Members of the Board of Governors
Board of Governors
Alan R. Abraham, Jr. BComm'80, Chair
Alan Abraham is Vice-President at ReGroup. Alan has over 25 years of management and operational experience in the waste and recycling industry and a background in long-distance and public warehousing. Establishing Green Waste Systems in 1989, Alan grew it into a full-service company with over 20 trucks operating in Halifax until its acquisition by Royal Environmental Group where he continues to lead the environmental services division. Alan is a proud Saint Mary’s University alumnus whose commitment to community service has involved him on a variety of boards and associations. Alan is grateful for the opportunity to serve the university and to advance our community and social leadership role, which has always been core to who we are at Saint Mary’s.
Anna Marenick
Anna Marenick MBA'07, is the Vice President of People, Culture, and Belonging at Nova Scotia Health. She is a successful human resources and transformational change leader with extensive regional and national experience leading multi-faceted and complex programs in diverse and challenging environments.
Prior to joining Nova Scotia Health, she was the senior director of people and governance at Develop Nova Scotia. Her creative, inclusive approach to solving complex problems in a variety of settings makes her exceptional at collaboratively propelling ideas and people forward.
Anna is actively involved in the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.
Anna has a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University and Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from St. Francis Xavier University. She is also a Prosci Certified Change Management Professional, Certified Governance Professional, and a Chartered Professional in Human Resources.
Dr. Ather Akbari
Dr. Ather Akbari is professor of economics at Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Canada. He is a labour economist with research interest in issues related to economics of immigration and education. He has published in several peer-reviewed academic journals on public finance and labour market impacts of immigration in Canada and has also conducted many immigration research projects for federal and provincial governments in Canada. He has testified twice in front of the Parliamentary Standing Committees on immigration. Two of his most recently completed works for provincial governments include Immigration in Nova Scotia: Who Comes, Who Stays, Who Leaves and why? and Impacts of Provincially and Territorially Administered Immigration Programs in Canada. His on-going work on Satisfaction and Well-being of International Students in Atlantic Canada is supported by Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Dr. Akbari’s work is often cited in the news media where he is also often interviewed. National and international newspapers such as The Globe and Mail, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and The Economist magazine have cited his immigration research. He chairs the Atlantic Research Group on Economics of Immigration, Aging and Diversity (ARGEIAD) and is also the Coordinator of the Master of Applied Economics (MAE) program and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Applied Economics program (PBCAE) at the Sobey School of Business.
Bafana Mashingaidze
Bafana is an experienced Customer Success Manager, in the Tech Industry, with a demonstrated history of working with customers to increase their value generation. In addition to mentoring , Bafana has continually been involved with community activities with some of his other current Board positions including the role of Vice President of the SMU Alumni Council. He holds a B. Sc. Honours from Saint Mary’s University and an MBA from the Sobey School of Business.
Ben Gaunce
Ben Gaunce is the Head of Speech-Language Pathology at Lifemark Health Group. He facilitates and conducts the assessment and treatment of adults with speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders stemming from strokes, traumatic brain injuries and concussions. He started the department in 2019 and has since grown its reach to all Ontario and Maritime Lifemark clinics.
Gaunce holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology from Saint Mary's University (2017) and a Master's of Applied Science in Speech-Language Pathology from McGill University (2019).
He served on the Saint Mary's Board of Governors previously in 2017 through his position as Vice President of University Affairs for the Saint Mary's University Students' Association. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Spatz Theatre where he promotes arts and culture through the operation and management of the community space. Gaunce is proud to be returning to SMU to lend his governance experience, share his view as a young alumnus, and advocate for community advancement.
Dr. Bill Sewell
Bill Sewell is a Professor of History at Saint Mary’s University, appointed also to the Asian Studies Interdisciplinary Program. His courses explore the history of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, and his research focuses on the history and memory of the Japanese empire. His research has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) as well as by Saint Mary’s University. Before joining the Board in 2024, Dr. Sewell served previously as Chair of the Department of History, Coordinator of the Asian Studies Interdisciplinary Program, and on Senate. He has been employed by the university since 2000.
Bruce F. Holland
Bruce was born and raised in Shad Bay, Nova Scotia in a family of eight.
Bruce began his working career at the Department of Transportation followed by a ten-year career in the Nova Scotia Attorney General’s Dept.
