firm she co-founded in 1979. Paradigm was the world’s first strategic change consultancy and pioneered many organizational change strategies still in use today.
Heather is a former Governor of McGill University and of the Toronto Stock Exchange. She has served on many North American boards and continues to serve as a Director on the board of Onex Corporation, and as an Officer of Mount Sinai Hospital. She is also a member of the Bilderberg Steering Committee, a geo-political think group.

In 2014, Ms. Reisman co-executive produced the feature documentary “Fed-Up,” focussing on the role which the processed food industry is playing in the worldwide obesity crisis.

Ms. Reisman is the recipient of Honorary Doctorates from Ryerson University (2006), Wilfred Laurier University (2009), Mount Allison University (2010), and St. Francis Xavier University (2013), as well as several awards including The Order of Canada, The WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Financial Times of London Top 50 Women in World Business, Waterloo Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, University of Waterloo; International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award, University of Manitoba; and the John Molson School of Business Award of Distinction, Concordia University. In January 2015, Ms. Reisman received the Desautels Management Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Canadian business and society. In May 2015, Ms. Reisman was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

Ms. Reisman is married to Gerald Schwartz, Chair and CEO of Onex Corporation. She has four children and nine grandchildren.

FRAN SONSHINE

Fran Sonshine has been a prominent leader in the Toronto community for many years. Fran is currently the National Chair of the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, whose mission is to promote awareness of the Holocaust and its universal lessons through education and commemorative programming in Canada.

Fran was the 2009 Annual Campaign Co-Chair of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, raising $65 million for that year’s campaign. In addition, Fran has served as Chair of Baycrest, as well as Chair of Baycrest Foundation. As the first female Chair, she initiated its inaugural Annual Campaign.

Fran is an accomplished and inspiring fundraiser. She was the 2005 Chair of UJA Federation Women’s Campaign and Advocacy as is a past member of the National Women’s Philanthropy Board, the umbrella organization for North American Federations. Throughout her volunteer career, Fran has chaired major events, including the Toronto Hadassah Bazaar, the largest one-day sale of its kind and the 1999 Brazilian Ball which raised substantial funds for Baycrest.

In 1996, Fran received Hadassah-WIZO’s Volunteer of Distinction award; in 2003 UJA Federation’s Shem Tov Award, its 2010 prestigious International Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award; in 2011 the Ben Sadowski Award of Merit and in 2012, the Golda Meir Leadership Award. As a couple, Fran and her husband Ed have been honoured in 2003 by the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem; were the 2003 recipients of the International Spirit of Jerusalem Award; the 2006 Jewish National Fund Negev Dinner honourees and were one of five couples honoured by Baycrest at its 2008 Tribute Gala.

KIRSTINE STEWART

Kirstine Stewart is Head, Shaping for Future of Media, Entertainment and Information, Executive Committee World Economic Forum. Prior, Kirstine was President and CRO at TribalScale and TribalScale Venture Studios, VP Media for @Twitter’s TV, Sports, Music, Talent, Entertainment, News & Government Partnerships, NYC, SF, LA, DC, TO, airplanes. Previously Kirstine was Managing Director of Twitter Canada, challenged with expanding the brand of the already well-known social network to Canadians.

Formerly the head of English language services at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Kirstine was appointed to the role of Executive Vice-President of CBC’s English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada in January 2011. She was responsible for overseeing CBC’s English radio and audio, television and digital operations across the country. Her role had been to revolutionize the CBC as the modern public broadcaster, providing a new generation of programming and content to inform, educate and entertain.

Kirstine’s vision resulted in record breaking viewership, continual ratings success for CBC Television, as well as achieving the highest share for the network for CBC Radio One. It is also under Kirstine’s leadership that multiple program apps for sports, news and entertainment, and a new digitally based music distribution service, CBC Music, were launched. She is known for her strong leadership abilities, her broad industry knowledge and her vision of CBC.

Prior to joining CBC, Kirstine was Senior Vice-President, Programming, Alliance Atlantis. She has also been General Manager and Vice-President, Programming Trio/Newsworld International.

Kirstine is a member of the Forum of Young Global Leaders, selected to advise the World Economic Forum. She was named Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) 2010 Woman of the Year, has been recognized by the Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, and in 2006 was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. Marketing Magazine has also recognized Kirstine’s role in naming CBC Media Player of the Year, 2009.

She is a founding board member of Culture Days, sits on the Banff Television and Film Festival board and on the boards of White Knights and Amfar. Kirstine is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the Global Leadership in the 21st Century program at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.