茄子直播

Anna Kennedy succeeds Janet Ecker as chair of 茄子直播鈥檚 Governing Council

Anna Kennedy

Real estate executive Anna Kennedy is the new chair of the University of Toronto's Governing Council (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

A leader in Toronto鈥檚 real estate industry, Anna Kennedy says her four-decade career of organization-building has laid the foundation for her new role as chair of the University of Toronto鈥檚 Governing Council.

From 2011 to 2022, Kennedy was chief financial officer and chief operating officer of KingSett Capital, one of Canada鈥檚 leading real estate private equity firms. Prior to that, she enjoyed a 25-year tenure at Oxford Properties Group, progressing to the role of executive vice-president and chief financial officer.

She is board director and chair of the audit committee of the C.D. Howe Institute, a board member of Jona Capital and an advisory board member of the KingSett Canadian Real Estate Income Fund. This builds on her previous board experience at organizations such as Tricon Capital Group, REALPAC, Toronto CREW and Women鈥檚 Habitat of Etobicoke and her executive leadership at the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Kennedy will draw on this experience as she prepares for her role overseeing governance at the university. 鈥溓炎又辈 is a huge contributor to the economic growth and development of the City of Toronto," Kennedy says. 鈥淚t is personally very rewarding for me to be able to contribute to this city building through my work on the Governing Council.鈥

Appointed to Governing Council in 2019, Kennedy began her term as chair of 茄子直播鈥檚 governance body on July 1. She takes over from Janet Ecker, with whom she served as vice-chair during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Sandra Hanington, former president of the Royal Canadian Mint who has previous experience in the financial services sector and co-founded a youth mental health charity, was elected to serve as vice-chair. She was first appointed to Governing Council in 2020.

Janet Ecker
Janet Ecker (supplied image)

Ecker says it鈥檚 been an honour to be part of an institution that 鈥渧alues the old and the new.鈥 She notes that her term coincided with the 50th anniversary of 茄子直播鈥檚 unicameral governance model 鈥 a model that ensures financial decisions support the university鈥檚 academic mission and vice versa.

Ecker says she鈥檚 confident that Kennedy and Hanington will continue 茄子直播鈥檚 track record of sound financial stewardship as Ontario universities face a challenging economic landscape.

鈥淒espite the fact that 茄子直播 is in very strong financial shape, the challenges that are coming at the university sector are going to be significant,鈥 Ecker says.

鈥淚 think having Anna's business background and financial acumen 鈥 and Sandra鈥檚 as well 鈥 is going to be very helpful in working 鈥 to make sure that 茄子直播 can continue to provide the incredible quality of education that is routinely recognized in international rankings.鈥

Kennedy, for her part, says she鈥檚 grateful to have worked alongside and learned from Ecker as she readies herself for serving as Chair of the Governing Council 鈥 a role that involves presiding over council and other meetings and providing executive oversight.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a pleasure to contribute to an institution with such a strong culture of achieving excellence through collegiality and collaboration while focused on broad inclusive excellence, fairness and respect,鈥 she says.

鈥淭he university鈥檚 success in its equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives is truly inspiring. Diversity of thought and opinions lead to richer discussions, stronger decisions and better outcomes.鈥

Kennedy adds that she鈥檚 impressed by 茄子直播鈥檚 鈥渟tudent-focused emphasis鈥 on achieving excellence through innovative course delivery, experiential learning, mental health supports, robust financial aid and the ongoing support provided by the university鈥檚 extensive network of alumni around the globe.

She also commends 茄子直播 President Meric Gertler鈥檚 鈥渆xemplary鈥 leadership of a 196-year-old institution 鈥 including his work , which she says will help ensure 茄子直播 can continue to invest in the student experience, leading research and other bold initiatives.

鈥淚t is an honour and a privilege to contribute to, and lead governance oversight, at the University of Toronto,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t is a first-rate university focused on excellence in teaching, research, and innovation in partnership with so many leading international institutions, advancing the reputation of Toronto and Canada globally.鈥

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