Having been active in his church, community and various service organizations, Bruce was encouraged to enter political life and was first elected to the Halifax County Council in 1991 and subsequently was elected MLA in the Provincial Government in 1993 and served as Minister of Science and Information Technology and Minister Responsible for the Sport and Recreation Commission. Bruce made many improvements in the community during his early political career, one of which was the beginning of the twinning of Highway 103.
After leaving politics Bruce spent nearly a decade with a National Service Company as regional Marketing and Sales Manager. Bruce then accepted a position as Executive Director with the Spryfield Business Commission and has spent the past fourteen years helping make communities a better place to live, work and play.
Throughout his life Bruce has always been active in creating publications of one kind or another and now, in addition to his work in Spryfield, leads the team at the Parkview News, a local monthly community newspaper.
Bruce continues to serve his church and community and sits on numerous committees and boards including the Halifax Northwest Rotary Club, the Long Lake Provincial Park Association, the YWCA Advisory Committee, the Halifax Natal Day Committee, St Paul’s Family Resource Institute and Food Bank, the Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica Finance Council, to name a few.
Christine Bonnell-Eisnor MBA 07
Christine Bonnell-Eisnor, MBA, P. Eng. ICD.D is the CEO of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB). Christine has been with the CNSOPB since 1999. As CEO, she is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the CNSOPB to ensure that the organization fulfills its regulatory mandate in a fair, efficient, legally compliant and consistent manner as well as leading the CNSOPB as it transitions to an expanded mandate and becomes the regulator for offshore renewable energy development in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.
Christine has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia, and a MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She holds the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D (Certified Director) designation and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Nova Scotia. In 2017, Christine was named the Progress Women of Excellence – Management and Professions.
Christine is a Fellow of Engineers Canada, an active member of Engineers Nova Scotia, a Board Member of Brigadoon Village and Saint Mary’s University. In her spare time, Christine attends her children's sports activities, spends times at her cottage and enjoys photography.
Dr. Erin Adlakha is an associate professor and chairperson of the Geo
logy Department, Faculty of Science, at Saint Mary’s University, and a Professional Geoscientist in Nova Scotia. Her expertise is in the mineralogy and exploration of hydrothermal critical mineral deposits, such as uranium, tungsten, and rare earth elements, in Canada. Her research is funded through Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, as well as numerous collaborations with provincial and territorial governments.
Dr. Adlakha enjoys providing opportunities for students to engage in geoscience research inside and outside the classroom. Such experiences during her own undergraduate degree at SMU (BSc. Geology hons. ’12) set her on the path to graduate studies (PhD Earth Sciences,’16, uOttawa) and a career in academia.
Floyd Kane
A graduate of Dalhousie Law School and Saint Mary’s University, Floyd Kane articled with Blake, Cassels, and Graydon in Toronto before being called to the Ontario Bar in 1998. While serving as Legal Counsel, Salter Street Films Limited, from 1999 to 2004, Floyd also served as Production Executive on numerous projects, notably the Academy Award-winning Bowling For Columbine, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion, POKO - Cycles I and II and Lexx - Cycle IV.
In 2004 Floyd Kane joined Halifax Film as Vice-President, Creative and Business Affairs, responsible for initiating and pursuing creative properties as well as for all production business and legal affairs for Halifax Film. Floyd has been instrumental in the development of productions based on the award-winning book The Hanging of Angelique by noted Black Canadian scholar Afua Cooper, the international best-seller The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland, and Alex Caine's critically acclaimed crime memoir, Befriend and Betray.
He transitioned into writing with his creation of the half hour CBC drama North/South. Since that time, Floyd has written for a range of series including Continuum, Slasher, and Backstage, as well as producing several feature films including the award-winning, Across the Line, (for which he also wrote the screenplay), Shake Hands with the Devil, and The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw. Floyd is the creator, showrunner, and executive producer for the CBC drama DIGGSTOWN. He was the recipient of the Sandi Ross award from ACTRA Toronto which recognizes the efforts of individuals striving to create a more inclusive media industry.
Dr. Jason Rhinelander
Dr. Jason Rhinelander is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Engineering, Faculty of Science, at Saint Mary’s University. He is the inaugural Head of Technology and Innovation at the David Sobey Centre where he seeks to apply machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions to real-world challenges. His research interests include AI ethics, retail applications of machine learning technologies, and computer vision.
Dr. Rhinelander holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa, ON. He also holds an M.Eng in Electrical Engineering and a B.Eng in Electrical Engineering (Computing and Communications specialty), both from Memorial University in St. John’s, NL.
