Sask. four among Canada’s top female leaders
Four women from Saskatchewan, including the dean at the Edwards school of business, have been named Canada’s Most Powerful Women for 2012 by the Women’s Executive Network.
They are Daphne Taras of the Edwards school of business at the University of Saskatchewan, McDougall Gauley LLP partner Susan Barber and SaskCentral CFO Sheri Lucas, both of Regina, and Terri Harris, chief of operations, premier’s office, executive council with the government of Saskatchewan.
Taras earned a spot in the public sector leaders category.
“To be discovered and recognized by the Women’s Executive Network is an incredible honour,” Taras said in a news release. “To be in the company of so many influential female leaders is a special experience.”
Taras joins a community of 653 women who have received the Top 100 Award over the last decade, recognizing the highest achieving female leaders in the private, public and non-profit sectors in Canada. Winners are selected based on their strategic vision and leadership, their organization’s financial performance and their commitment to their communities.
“On behalf of the WXN community of 18,000 women, we congratulate each of this year’s winners who we honour as part of the 10th year of the Top 100 Awards,” Women’s Executive Network founder Pamela Jeffery said. “This is an extraordinary group of female leaders who join our community and they truly embody the qualities WXN strives to recognize — they are dynamic, inspiring and engaging leaders blazing new trails for the next generation.”
Taras, who began her fiveyear term as dean of the Edwards school in 2010, obtained a bachelor’s degree from York University and a master’s from Duke University, both in political science. She received her MBA and PhD from the University of Calgary and holds an LLM in labour and employment law from Osgoode Hall.
Prior to joining the U of S, Taras was the associate dean of research and director of the PhD and MBA thesis programs at the Haskayne school of business at the University of Calgary.
“For many years, I didn’t adequately appreciate how much mentorship and support I had received throughout my career. Academics tend to be very internally fuelled. But I’m seeing quite clearly that it takes a community to create a woman of influence. I hope I can provide the same support to the next generation of leaders,” Taras said.
Harris also made the list in the public sector leaders category. Harris, a former broadcaster, graduated from the University of Saskatchewan and Western Academy of Broadcasting College. Prior to her present post, she was deputy chief of staff to the premier from 2007 to 2011.
Barber was named in the professionals award category. A partner at McDougall Gauley since 1994, Barber was admitted to the Saskatchewan bar in 1988 after obtaining her bachelor’s from the University of Regina and her bachelor of laws from the U of S.
Lucas was named in the Scotiabank Corporate Executives Award category.
Originally from Simpson, Lucas pursued a bachelor of commerce degree in accounting at the U of S. Following graduation she obtained her chartered accountant designation through articling with the provincial auditor of Saskatchewan.
In 2007, Lucas was recruited by SaskCentral. After three years, she was appointed to her current position as CFO and executive vice-president of finance.