B.C.’s 16 most powerful women leaders

Mary Ackenhusen, President & CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health (PWC Public Sector Leaders category)

Shelley Brown, Partner, Deloitte (WXN Hall of Fame)

Anne Giardini, President, Weyerhaeuser Company (Scotiabank Corporate Executives category)

Paula Gordon, Clinical Professor, Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia; Medical Director, Sadie Diamond Breast Program, BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre (Sun Life Financial Trailblazers & Trendsetters category)

Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, Chief Executive Officer, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, Absolute Spa Group (CIBC Entrepreneurs category)

Fiona Macfarlane, Managing Partner, British Columbia; Chief Inclusiveness Officer, Canada, Ernst & Young LLP (RBC Champions category)

Tracey McVicar, Managing Partner, CAI Capital Management; Director and Audit Committee Chair, BC Hydro (Accenture Corporate Directors category)

Monique Mercier, EVP, Corporate Affairs, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Telus (KPMG Professionals category)

Cybele Negris, President, CEO & Co- Founder, Webnames.ca (Sun Life Financial Trailblazers & Trendsetters category)

Shannon Rogers, President & General Counsel, Global Relay (CIBC Entrepreneurs category)

Sandra Stuart, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC Bank Canada (Scotiabank Corporate Executives category)

Launi Skinner, Chief Executive Officer, First West Credit Union (WXN Hall of Fame)

Sixteen B.C.ers were ranked among Canada’s Most Powerful Women, a top 100 list

The Women’s Executive Network (WXN) has named 16 women from British Columbia to its 12th annual Top 100 list; two of the B.C. winners will be inducted into the WXN Hall of Fame. The 2014 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners gala is November 27 at the Toronto Convention Centre.

Co-presented by Scotiabank and KPMG, the Top 100 Awards celebrate and highlight the professional achievements of women across the country in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors at a time when corporate Canada is undergoing pressure to promote more female leaders into board and executive officer positions. According to the Canadian Board Diversity Council 2014 Annual Report Card, women hold only 17.1 per cent of FP500 board seats.

The theme of this year’s awards is Timeless, reflecting legacies left by Canada’s female leaders who become icons for generations to come. Previous Top 100 Award Winners include Roberta Bondar, astronaut; Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications; Michaëlle Jean, former governor general of Canada; and Christine Magee, president of Sleep Country Canada.

Founded in 1997, WXN promotes the advancement and recognition of Canadian women in management, executive, professional and board roles. In the fall of 2008, the organization also launched in Ireland. WXN is a founding member of the Canadian Board Diversity Council, dedicated to increasing the diversity of Canada’s corporate boards.