Jillian D'Alessio, JD, OLY
Jill is a lawyer at McInnes Cooper and a Saint Mary’s University alumni (’09). Jill’s practice is primarily focused on insurance defence, sport law and general litigation.
With a background as a student athlete, Jill brings her dedication and work ethic to the practice of law. In 2004, Jill competed on the sprint kayak team in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She is a Pan American Games Gold Medalist and competed on the Canadian National Team for a total of eleven years.
A strong advocate for community and sport, Jill is on several boards, including the Canoe 22 Society and Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic. She is also a High Performance Committee Member with Canoe Kayak Canada, where she volunteers her legal knowledge on various issues.
Kimberly Doane
Kimberly Doane is currently the Executive Director, Subsurface Energy Development Branch with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables. She is responsible for providing strategic policy advice to the government regarding natural gas exploration and development, coordinating subsurface geoscience research, and the technical promotion of Nova Scotia’s potential to investors. Her Branch also coordinates the regulation of underground storage, gas distribution, pipelines, and other legislative responsibilities. Policy responsibilities are currently focused on emerging transitional energy opportunities such as deep geothermal, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and hydrogen.
Kim earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Fredericton in 2014. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (Geology) from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Geography) from Saint Mary’s University. Prior to starting employment with the province in 1999, she worked in Calgary in both petroleum exploration and environmental assessments and reclamation of petroleum operations.
In September 2019, Kim was appointed to the Board of Governors at Saint Mary’s University and has sat on both the Governance and Property & Campus Planning Committees. She is also the appointed Nova Scotia representative on the Board of Directors for Net Zero Atlantic Research Association. In addition, she is active on a variety of committees both locally and internationally. Kim is married (Rod) and has one daughter (Alexandra) who is currently attending Dalhousie University.
Kellie Sauriol
Kellie is Regional Vice President, Business Financial Services for RBC Royal Bank. She holds responsibility for RBC’s Business Financial Services business in Atlantic Canada. Through a team of approximately 190 professionals, RBC is delivering financial advice and services to businesses throughout Atlantic Canada.
Kellie is a graduate of both Saint Mary’s University (Bachelor of Arts, Sociology) and the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management (Master of Business Administration).
Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Kellie joined RBC in 1998 in Atlantic Canada and over her 20+ year career has held a variety of sales and leadership roles in Personal and Commercial banking and Wealth Management in Halifax and Toronto. She has also worked in Human Resources, Sales Support, and held responsibility for RBC’s Mutual Funds Distribution strategy.
Kellie has always been very involved in community activities, raising funds for many charitable causes, and providing volunteer time for many initiatives. Kellie served as a Director with Child Development Institute in Toronto for 9 years – a board she chaired for 2 years and served on several Committees including Executive, Audit & Risk, Nominating, Governance, Strategic Planning, and Diversity & Youth Engagement.
Louie Velocci
As the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Partner for KPMG in Canada’s Management Consulting practice, Louie is a highly qualified senior business leader with cross functional, cross industry experience, leveraging over 25 years of know-how to effectively manage and handle the day-to-day business operations. His role works in conjunction with the National Management Consulting Lead Partner, KPMG’s Management Committee and Board to support the business’s operational functions by:
- Maintaining and directing the daily operations of the practice, including overseeing human resources, finance, sales, IT, and pursuits, as well as overseeing the work of executives
- Reporting to the KPMG Leadership about the practice’s daily operations and developments to the business operations strategy
- Overseeing all legal and risk-related matters for the Management Consulting practice nationally
- Ensuring consistent alignment with current company policies and business objectives to support the growth of the practice.
Prior to this role, Louie focused more closely on IT the delivery of large-scale IT transformations and shared services arrangements. He assisted some our largest client’s CIOs, CTOs, CISOs and senior management teams to align their IT service delivery approach and frameworks with the strategic business imperatives of their organization. This included providing pragmatic solutions to IT and business risk mitigation and helping Boards and Management understand the risks and impacts of emerging technologies to the organization.
He has developed considerable thought leadership on the topics of cloud computing, shared service and control alignment, IT transformation, critical infrastructure design and protection and continues to work with IT standards bodies and has been involved with Industry Canada’s initiatives on Cloud Computing. This roundtable council is currently examining the role that the public and private sectors will need to play in the widespread adoption of cloud computing in Canada. It is examining infrastructure, controls, requirements for regulation, legal and resource considerations.
