Every year, the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) honours the top 100 most powerful women across the country with an awards ceremony in Toronto, and this year, 16 of the winners are in British Columbia.
The leaders are ranked based on several criteria relating to leadership. This year, the theme is “Timeless,” which looks at “fearless, tenacious female leaders who continually leave legacies which redefine what is possible and who become icons for generations to come.”
“Despite ever-changing styles and tastes, great leadership is classic,” WXN founder Pamela Jeffery said.
“Top 100 Award Winners are a testament to the incredible range of female talent and leadership in Canada and proof that change is happening, with more women earning a place at the highest levels of Canadian organizations.”
The number of B.C. winners this year is down from 19 in 2013. The awards were established in 2003 by Jeffery as a way to motivate and inspire other women.
Seven former Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40 winners made the list this year: Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia (winner 2001), Jill Bodkin (2003), Karen Flavelle (2005), Tracey McVicar (2009), Amiee Chan (2011), Cybele Negris (2011) and Launi Skinner, (2012).
Winners from B.C. are, by category:
BMO Arts and Communications
- Dr. Amiee Chan, president and CEO, Norsat International, B.C.
RBC Champions
- Dr. Elizabeth Croft, associate dean, education and professional development, Faculty of Applied Science; NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, B.C. and Yukon Region, The University of British Columbia, B.C.
- Fiona Macfarlane, managing partner, British Columbia; chief inclusiveness officer, Canada, Ernst & Young LLP, B.C.
Accenture Corporate Directors
- Tracey McVicar, managing partner, CAI Capital Management; director and audit committee chair, BC Hydro, B.C.
Scotiabank Corporate Executives
- Anne Giardini, president, Weyerhaeuser Company, B.C.
Sandra Stuart, chief operating officer, HSBC Bank Canada, B.C.
CIBC Entrepreneurs
- Karen Flavelle, CEO chief chocolate connoisseur, Purdys Chocolatier, B.C.
- Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, chief executive officer, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, Absolute Spa Group, B.C.
KPMG Professionals
- Monique Mercier, EVP, corporate affairs, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, Telus, B.C.
PWC Public Sector Leaders
- Mary Ackenhusen, president and CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health, B.C.
Sun Life Financial Trailblazers and Trendsetters
- Jill Bodkin, director and chair, human resources and compensation committee, Westport, B.C.
- Dr. Paula Gordon, clinical professor, department of radiology, University of British Columbia; medical director, Sadie Diamond Breast Program, BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre, B.C.
- Cybele Negris, president, CEO and co-founder, Webnames.ca, B.C.
WXN Hall of Fame
- Shelley Brown, Partner, Deloitte, B.C.
- Launi Skinner, chief executive officer, First West Credit Union, B.C.
The number of B.C. winners this year is down from 19 in 2013. The awards were established in 2003 by Jeffery as a way to motivate and inspire other women.
In addition to founding the awards, Jeffery has worked as a political adviser, including serving as Ontario communications adviser to Prime Minister Paul Martin. She is also a founder of the Canadian Board Diversity Council (CBDC).
On November 19, the CBDC released a report that found that women make up 17.1% of FP500 corporate boards, and equality will not be achieved in the near future. The study found that babies being born today will be the first generation to see balanced corporate boards.
The awards come at a time where corporations in B.C. are being criticized for an under-representation of women on their boards.
[email protected]@EmmaHampelBIV
