Leadership

Nenone Donaldson
Vice-President, Advancement

Nenone leads a high-performing team at the University of Waterloo that works to inspire donor and alumni engagement, building a pan-university culture of philanthropy. She is a strategic thinker who consistently develops strong relationships and creates beneficial alliances and partnerships.

A professional fundraiser since 1998, Nenone joined the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering in 2004 during Campaign Waterloo as one of the institution’s first Faculty-based fundraisers. In 2013, she launched the highly successful Educating the Engineer of the Future campaign that raised over $100 million. In 2017, Nenone was promoted to lead the advancement team in Engineering, a portfolio that includes marketing, communications, recruitment, events, alumni relations and fundraising.

Beyond her professional roles, Nenone volunteers on not-for-profit advisory boards that support youth (including the Amici Camping Charity) and gives strategic guidance to technology start-ups on leadership, communications and human resources management.

Salman Jivani
Associate Vice-President, Engagement

As Associate Vice-President, Engagement, Salman has a full view of the work across the Alumni Relations, Annual, Leadership and Planned Giving teams. His role supports the development of a highly engaged community of alumni and donors.

Salman has returned to Waterloo after five years at the University of Calgary, where he most recently served as the Director of Development, Annual and Leadership Giving. Before moving out West, Salman was a Senior Development Officer with Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering. A proud Warrior with a BA in rhetoric and literature and an MA in rhetoric and communication design, he began his successful fundraising career as a student caller. He later joined the Annual Giving team, raising money at the annual through major gift levels while helping the team implement new programs, projects and initiatives.

A versatile fundraiser with a passion for data analytics and relationship building, Salman approaches every aspect of advancement with an “engagement-first” mentality. His extensive experience in fundraising, communication, leadership and entrepreneurship make him a strong collaborator with all of his teams.

Bridget McMahon
Associate Vice-President, Development Programs

As Associate Vice President, Development Programs, Bridget McMahon oversees major gift fundraising, institution-wide campaigns and annual planning and goal setting across Advancement.

Prior to joining the University of Waterloo, Bridget worked at Wilfrid Laurier University, most recently serving as Assistant Vice President, Alumni & Community Engagement. She joined Laurier in 2001 in recruitment, and began a role in 2003 as Development Officer, Campaign Special Projects and Liaison to the President. She went on to hold progressive major gift fundraising roles within the University. When Alumni Relations and Annual Giving were being restructured under one portfolio, Bridget was selected to serve as Director, building trust and collaboration and shared direction between these newly merged teams. Donor relations and stewardship, advancement communications, and ceremonies and events were all later added to her responsibilities.

Bridget has a strong background in planning, fundraising campaigns and cross-team collaboration, and is known as an exceptional leader who builds trust and a shared vision among her colleagues.

Sean Thomas
Associate Vice-President, Advancement Services

Sean Thomas joined Waterloo’s Advancement team in 2014 as Associate Vice-President, Advancement Services. Sean is responsible for strategic planning and senior management of the infrastructure, policies, tools and central services necessary to promote and sustain university-wide and faculty-based fundraising and alumni activities.  He also ensures operational efficiency, exceptional standards of quality and is building a solution-oriented culture within the advancement services operation.

With 24 years of Advancement experience, Sean previously served as Director, Advancement Services at Wilfrid Laurier University. Sean is well-versed in all aspects of Advancement operations, systems and database management, prospect research and donor relations and stewardship. 

Sean is a graduate of the University of Toronto and a member of AASP, CASE and CCAE.

Daniella Cross
Director, Marketing and Communications

Daniella leads a team of marketing and communications experts to advance the mission of the Office of Advancement, inspiring and engaging our stakeholders to create a culture of philanthropy at the University of Waterloo and beyond. She is focused on building collaborative relationships and creating successful marketing programs and campaigns.

With extensive experience in global marketing roles in Canada and the UK at large technology companies and digital agencies, Daniella has launched brands, products and many multi-lingual advertising campaigns. She has also led international student recruitment and marketing efforts at Humber College and for the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering.

Daniella holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts from the University of Guelph-Humber in Media Studies and a Diploma in PR from Humber College. She’s a mom to two awesome kids and serves on several community volunteer committees.