Louie previously led a large global consulting firm’s IT Security and Forensic practice in Canada. He has hands on experience leading and executing IT risk assessment projects and third-party outsourcing organizations engagements on both national and international levels.
Louie also works with organizations in the financial, insurance and telecommunications industries to examine global issues which may impact these industries. Additionally, he holds a Government of Canada Level II Security Clearance which allows him to work on highly sensitive projects involving the Canadian Government..
Mark Gosine, BA'95, Vice-Chair
Mark is an independent business consultant, and former Executive Vice President, Legal Affairs, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of WildBrain Media, and was responsible for all of its legal and regulatory affairs and for its subsidiaries. His principal areas of focus are financings, mergers, acquisitions, securities, intellectual property, governance, and compliance. Mark has more than 15 years of legal experience both in private practice and in-house, and has more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Mark played a key role in the company’s growth strategy in the acquisition and subsequent integration of such acquisitions. In his entertainment work, he oversaw all legal and business aspects of the company’s development, production, and distribution. He commenced his career as a performer after completing the jazz program at St. Francis Xavier University. Mark went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree at Saint Mary’s University, and earned an LL.B. at Dalhousie University. He is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association.
Dr. Mohamed Drira
Dr. Mohamed Drira is an Associate Professor at the Department of Accounting and Commercial Law of the Sobey School of Business. He holds a PhD in Accounting (HEC Montreal, University of Montreal), an MSc in Accounting (University of Sherbrooke), and a BSc in Accounting (IHEC Carthage). He also holds the CPA, CGA designations from CPA Canada and the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) designation form the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). Mohamed’s scholarly activities span a broad range of areas including, governance analytics, auditing, enterprise risk management and internal control, professional judgment and critical thinking, financial accounting, executive compensation, board of directors, diversity and inclusion, strategic decision making, and emerging trends in IT (machine learning, data analytics, blockchain, cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, etc.). His research projects have been supported by several Canadian agencies and organizations such as Mitacs, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA), CPA Canada, the Government of New Brunswick, Saint Mary’s University, and the University of New Brunswick. In addition, Mohamed has supervised many undergraduate and graduate students in business and computer science.
Dr. Drira served as a member of the first CPA Canada’s National Board of Examiners for two consecutive terms, a member of the Board of Directors of CPA New Brunswick and its Complaints Committee, a member of the Board of Directors of the Business Administration Undergraduate Society at the University of New Brunswick, a member of the Education and Training Board Committee of the Institute of Internal Auditors (Montreal Chapter), the chair of the accounting area at the University of New Brunswick, a member of national SSHRC Insight Grant adjudication committees, and a member of the national academic forum of CPA Canada’s Competency Map Task Force. In addition, Mohamed has been involved with CPA Canada at the national level as an assessment reviewer, an audit reviewer, and a technical reviewer for the auditing and assurance area.
Mike Mercer
Michael graduated from Saint Mary’s with a BA (Hons) in International Development in 2010 and again with an MA in International Development in 2016. While attending Saint Mary’s as a student, Michael served as the Vice President of University Affairs at SMUSA and was a board member of Students NS and CASA, the provincial and federal student advocacy associations, respectively.
Michael has worked in Government and politics, both in Ottawa and Halifax, and is now Senior Vice-President, and Chief Operating Officer at CanaPacking Inc, a food manufacturing and packaging company in Halifax.
Michael has been a member of the Alumni Council since 2018, currently serves as an Officer in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, and lives in Halifax with his wife and two children.
Prajwal Shetty
Prajwal is a fourth-year student at Saint Mary's University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Computing Science and Business Administration. Currently serving as the Vice President Advocacy of the Saint Mary's University Students Association, Prajwal hails from Bengaluru, India, where his deep passion for serving the community and student advocacy was nurtured.
With a commitment to representing student voices, Prajwal advocates for student rights within the SMU Board of Governors and collaborates with advocacy groups such as Students Nova Scotia and the Canadian Alliance of Students Association. Through is role as Vice President Advocacy Prajwal aims to advocate for better student housing, improved mental health support and foster a stronger sense of community spirit among students.
Beyond his advocacy work, Prajwal enjoys indulging in movies and sports, always ready for a lively conversation about favorite sports teams and films!
Roddy Macdonald
Roddy is an independent HR and governance consultant with more than 30 years of leadership experience gained across multiple industries. His clients seek him out for strategic and operational HR advice; conducting workplace investigations, policy reviews, and employee surveys; and coaching senior and emerging leaders. He regularly consults in the areas of labour relations, organizational design, succession planning, and performance management.
