Board of Governors

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Vice Chair

Donald Guloien
bio
Donald Guloien is the immediate past President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife. A 36-year company veteran, Mr. Guloien held a variety of leadership roles in insurance and investments operations, global acquisitions and business development. Mr. Guloien is Vice Chairman of the Mayor of Shanghai's International Business Leaders’ Advisory Council, Trustee at the The Hospital for Sick Children and Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee, a Governor of Branksome Hall, former Director of the Geneva Association, former member of the Board of the Business Council of Canada, Immediate Past Chair of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, and former member of the Campaign Cabinet for the United Way and the University of Toronto. He is also a member of the Ticker Club, and the World Presidents' Organization. Mr. Guloien has been named International Business Executive of the Year by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, awarded The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, and received the Arbor Award for his many contributions to the University of Toronto. He was ranked among the Highest Rated CEOs in Canada in Glassdoor.com’s 2015, 2016 and 2017 Employees’ Choice Awards, based on assessments by current and past employees. Mr. Guloien holds a B. Comm. from the University of Toronto.

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Board Members

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Melanie ARGIROS Breder'08
Bio
Melanie is a Human Resources Manager at OMERS, where she partners with business leaders to provide consultative support related to their talent strategy and people initiatives. In her 5 years at OMERS, Melanie has provided Human Resources support to multiple lines of business including Capital Markets, Data & Technology, Pensions and Investment Operations. Melanie is a Certified Human Resources Professional and holds a Master of Industrial Relations & Human Resources from the University of Toronto and both a B.Ed. and B.A. from Queen’s University. Melanie is graduate of Branksome Hall, having attended from Grades 1-12 and is the President of the Branksome Hall Alumnae Association.
Clara Angotti
Bio
Clara Angotti is the Co-founder and President of Next Pathway, a technology consulting and engineering firm specializing in platform modernization. In 2011 and 2018, she was recognized as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women. In 2012, she was awarded the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award, which is given to an individual who has launched one or more successful companies and who is a role model to other entrepreneurs. Each year, Clara participates in a mentorship program to provide support and career guidance to women. Clara is also a member of the Board of Trustees for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). She is the parent of a current Branksome Hall student.
Karen Blott
Bio
Karen is the President of the Branksome Hall Parents' Association. She has two daughters in the Senior and Middle School.
Rod Bolger
Bio
As Chief Financial Officer, Rod Bolger is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of RBC. In addition, Rod chairs RBC’s Asset-Liability Committee. Prior to his current role, Rod was Executive Vice-President Finance & Controller for RBC and was responsible for all external, board and management reporting, accounting policy, performance management, financial management systems and finance operational risk. Currently, Rod serves as Chair of Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services, a multi-service not-for-profit agency that offers a wide range of supportive programs and services to several Toronto communities. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and earned an M.B.A. from Columbia University. Rod is the father of two current Branksome Hall students.
Karen CORDES Woods'99
Bio
Karen is responsible for optimizing revenue within the Contact Centre channel at Scotiabank. She has worked at Scotiabank for almost 15 years, beginning her career as an Economist before moving through various roles within Capital Markets, Wholesale Banking and Retail Banking. She holds a Masters degree in Economics from Queen's University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of King's College/Dalhousie University in Halifax. Karen is an alumnae of Branksome Hall. She is very active within the Alumnae Association, recently retiring as President. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their two daughters.
Harry Culham
Bio
The father of two Branksome students, Harry Culham is the Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head of Capital Markets at CIBC. He is Chair and CEO of CIBC World Markets Inc., and is a member of CIBC’s Executive Committee. Harry also chairs the CIBC Children's Foundation, is a member of the Faculty Advisory Board for the Sauder School of Business Women in Capital Markets Advisory Council. In addition, Harry is a Board Member at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Michael Gans
Bio
Michael is a Partner with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in Toronto where he is Practice Group Leader of the Blakes Toronto Capital Markets Group. Michael’s practice focuses on Canadian and international merger and acquisition transactions and he has advised on many of Canada's highest-profile M&A transactions. Michael previously sat on the advisory board of the North York Harvest Food Bank. Michael is the proud father of two Branksome students.

