A Night of Celebration for New Graduates, Alumni and Governance Award Winners
The Directors College was pleased to celebrate its Chartered Director program graduates and recognize their achievement at the 14th Annual Graduation and Alumni Event on June 1 at White Oaks Resort and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
The 2018 Chartered Director program graduates in attendance were happy to connect with peers and receive their university-accredited C.Dir. designations from The Directors College, a collaborative agreement between The Conference Board of Canada and the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University.
Annual Award Winners
The Directors College was also delighted to present Philip Twyford with the Gil Bennett Gold Standard Award and Rose Marie Gage with the Outstanding Achievement in Governance Award. These awards recognize the dedication of esteemed graduates and alumni in raising the bar for professional standards in corporate governance.
“Expectations placed on today’s board members has become ever more challenging; Philp and Rose have both fully embraced this challenge,” said Paul Forgues, Director of External Relations with The Directors College and the evening’s master of ceremonies. “These individuals have raised the art and impact of directorship by bringing wisdom, strategic thinking, curiosity, and integrity to the board table.”
Philip Twyford is the 2018 recipient of the Gil Bennett Gold Standard Award, presented to a graduate who has received a top grade on the Chartered Director exam and has demonstrated, over the course of the program, the technical and personal characteristics needed to be an effective board director.
Mr. Twyford, Assistant Deputy Minister in the British Columbia Public Service, was an active contributor throughout all five modules of the Chartered Director program and recognized for asking insightful questions and engaging fellow participants and faculty.
In accepting this award at the graduation ceremony, Mr. Twyford thanked his fellow graduates and applauded the Chartered Director program calling it “An engaging and thought-provoking program where I learned as much from fellow participants as faculty.”
Mr. Twyford went on to say “Module 5: The Board Simulation was the most provocative education opportunity I have experienced and it has had a positive effect on my approach to governance.”
(From left to right: Peter Gardiner-Harding, Faculty of The Directors College, Philip Twyford C.Dir., 2018 recipient of the Gil Bennett Award, and Dr. Susan Black, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Conference Board of Canada.)
Rose Marie Gage was presented with the Outstanding Achievement in Governance Award for her work in furthering good governance in Canada.
The Outstanding Achievement Award is presented to an alumnus who has displayed the core values and strategies taught in The Directors College and whose achievements have been proven to be forward thinking, values-driven, and change enabling.
Rose is an accomplished individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership as the CEO of AgEnergy.
She serves on numerous boards with dedication, integrity and diligence, is an Inspiring 50 recipient, and on the Diversity 50 list.
Rose received several nominations from peers for her knowledgeable and collaborative approach to strategy, risk and governance.
Ms. Gage was visibly moved as she accepted her award and thanked her family, the boards she serves on, and those who nominated her for the 2018 Outstanding Achievement in Governance Award.
Rose also thanked The Directors College for providing “by far the best director education experience, one that offers a unique bridge between hard skills and people skills to make a difference.”
Rose also encouraged the new C.Dir. graduates to “be formidable” in taking the lessons learned in the classroom and applying them in the boardroom because “great governance matters”.
(From left to right: Patrick Sohier, Senior Customer Success Manager with Diligent, Rose Marie Gage C.Dir., winner of the Outstanding Achievement in Governance Award, and Dr. Susan Black, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Conference Board of Canada.)
Keynote
The evening’s celebration featured a stimulating keynote address on Board Preparedness in the Digital Age from Leonard Waverman, Dean of the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University.
Mr. Waverman recommended that Directors should be educating themselves on digital disruptions like block chain and bitcoin to better understand and prepare for emerging risks and opportunities.