Equipping Yourself For Your Board Director Journey

Mark McQueen

M.S.M.

Mark McQueen joined CIBC in 2018 and leads the bank's 13 global Innovation Banking offices, focused on helping entrepreneurs and startups within the innovation economy.
 
Mark began his career in 1988. Following five years on Parliament Hill and in the Office of the Prime Minister, he has worked in the financial services industry since 1993. He led the growth of Wellington Financial from its inception as a $7 million fund to becoming one of Canada's largest and most active institutionally-backed venture funds until its acquisition by CIBC in 2018.
 
He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Toronto Port Authority and the inaugural Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. He currently serves as a Director of Algoma Central Corporation, is a member of the Governing Council of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and has served as an Honourary Captain in the Royal Canadian Navy since 2012. Mark is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.

John Koopman

John Koopman is a Partner (and former Office Manager) in Spencer Stuart's Toronto office and is active in both the Board Practice and Chief Financial Officer Practice in Canada. Throughout his career, he has placed about 500 directors and executive leaders in companies such as Blackberry, Cadillac Fairview, Celestica, Crombie REIT, C.S.A., Harry Winston, Intrawest, Mattamy Homes, Open Text, Porter Airlines, QuadReal, Sobeys, Softchoice, TD, Wescast, West Fraser Timber and Woodbridge.

Prior to entering the world of executive search in 1997, John spent eight years as an international strategy consultant, first for McKinsey in its Amsterdam office and later for Mercer Management Consulting. He led strategy projects in industries as diverse as airlines, railways, fashion, professional sports, chemicals, textiles, banking, and property and casualty insurance throughout his consulting career. Among his other duties with Mercer Management Consulting, he was the partner in charge of Canadian recruiting.

For six years, John served with Mexx, an international clothing manufacturer, and wholesaler. His positions with Mexx ranged from International Marketing Manager, headquartered in The Hague, to Vice President Sales and Marketing, and Vice-President Finance in Paris.

John began his career as a corporate and commercial lawyer in Calgary, Alberta, with Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer, one of western Canada's leading law firms. He is a member of the Law Societies of Alberta and Upper Canada.

John is an active commentator and student of business and public policy issues. His articles have been printed in publications as diverse as the Globe & Mail, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, MacLeans Magazine, Journal of Commerce and Canadian Manager. He was also on the faculty of Webster University, where he taught a course on corporate strategy in the M.B.A. program.

He is a former President of the Empire Club of Canada and a Queen's Jubilee award recipient. He received his L.L.B. from Queen's University at Kingston in 1980 and received an M.B.A. (Honours) from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1985. He speaks English, French and Dutch.

Cherie Brant

Cherie Brant is a Partner at Borden Ladner Gervais L.L.P. ("B.L.G.") and Independent Director at Hydro One Networks since 2018 and Toronto-Dominion Bank since 2021.
 
At B.L.G., Cherie is the national leader for the Indigenous law group at B.L.G. and a member of the firm's Environmental, Social, and Governance initiative. Her commercial practice extends across various sectors, including energy and transmission, land development and financing on First Nations lands, Indigenous Infrastructure, and economic development for Indigenous-owned
businesses and Indigenous governments. She also provides strategic policy and governance
counsel to Indigenous groups seeking to exercise their jurisdiction and authority.

She also serves on the non-profit boards for the Anishnawbe Health Foundation, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and Canadian Club of Toronto.
 
In 2017, Cherie received the Lexpert Zenith Award, a national award recognizing women's
contributions to the law. In 2012, she was named one of Lexpert's "Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers
Under 40." Cherie holds a J.D. from the University of Toronto and a B.A. in Environmental Studies,
Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo.
 
Cherie is both Mohawk from Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and Ojibway from Wikwemkoong
Unceded Indian Reserve.

Tanya van Biesen

In her role as Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Engagement, Tanya is responsible for a team of 35 Relationship Managers and support staff working with over 500 client companies around the world. She is also accountable for leading and operationalizing Catalyst partnerships in Latin America, the Middle East, and AsiaPac.
 
Tanya is a recognized and accomplished executive with more than 20 years of experience in the executive search sector. She joined Catalyst in 2016 as Executive Director in Canada and became Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Engagement in 2020. Before joining Catalyst, Tanya was at Spencer Stuart, where she focused on search assignments at the board, C.E.O., and general management levels and led the firm's Canadian Diversity Practice.
 
A passionate advocate for gender equality as a driver of economic growth and progress, Tanya is a sought-after speaker, thought leader, and architect of change. She has contributed to several research studies analyzing leadership trends and attributes and is a frequent contributor to news media on issues related to women's advancement, leadership, and workplace equality. Tanya holds an M.B.A. from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University. She speaks English, French, and Dutch.