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Vice Chair

Mona Malone
bio
The past parent of a Branksome student, Mona Malone is Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People & Culture for BMO Financial Group. As a member of the bank’s Executive Committee, she leads and shapes its efforts to fuel its growth strategy through its most valuable asset – its people. Throughout her 20 years at BMO, Mona has held a variety of diverse roles in Human Resources and the business including Retail Banking Sales Leader in the Greater Toronto Area, VP Product and Marketing Officer at ePost (a joint venture between Canada post and BMO), Chief HR Officer of Canada’s Personal and Commercial Banking Group and Chief Talent & Learning Officer.

In 2021, Mona was a winner of the Report on Business Best Executive Award. She is also a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her community service with youth development organizations.

Mona holds an Honours Business Administration degree from Ivey Business School at University of Western Ontario. She is the Chair of the Advisory Council for the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership at the Ivey Business School, and a member of the Branksome Hall Board of Governors and The Long Run Initiative Board of Governors. Mona lives in Toronto with her husband and three children.

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Board Members

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Eva Lau
Bio
The mother of two Branksome students, Eva is the Managing Partner and co-founder of Two Small Fish Ventures, a company that invests in early-stage internet companies. Prior to that, Eva was the Head of Community at Wattpad, a global multi-platform entertainment company. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Schulich School of Business and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto. Eva also serves as an Associate at Creative Destruction Lab in Rotman School of Business.
Deborah Orida
Bio
Deborah leads CPPIB’s Active Equities department globally, including the Active Fundamental Equities, Relationship Investments, Thematic Investing, Fundamental Equities Asia, Direct Equity. Investments Latin America and Sustainable Investing teams. Prior to joining CPPIB, she spent nine years at Goldman Sachs in New York and Toronto. Previously, Deborah was a securities lawyer at Blake, Cassels & Graydon in Toronto. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and LLB and BA from Queen's University, Canada. She has two daughters in the Senior and Middle School.
Duncan Osborne
Bio
The father of two Branksome students, Duncan Osborne is Executive Vice President, Investments at Cadillac Fairview. Prior to joining Cadillac Fairview in 2011, he was a partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP. Duncan holds a M.Fin. from Queen’s University, an LL.B from Western University and a Bachelor of Sciences from Trent University. Duncan joined the Board of Governors in 2017 and has been a member of the Property Committee since 2015.
Tricia “CK” PURKS Hoffler’80
Bio
CK Hoffler’80 is the CEO of The CK Hoffler Firm, the trailblazing Atlanta-based law firm. She has represented and is also counsel to Civil Rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson. She has managed billion-dollar commercial cases, including record-setting medical negligence verdicts. She is a past Installation Speaker and Branksome Hall’s first Black Head Prefect.
Kurankye Sekyi-Otu
Bio
Kurankye is the Chief Strategy Officer for Polar Asset Management Partners and a member of the firm’s executive leadership team. He is responsible for global distribution, marketing and the implementation of the firm’s strategic business initiatives. Previously, Kurankye led the team responsible for business development and investor relations across institutional and advisory partners globally. Kurankye began working with Polar in a consulting capacity in 2009, then formally joined the firm in 2010. Kurankye earned his CFA designation in 2000. He graduated from York University in 1994 with a B.A. (Hons.) in Economics.
Peter Senst
Bio
Peter Senst, parent of a Branksome student, is the President, Canadian Capital Markets of CBRE Limited, heading their National Investment Team in Toronto. He is a member of CBRE’s Global Capital Advisory Team, their Canadian Board of Directors, Executive Management Committee and Canadian Executive Council. He joined the Branksome Board in 2015.
Claire STURGESS'91
Bio
Claire is a Managing Director in Global Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets. During her tenure at RBC, Claire has also acted as a member of the RBC Capital Markets Diversity Council, Co-Chair of the Women in Capital Markets’ Return to Bay Street program and is one of the Executive Sponsors of RFuture, a program designed to support and encourage the firm’s next generation of leaders. Claire is also a current Director and former Chair of the Conn Smythe Foundation. Claire is a Branksome Hall alum, having attended Branksome from Grades 7-13, and is a parent of a current Branksome Hall student.