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Waterloo will honour distinguished alumni at Convocation this week
By Ryon Jones. The spring convocation ceremonies take place on Friday, June 18 and Saturday, June 19.
University of Waterloo’s alumni Calvin Choi (BA '01), who has distinguished himself in the international financial sector, and Chuck Magro (BAsc '93), a renowned business leader in Canada, will be the recipients of honorary doctorates at this spring’s convocation ceremonies.
Choi graduated from Waterloo in June 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honours, in chartered accountancy studies. He is currently a certified bank auditor and public accountant with nearly 20 years of experience in investment banking, international capital markets and professional auditing sectors.
He is the chairman of AMTD Group and the founder and chairman of AMTD Charity Foundation. Since October 2016, Choi has been a non-executive director of the Bank of Qingdao Co., Ltd.
Choi currently holds various other positions with a range of organizations, including vice-chairman of the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation, director of ASEAN Financial Innovation Network, founder and chairman of Greater Bay Young Entrepreneurs Association, founder and chairman of the Regional Banks+ Strategic Cooperation Alliance, honorary president of Hong Kong Army Cadets Association, vice-president of Hong Kong Federation of Professions and board director of OneChild Network & Support Inc. He also holds directorships in several privately-owned companies.
Choi also worked at UBS from October 2010 to January 2016, his last role there being managing director of the investment bank division. From January 2009 to October 2010, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers Hong Kong as director of the corporate finance division. From July 2005 to December 2008, Choi worked at Citigroup, where he progressed to the post of China chief specialist and the head of the China Strategic Alliance unit of Citi Corporate and Investment Bank. Prior to that, Choi worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers Hong Kong and Arthur Andersen & Co. (Hong Kong) from 2001 to 2005 becoming the senior manager.
In 2017, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He was also selected by the Institutional Investor magazine as one of the ‘‘2016 Fintech Finance 35’’ globally in 2016.
A Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on Choi at the Faculty of Mathematics’ virtual ceremony taking place on June 18, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Magro, who earned a chemical engineering degree in 1993, has gone on to make many contributions as a business leader, innovator and engineer tackling humanity's most pressing challenges. His degree has served as a springboard into the boardrooms of some of the world’s most successful organizations, while he has brought profound leadership and innovative technologies to some of the most valuable companies in Canada.
The most recent company to benefit from his expertise is Nutrien, the world’s largest provider of agricultural inputs and services and a Canadian champion in mining and agriculture, where he served as president and CEO. Grounded in the values of safety and integrity, Magro oversaw Nutrien’s success to the benefit of society through stable employment, sustainable agriculture and by bringing technological innovation to one of the world’s most important goals — growing food.
As a principled, transformational chief executive and champion for agriculture and mining, Magro steered Nutrien, formerly Agrium, onto a strategic course that will allow the Canadian-owned global company to take advantage of innovation, technology sustainability and inspired governance.
His ability to work to help solve the truly difficult problems facing humanity is a hallmark of Waterloo Engineering. As part of the Dean of Engineering’s Advisory Council, Magro has generously contributed his time, insight and skills to further advance the Faculty’s strategic goals.
Magro will receive the degree Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, at the Faculty of Engineering’s virtual ceremony taking place on June 19 commencing at 7:00 p.m.
Introducing WatSPEED
The University of Waterloo has announced the creation of a new academic support unit called WatSPEED that will develop non-credit courses targeted primarily at corporate, mid-career and executive learners.
"At Waterloo, ground-breaking research and entrepreneurship are part of our DNA. We are a University that celebrates innovation and novel ways of bringing ideas to markets," wrote James Rush, vice-president, academic & provost in a memo circulated this morning to employees. "Uniquely, we have always integrated learning and work to help drive that culture of leadership in innovation. With the launch of WatSPEED, we’re building on our heritage to transform lifelong learning and professional education to support the workforce of the future."
"With decades of experience educating the workforce of the future through the Centre for Extended Learning’s Professional Development division, we are positioned to provide professional development programming for those
in their mid-careers, for business leaders and for organizations. WatSPEED’s programming will focus on Waterloo’s core strengths to ensure we keep pace with where academia is headed."
"To help deliver this ambitious programming, and to continue building on our experience, we will merge the existing CEL Professional Development team with WatSPEED. Sanjeev Gill, associate vice-president, innovation will lead the new WatSPEED Academic Support Unit, and in this role will report directly to me," the provost writes.
"In support of the strategic plan, WatSPEED will provide lifelong learning that will enable and encourage our alumni and other professionals to reskill and reimagine their careers in a society that increasingly requires continuous learning. Embracing Waterloo's willingness to develop new approaches, WatSPEED will deliver non-credit professional education positioned at the intersection of business and technology, emphasizing the critical skills that are necessary for mid-career professionals and executives to remain relevant and thrive."
"WatSPEED will open new possibilities for faculties and faculty members to educate other professionals through strategic partnerships with industry. This work will also help fulfill the institution’s societal obligation to help Canada’s economic recovery and to support the sustainability of Canada’s workplaces. With WatSPEED, Waterloo will be at the forefront of a new approach to lifelong learning, helping the leaders of today and tomorrow navigate an ever-changing environment."
Awards recognize Waterloo's creativity
By Jude Doble, Office of Advancement
Several Waterloo projects, videos and events recently received national and international acclaim.Two associations, the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), provide annual awards to recognize top achievements in alumni affairs, public affairs, communications, recruitment, marketing, fundraising and other initiatives that support the advancement of post-secondary institutions.
Congratulations to the following for their CASE awards:
- Engineering Recruitment for winning GOLD in Special Events (online): Waterloo March Break Open House
- Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment for winning GOLD in Videos on a Shoestring (student recruitment): Waterloo by the Numbers
Congratulations to the following for their CCAE awards:
- School of Pharmacy for winning SILVER in Best Public Relations, Marketing or Communications Initiative: Pharmacy on the Front Lines
- Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment for winning SILVER in Best Use of Video (5-45 mins): Waterloo Campus Tour
- Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment/Arts Recruitment for winning BRONZE in Best Use of Video (under 5 mins): Arts First Program
Well done to our colleagues who help to showcase Waterloo’s creativity and strategy on national and international stages.
Indigenous Initiatives Office launches trivia contest
Learn more about the visual elements used for the National Indigenous History Month graphic.
The Indigenous Initiatives Office has launched a trivia challenge for National Indigenous History Month. Each Friday they will release a new trivia question and campus community members have until Monday night to provide their answer. Each correct answer is entered into a draw to win a unique prize pack.
Prize packs are different each week and are made up of books, art, jewelry, or other creations made by Indigenous artists.
See this past Friday’s question, and answer today for your chance to win.
Library service updates and other notable notes
With Ontario moving into step one of its re-opening plan, the Library is pleased to be able to re-open two of its onsite services, effective Monday June 14:
- Study carrels at the Davis Centre Library are available to be booked by appointment, Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Special Collections & Archives is open by appointment
Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion (HREI) is hosting alumnus Tracy Primeau, BA ‘98, in a discussion about Indigenous Business and Leadership this week. This discussion will cover topics such as common misconceptions, the seven grandfather teachings, Indigenous business and leadership opportunities, and why the time is now. The event takes place on Wednesday, June 16 at 2:00 pm. Register for the event today.