Richard Chu

Innovation, devotion and persistence against the odds are just some of the qualities that make Elise Rees an influential woman in business in Vancouver.

As a one of two female partners at Ernst and Young LLP’s Vancouver office and head of its transaction tax advisory group, Rees has been a trailblazer in the campaign for gender equity in the workplace.

She became a partner at the firm in 1987, a couple years before her first son, Jamie, was born. The promotion came at a challenging time. “There were a lot of perceptions in those days that women didn’t stay in the workforce or didn’t stay to become partners once they had kids,” she said.

For Rees, it was difficult to find the balance between nurturing a young family while still excelling professionally as a young partner. Fortunately, she had strong support.

“I was very lucky, I had two fabulous mentors, Peter Stephen and Alan Larry,” she added. “At the same time, our firm chairman Ron Gage recognized that the firm was losing a significant talent pool and wanted to address how to increase the retention of women beyond the senior manager level by identifying and addressing systemic barriers. He gave me an opportunity to participate in the process.”

In Vancouver, she helped develop a professional women’s network dedicated to nurturing female managers by helping them to find balance in their careers, to network and build relationships, and to develop a business plan for those interested in becoming partners in the firm. She was also instrumental in developing the firm’s flexible work program, having been the first person to have flexible work hours in the office.

Through her efforts with her team, several young women are on track to become partner. In the mid-’90s, about 12% of partners were female and that proportion has grown to 17% across North America. “We’re slowly trying to rebalance, to make sure we retain our female staff as long as possible to give them an even playing field into the pipeline [for partner],” she said.

Rees has been recognized firm-wide in North America for her efforts, being one of this year’s winners of Ernst and Young’s Rosemarie Meschi Award, which notes best practices in each of the firm’s service lines towards gender equity.

She has accomplished all this while managing a busy transaction tax advisory group that has been involved in many of the largest mergers and acquisitions in the province in the past 18 months.

Her dedication to community building extends to her volunteer work. This includes acting as treasurer for the B.C. Women’s Hospital Foundation and being a member of the federal finance committee of the Vancouver Board of Trade.

If there was any advice Rees would give to a professional young woman it’s to “not be afraid to take on a challenge and stretch themselves; and second, to build their support network so that they’re not trying to do something in isolation.”

“If you take all different viewpoints into your decision-making, then you should be able to produce a better decision and communicate it in a way that people feel more supported.”

What professional achievement are you most proud of?

The Rosemarie Meschi Award that honours people for supporting the professional development and advancement of women at Ernst & Young.

What’s the greatest barrier that you’ve had to overcome in your career?

With two young children, balancing my personal and professional life was a challenge; however, I was able to have a flexible work arrangement that allowed me to succeed on both fronts.

Who’s had the biggest influence on your career?

Ron Gage, chairman of Ernst & Young in 1991, who sponsored the organizational changes that have helped develop the people-focused culture Ernst & Young reflects today; and my husband, Richard Rees, who has always encouraged me to take on new assignments, opportunities and greater challenges.

What network or organization has helped you most in your career?

Peter Stephen, the office director of tax, helped me develop both as a senior manager and as a young partner, while Fred Withers, Ernst & Young’s current Vancouver office managing partner, has been a great guide in supporting the initiatives I am involved with. I also have a great group of women within Ernst & Young and in the Vancouver business community who share knowledge, best practices and strategies for managing careers and families, which I have found invaluable.

What was your toughest decision?

Counselling staff can be a challenge – we work together to find the best fit for their interests and strengths, which can sometimes result in counselling them out of one focus area and into another.

What book are you reading (or have most recently read)?

I love crime novels; my latest is Ian Rankin’s Naming of the Dead.

What is your favourite movie?

Chariots of Fire and Gallipoli. Both remind me of the strength it takes to go for a goal and dig deep to stay true to personal principles.