Bonnie DuPont appointed chair of the University of Calgary’s Board of Governors

The Government of Alberta has appointed distinguished business executive and leadership pioneer Bonnie DuPont as chair of the University of Calgary’s Board of Governors. The appointment is for a three-year term and is effective immediately.

“Bonnie DuPont will bring insightful leadership to the Board of Governors," says Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who also serves as Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education. "Her years of service to the University of Calgary and extensive experience in the business world make her an ideal choice for chair.”

DuPont, an alumna of the university (M. Ed ’89), was appointed to the Board of Governors in 2006. In February 2011, she became vice-chair of the Board and in October 2012 became interim chair. An experienced senior executive in the energy industry, she was most recently group vice-president, Corporate Resources at Enbridge Inc. She serves on a number of boards, including NavCanada, Bird Construction and SilverBirch Energy. She recently retired from the boards of the Bank of Canada and Viterra.

“I am deeply honoured by this opportunity, and cannot imagine a more exciting time to be involved with the University of Calgary,” says DuPont. “The great city of Calgary deserves a great university. I look forward to working with the Board of Governors and President Elizabeth Cannon as the university approaches its 50th anniversary in 2016 and realizes its ambitious Eyes High vision – to become one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative teaching and learning and fully integrated with the community.”

DuPont has a long history of service to the University of Calgary. She served on the Management Advisory Council of the Haskayne School of Business from 1990 to 2010, and chaired the council from 2004 to 2005. She founded the Enbridge Undergraduate Mentorship Program, and in 2012 was appointed to the new Enbridge Centre for Corporate Sustainability Advisory Council. She recently served as chair of the University of Calgary’s Career Services Advisory Board.

Amongst her many honours and awards, DuPont was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women every year from 2003 to 2006, and in 2007, was appointed to the Top 100 Hall of Fame. In 2006, she received the Award of Distinction from the Human Resources Institute of Alberta and was named one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People by Alberta Venture Magazine. She was named one of the Top 40 Alumni from the University of Calgary in celebration of the university’s 40th anniversary in 2006.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Bonnie DuPont as chair of the University of Calgary,” says President Cannon. “She is an experienced senior executive, a consummate professional and a dedicated volunteer who brings tremendous leadership and governance skill to the role. On behalf of the entire University of Calgary community, we welcome her as our new chair.”

Two new public members, Sue Lee and Mark Starratt, have also been named by the government to the University of Calgary’s Board of Governors. These appointments are for three-year terms, effective immediately.

Lee recently retired as senior vice-president, Human Resources and Communications for Suncor Energy Inc. after a long and diverse business career. She currently serves on the boards of AltaLink LP and Holcim Canada Inc. She is a member of the ICD Calgary Chapter executive committee. Lee has been actively involved in a number of community organizations and amongst many honours, was an inaugural inductee into the Hall of Fame for Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2007. She currently serves on the human resources and governance committee of the University of Calgary.

Starratt is a financial executive who is currently director, Wealth Management and Portfolio Manager with Richardson GMP Ltd. He is very active in the community and in 2005 was named one of Calgary’s Top 40 under 40. He was the founder and chair of the Board of Trustees for the Banff Sports Hall of Fame and is very involved with the Rotary in Calgary. He is a former member of the University of Calgary Senate and chaired the nominating committee to select the university’s 12th Chancellor.

For more information on the role and membership of the University of Calgary’s Board of Governors, visit www.ucalgary.ca/secretariat/board