In his governance consulting, Roddy’s work has a particular focus on board evaluation and performance improvement: allowing boards to identify gaps and take action to improve governance outcomes and enhance succession planning efforts.
Roddy serves on the board of Feed Nova Scotia (Board Vice-Chair, Chair HR Committee, member Governance Committee), and served two terms on the board of Symphony Nova Scotia (chair HR Committee, chair Governance Committee). He has previously served on the board of Mountain Equipment Co-Op (Chair, Governance Committee), as well as various local community boards and advisory committees.
Roddy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and is a graduate of the Sobey School of Business Executive MBA program. He has a CPHR designation (Chartered Professional in Human Resources), as well as the ICD.D governance designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray
Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray was named the 34th President of Saint Mary’s University in July, 2015. Originally from New Zealand, Summerby-Murray came to Canada in 1986 to complete his PhD at the University of Toronto. He’s since established a distinguished academic career that includes 18 years at Mount Allison University, where he served for seven years as Dean of Social Sciences, and five years at Dalhousie University as Dean of Arts and Social Sciences. An accomplished educator, Summerby-Murray received the AAU Distinguished Teacher Award in 2000 and was named a 3M National Teaching Fellow in 2006. He has received various SSHRC funding, including for his work on industrial heritage in Maritime Canada. His publications have appeared in a variety of scholarly journals such as The Canadian Geographer, Urban History Review, and the Journal of Geography in Higher Education. “I chose Saint Mary’s University because it is uniquely positioned to take on the many opportunities that lie before it,” said Summerby-Murray. “This is an institution with many strengths, not the least of which is its reputation as Canada’s international university.”
Dr. Rylan Higgins
Rylan Higgins is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology. He focuses teaching and research on socio-cultural anthropology, the anthropology of food labour and marginality, social class, gender and consumerism, visual anthropology, engaged and public anthropology, the United States and Vietnam.
Sarah McLean
Sarah is a highly regarded public affairs and corporate communications practitioner in Atlantic Canada.
As Vice President, Communications and Corporate Affairs at Maritime Launch, Sarah draws on her vast experience in both government and the private sector, leading Maritime Launch's communications, public affairs, government relations and community engagement strategies.
Previous to joining Maritime Launch, Sarah was Associate Vice President, Corporate Affairs at NATIONAL Public Relations. During her ten years at NATIONAL, Sarah led Corporate Affairs and Indigenous engagement and she was considered a trusted advisor for clients seeking to secure social license in the communities they operate. Sarah provided strong, seasoned counsel to a wide range of clients in the financial, natural resources, energy, retail, health and economic development sectors.
Previous to joining NATIONAL, Sarah led policy development and provided issues management counsel to high profile federal Cabinet Ministers in Ottawa. Sarah has served as Director of Policy to the President of the Treasury Board, Policy Advisor to the Minister of International Trade and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Sarah is Incident Command System (ICS) and IAP2 certified. Sarah is a graduate of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University, where she studied Finance and Political Science.
Sarah is a 2022 alumni of the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference. Sarah serves on the Board of Directors for the Canada Games Center and Genome Atlantic.
Sian Wren
Sian is an experienced senior executive with over 25 years leading in complex and rapidly changing business environments. She works as the Vice President of Business Transformation for Emera Inc., a Fortune 100 geographically diverse utility and services company based in Halifax, NS. Sian has expertise in human resources, labor relations, change enablement, communications, stakeholder engagement, customer service, and project management.
Early in her career, Sian held numerous roles in human resources in the hospitality and gaming sector. Prior to joining Emera Sian worked for a Fortune 200 consumer packaged goods company as the National Director of Staffing and Development for Canada. Recognized as a strong team player with proven business and people leadership skills, she is committed to the success of Saint Mary’s University.
With a demonstrated commitment to the community, she has been involved with the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association, Dress for Success, the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) and currently, Sian also serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth.
Sian has a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s University and a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University. She is a certified Negotiations and Mediation Professional, Dalhousie University, a certified Train the Trainer Professional, Development Dimension International Inc. (DDI), and a certified Change Management Professional, Prosci. Sian holds a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.
