2013-2014

News Release

REF NO.: 142

SUBJECT: Alumni representatives elected to Memorial's Board of Regents

DATE: June 27, 2014

Two incumbents and four new alumni representatives have been elected to Memorial University’s Board of Regents. Following tabulation of voting results, the top six candidates were notified and the positions accepted.
Kimberly Keating and George Tucker return for another term with the board, while the four new representatives are Colleen Galgay-Johnston, Katharine Hickey, John Hogan and Denis Mahoney. In the 2014 election, 40 eligible candidates put their names forward for nomination and Memorial alumni cast a total of 9,853 votes. Both the number of nominees and voting returns were the highest to date for a Board of Regents election.
“These two indicators demonstrate a strong level of interest and commitment to our university,” said Dr. Gary Kachanoski, president and vice-chancellor. “A willingness to volunteer at this level is extremely significant and it shows that our alumni are deeply invested in Memorial’s success. I thank all those who put their names forward and extend congratulations to both our new and returning board members.”
The Board of Regents is responsible for the management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of Memorial University. The entire board is comprised of 30 members, with six of those positions soon to be occupied by the newly elected alumni representatives.
“The board will benefit from such a qualified and diverse group,” said Iris Petten, chair of the board.. “I know they will each bring a high level of expertise and a fresh perspective to the business that we do. New board members see how they can contribute to Memorial’s prosperity in a very tangible way – so it’s an exciting opportunity for both our new and current members.”
Ms. Petten also expressed her appreciation for the work of the outgoing board members.
“We are extremely grateful to Pegi Earle, Dr. Rex Gibbons, Dr. James Hickey, Susan Murray and Dr. Luke Pike. They have made a difference at Memorial and I want to thank them for their dedicated service to the board and our university.”
Alumni representatives on Memorial’s Board of Regents serve for a three-year term. The new term begins Sept. 1, 2014. For a detailed breakdown of votes received for all candidates in the 2014 election, please visit www.munalum.ca/Board-of-Regents.            

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For more information, contact David Penney, communications co-ordinator, Office of Alumni Affairs and Development, Memorial University, at dcpenney@mun.ca or (709) 864-3447.
 
 
Backgrounder:
 
Colleen Galgay-Johnston, B.Ed.(Primary)'94
 
Ms. Galgay-Johnston holds a bachelor of education from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a master of education from Mount Saint Vincent University. She spent two years in Osaka, Japan, as an English as a second language instructor. Upon returning to Newfoundland and Labrador, she became an instructor with the Association of New Canadians in St. John's.
 
Ms. Galgay-Johnston has been an educator for 15 years with the English School District. She has been an active member of the community and has served on the Royal St. John's Regatta Committee. She currently resides in St. John's with her husband Robert and two children, Erin and Megan. 
 
Katharine Hickey, B.Comm.(Co-op.)'87
 
Ms. Hickey has spent the last 27 years working in the marketing and communications field in St. John’s and Toronto. Working with various advertising agencies, telecommunications and packaged goods companies, she has helped create many success stories and formed co-operative working relationships. She founded planK Marketing in 2005.
 
Over the years, she has been an active board member of various national and local boards, including the St. John’s International Airport Authority (governance committee, development committee), Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Opera on the Avalon, and Conservation Corps N.L.
 
 
John Hogan, B.Sc.'00
 
Mr. Hogan was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, but grew up in St. John's. He attended Memorial University and graduated in 2000 with a bachelor of science, majoring in biochemistry. After graduating from Memorial, he was accepted to Dalhousie University Law School, graduating in 2003.
 
After being called to the bar in Ontario and working on Bay Street in Toronto, Mr. Hogan returned to St. John's and was called to the bar in Newfoundland and Labrador. He became an experienced litigator and joined the partnership of one of Atlantic Canada's biggest law firms. Recently, he jointly opened the province’s newest law firm, Wadden Peddigrew Hogan.
 
 
Kimberly Keating, B.Eng.'98
 
Ms. Keating P.Eng., MBA, CRSP, is the director of projects with GJ Cahill Ltd. Prior to joining the Cahill Group, she held a variety of positions with Petro-Canada (now Suncor Energy) in the areas of oil and gas field development and production operations. Her experience includes Hibernia, Terra Nova, White Rose and Hebron, as well as Beta Brent in Norway and Buzzard and Golden Eagle in the United Kingdom.
 
Ms. Keating holds a bachelor of engineering from Memorial University and an MBA from Athabasca University. She is senior vice-chair with the St. John’s Board of Trade, chair of the Rhodes Scholarship Canada regional selection committee, past president of WISE N.L. and a founding member of the International Women’s Forum (N.L. chapter). She also participates on several advisory committees with the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial University and the Marine Institute.                                                                                            
 
Denis Mahoney, B.Comm.(Hons.)(Co-op.)'87
 
Mr. Mahoney is a partner with Atlantic Canada law firm McInnes Cooper, serving as regional lead partner on the firm’s management team. In his law practice, he works closely with leading employers on labour and employment matters, primarily in mining, oil and gas, construction and transportation sectors. He received his Bachelor of laws degree from Queen’s University in 1993 and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for his practice in labour and employment law since 2006. He was also noted as a leading practitioner in the Canadian Legal Expert Directory of 2013.
 
Mr. Mahoney is the immediate past chair with the St. John’s Board of Trade, advisory committee member of the Queen’s University’s Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace, employer representative on the province’s Labour Management Arbitration Committee and a Public Service Awards of Excellence Selection Committee member. He lives in St. John’s with his wife Jacqueline. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.
 
 
George Tucker, BA'78, B.Ed.'78, M.Ed.'80
 
Mr. Tucker has been an educator in Newfoundland and Labrador for 34 years, working in a variety of roles. He is a past president of the Canadian Association of Principals. Currently he is an administrative officer with the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association.
 
Since August 2011 he has been an elected member of the Board of Regents. During his tenure he has chaired the Memorial Pensions Committee. He has served as vice-chair of the Human Relations Committee and he has been a member of the Tribute Awards Committee. He has also had the experience of sitting on a disciplinary appeals committee as well as attending numerous convocations and university functions.