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Membership of the Board of Governors

2024-2025 (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025)

Chair, Vice-Chair & Secretary of the Board of Governors
NamePosition
Jane AllenChair of the Board
Stephen ElopVice-Chair of the Board
Andrea Thyret-KiddSecretary of the Board
Ex Officio Membership of the Board of Governors
NamePosition
Santee SmithChancellor (Ex Officio)
David FarrarPresident & Vice-Chancellor (Ex Officio)
Susan TigheProvost and Vice President, Academic & Chair of the University Planning Committee (Ex Officio)
Membership of the Board of Governors
NamePosition
Jane AllenElected by the Board of Governors
Sandra CruickshanksElected by the Board of Governors
Stephen ElopElected by the Board of Governors
Robert WalkerElected by the Board of Governors
Barry HillElected by the Board of Governors
VACANTElected by the Board of Governors
Kevin NyeElected by the Board of Governors
Fareen SamjiElected by the Board of Governors
Mamdouh ShoukriElected by the Board of Governors
Wayne PurbooElected by the Board of Governors
Michael FerencichElected by the Board of Governors
David HuctwithAppointed by the Board of Trustees of McMaster Divinity College
Lisa BrownAppointed by the Alumni Association
Lance TrumbleAppointed by the Alumni Association
Justin BoyeAppointed by the Alumni Association
Bradley MerkelAppointed by the Alumni Association
Jennifer RoweAppointed by the Alumni Association
Dina BrooksAppointed by the Senate
Saara GreeneAppointed by the Senate
Sue McCrackenAppointed by the Senate
Catherine AndersonElected by the Teaching Staff
Megumi HaradaElected by the Teaching Staff
Mayu NishimuraElected by the Teaching Staff
Brenda VrkljanElected by the Teaching Staff
Arlene DosenElected by the Non-Teaching Staff
Nicole Agyei-OdameElected by the Non-Teaching Staff
Rishav JaiswalElected by the Graduate Students
VACANTElected by the Undergraduate Students
Ryan ClarkeAppointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
Ben MenkaAppointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
Michael RamsayAppointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
Natalia LishchynaAppointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
VACANTAppointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
Silvia StankovicAppointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
H Douglas BarberHonorary Governor
Colum P. BastableHonorary Governor
Quentin BroadHonorary Governor
Richard BuckinghamHonorary Governor
David A LazzaratoHonorary Governor
Edward A MinichHonorary Governor
Barry D. NicolHonorary Governor
Emechete OnuohaHonorary Governor
Donald A. PetherHonorary Governor
Jagoda PikeHonorary Governor
Edwin A. TaylorHonorary Governor
Thomas WeiszHonorary Governor
Paul DouglasHonorary Governor
Michelle ZhengAssociate Secretary of the Board of Governors (non-voting)
Kelly SnowAssistant Secretary of the Board of Governors (non-voting)
Observers of the Board of Governors
Observer NamePosition
Andy Knights Vice-President (Research), Acting
Saher FazilatVice-President (Operations & Finance)
Lili Litwin Vice-President (University Advancement)
Paul O’ByrneDean and Vice-President (Health Sciences)
Rob WaltersChief of Staff & Senior Advisor to the President
Andrea Farquhar Chief Executive, Internal & External Engagement
Omer Ahmed Associate Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer
Ehab Kamarah Associate Vice-President & Chief Facilities Officer
Wanda McKennaAssociate Vice-President & Chief Human Resources Officer
Debbie MartinAssociate Vice-President, Real Estate, Partnerships & Ancillary Operations
Richard StubbsAppointee, McMaster University Retirees Association
Paul Andrews President, McMaster University Faculty Association
Anna Purina Chief Internal Auditor
Jovan PopovicPresident, McMaster Students Union (MSU)
Kusum BhattaPresident, Graduate Students Association (GSA)
Emily Heikoop President, UNIFOR Local 5555

Terms of Reference

The legal responsibilities of the Board of Governors are set out in Section 9 of The McMaster University Act, 1976.  While the President and senior administrative officers exert the central influence in policy as well as providing the dominant force in management under the authority of the Board, Board members play an important role in the governance of the University, since the Board is the legal owner and the final authority for the institution whose assets and operations the Board holds in trust.  Except for such matters as are assigned by the 1976 Act to the Senate, the government, conduct, management and control of the University and of its property, revenues, business and affairs are vested in the Board. In carrying out its financial responsibilities, the Board must accept full accountability for the finances of the University, including monitoring and authorizing the annual operating budget, prudent investments, and comprehensive fund-raising activities, as well as the obligation to ensure that financial assets are appropriately managed.  The Board receives nominations from the Senate with respect to the hiring, promoting and suspending of senior administrative and teaching personnel, and delegates the appointment, promotion, suspension or removal of all other officers, agents and employees of the University to officers of the University. The Board conducts its affairs by making by-laws, resolutions and regulations to supplement the Act. The composition of the Board of Governors is described in Section 8 of the University Act.