Celebrating a Chancellor's Legacy
By Carrie Gabla, Office of Advancement
Dominic Barton, global business leader, strategic advisor, author and former diplomat, honoured as outgoing two-term chancellor of the University of Waterloo.
Against the elegant backdrop of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto, leaders from across the global business and education community gathered on April 25, 2024, to celebrate and reflect on Dominic Barton’s legacy as the University of Waterloo’s eleventh chancellor from 2018 to 2024.
The event was a fundraiser for Indigenous Initiatives at UWaterloo, a cause Dominic has supported as part of his $1 million gift to the university. The Chancellor’s Celebration would not have been possible without the commitment of our generous sponsors, including Altas, CIBC, Rio TintoSun Life (silver level).
More than 250 guests, including prominent figures from industry, business, government and academia, mingled with UWaterloo faculty, students and alumni. Their presence underscored the impact Dominic has made within the university community and worldwide.
Piya Chattopadhyay, host of CBC's Sunday Magazine and Master of Ceremonies for the evening, expertly guided the festivities. Speakers, including the Right Honorable David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada and UWaterloo’s fifth president, applauded Dominic's visionary leadership and ability to bring people together.
They also highlighted his instrumental role in fostering collaboration between academia and industry, driving forward-thinking initiatives, and championing diversity and inclusion.
Vivek Goel, UWaterloo’s president and vice-chancellor, said, “Dominic has an uncanny ability to bring people together to uncover solutions to difficult problems. Whether in industry or as a diplomat, his skill at opening doors and forging collaborations is unparalleled. For the past six years, Dominic has been a champion for what we do and who we are at the University of Waterloo. He has inspired and supported our students and our institution in immeasurable ways. I am grateful for his leadership, collaboration and friendship.”
During convocation ceremonies this June, as thousands of new UWaterloo graduates cross the stage, Dominic will confer his last degree before he passes the torch to Dr. Jagdeep Singh Bachher (BASc ‘93, MASc ‘94, PhD ‘00). Dominic expressed his gratitude for the privilege of serving as chancellor. “I have loved every minute of it. The faculty, the ideas, the independence, the students, the innovation and the leadership with Feridun and Vivek — to this day I remain humbled by the opportunity this role has allowed me to play in such an exciting organization.”
In addition to his role as UWaterloo chancellor, Dominic is Chair of Rio Tinto, Chair of LeapFrog Investments and a senior advisor and partner at Radical Ventures. He was formerly the Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China, and a senior partner at McKinsey & Company.
Tune in to Global Futures in Focus, a newly released podcast hosted by Dominic Barton.