Simbarashe Chiunda
Hello! I am Simbarashe Chiunda, hailing from the dynamic town of KweKwe in Zimbabwe. I’m currently in Canada, immersed in the third year of my Bachelor of Commerce program with a focus on Marketing and Global Business Management. My drive in academics is fueled by a fascination with the global market's dynamics and the strategies that businesses employ to succeed.
Volunteer work is a core part of my identity. Back home, I was deeply involved in church community services, an experience that instilled in me the importance of community contribution. This passion for service didn’t pause with my move to Canada; I took the initiative to volunteer and later coordinate operations at the SMU Community Food Room, a place dedicated to supporting students.
On the track and field, I channel my competitive spirit and discipline, traits that enrich my academic and personal life. As a proud member of the team, I look forward to the challenges and lessons of perseverance it teaches.
My transcontinental journey from Zimbabwe to Canada has been a tapestry of learning and personal development. Looking ahead, I am brimming with anticipation for the opportunities where I can apply my education and life lessons to make a substantial difference. I appreciate your interest in my story!
Shaneika Carter
Born and raised in the vibrant island of Jamaica, Shaneika's journey embodies resilience, ambition, and a fervent commitment to community empowerment. Migrating to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to pursue tertiary education marked the beginning of her remarkable story. From the outset, Shaneika's passion for fostering connections and nurturing relationships across diverse communities became evident. She found her voice as a champion for inclusivity and equity.
Currently enrolled as a full-time second year student at Saint Mary's University, Shaneika embodies the essence of a diligent scholar. Balancing the rigors of academia with her fervent dedication to community engagement, she stands as a beacon of inspiration for her peers. She currently works as a Program Coordinator for Blk Women in Excellence where she has led numerous initiatives aimed at amplifying the voices of black women. Her advocacy knows no bounds as she tirelessly works to dismantle barriers and foster a more equitable society. A facilitator and natural leader, Shaneika has led a myriad of events both within her university campus and with the Halifax community. She has facilitated events such as the launch of the first Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge hub held at Arthur Irving
Entrepreneurship Centre. Whether it's through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops she leaves an indelible a mark on all those who cross her path. She is a proud first-generation university student who continues to strive for excellence to make her friends and family proud. At the core of her being is a passion for leadership, coordination and public speaking igniting a sense of empowerment and possibility to those in her surroundings.
As she continues her journey, she remains steadfast in her unwavering pursuit of excellence.
She is filled with determination to leave a legacy of inspiration, advocacy, and leadership.
Tyler Hutchinson
Tyler is a third-year Economics and Political Science student currently serving as the Board Chair and Chief Governance Officer of the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA). Originally from Hantsport, Nova Scotia, Tyler is a proud Santamarian who has represented Saint Mary's in debate, Model UN, and entrepreneurship competitions across North America, while also supporting the university's mission closer to home as a Research Assistant, Student Ambassador, and three-time society executive.
As Chair and Chief Governance Officer, Tyler oversees the operations of the SMUSA Board and its members, sits on all Board committees, liaises with the SMUSA President on behalf of the Board, represents students on the Board of Governors and Academic Senate, and is responsible for the success of the Association's long-term goals.
Tyler champions the values of engagement, communication, and accountability which he believes to be most important in the world of student politics and advocacy. Tyler is deeply committed to serving the entire Saint Mary's community and is most thankful for the trust of all Saint Mary's students and the support of the Board of Directors. In his free time, he enjoys travelling, debating, and reading.
Vivek Sood
Vivek Sood is Executive Vice President, Related Businesses for Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc. as well as Executive Sponsor for Empire’s Enterprise Resource Planning Initiative, with national responsibility for the Pharmacy, Wholesale, Fuel, Convenience, and Liquor business units. He has been with Sobeys Inc. since 2000 having held several senior level positions in Pharmacy, Merchandising, Treasury, Investor Relations, and Corporate Strategic Planning. Vivek also serves as Chair of Empire’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council.
Vivek is a Board Governor for GS1 Canada, Committee Member for Canada Health Infoway PrescribeITÒ Strategy & Industry Alliances, Board Director for Black Business Consulting, and is Chair of the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing & Services at Saint Mary’s University’s Sobey School of Business. A strong supporter of innovation in Atlantic Canada, Vivek served as a member of the Investment Committee for Innovacorp and as an associate member, and mentor, for both the Atlantic and Atlanta Creative Destruction Lab programs.
Vivek graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University. He received his Chartered Financial Analyst Designation from the CFA Institute in 2004. In 2021, Vivek completed the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program, the leading national education program for experienced board directors in Canada.