Sprott School of Business honours three alumni for exceptional professional and community impact

Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business is proud to announce the recipients of the 2021 Sprott Alumni Awards. These awards honour the exceptional achievements of Sprott alumni for the impact they have made in their careers, professions and/or communities.

We proudly congratulate the recipients of this year’s Sprott Alumni Awards for their tremendous achievements.

• Early Achievement Award – Jessica-Ann Boiron (BIB/11)
  
• Good Business Award – Richard Tuck (BIB/01)
  
• Professional Excellence Award – Robert MacLellan (BCom/77)

2021 Sprott Alumni Award: Early Achievement

Jessica-Ann Boiron graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of International Business degree and the University Medal for achieving the highest standing in her program. She went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School and an MBA, also from York.

Jess started her career working as a corporate and energy lawyer at Borden Ladner Gervias LLP on Toronto’s Bay Street. Simultaneously, she co-founded Bliss Realty Inc. – a real estate investment firm. By her 30th birthday, Jess had executed over $50 million in real estate deals.

After noticing that they were often the only millennial women at real estate conferences, Jess joined forces with three other women to establish The Real Estate Empresses. The group works to empower young women to achieve financial independence through smart investments.

The Early Achievement Award is awarded to a graduate of either the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of International Business programs, who has received their degree within the last 10 years and has achieved significant career, professional and/or entrepreneurial accomplishments since graduation.

2021 Sprott Alumni Award: Good Business

A graduate of Carleton University’s Bachelor of International Business program, Richard Tuck is a Métis serial entrepreneur, social entrepreneur and scholar.

Over the last two decades, Richard has launched, or helped launch, more that 150 organizations, including environmental non-profits, small businesses and multi-million-dollar tech companies. For the past 10 years, Richard has focused his career on social finance, social entrepreneurship and innovation to create a positive impact in Canada and around the globe.

While he was CEO of Riipen, an innovative platform with a mission to eliminate graduate unemployment by connecting organizations and students with experiential opportunities, it was named Canada’s Top Social Enterprise in 2016 and one of Canada’s Top 15 Startups in 2017.

Presently, Richard is the CEO of Wakopa Financial Workers’ Co-operative, which supports atypical entrepreneurs (youth, Indigenous. LGBTQ2S+, social, etc.), startups and social enterprises that are innovating, organizing and creating systems change for a better world.

During his doctoral studies, Richard received the prestigious Vanier Scholarship for his work in the areas of business and sustainability, entrepreneurship, microfinance and clean technology. He has taught at academic institutions including the University of Victoria and Capilano University and, most recently, helped to develop the Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation programs at Red River College in Winnipeg.

Richard serves on the boards of organizations such as HSBC Social Innovation Academy, Social Entrepreneurship Enclave and Pride at Work Canada, among others.

The Good Business Award is awarded to a graduate from any of Sprott’s programs who has made a positive impact in local, regional or global communities through their professional, voluntary or philanthropic endeavours.

2021 Sprott Alumni Award: Professional Excellence

After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Carleton University in 1977, Rob obtained his designation as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and an MBA from Harvard University. Over the course of his career, he has served as vice president and director of McLeod Young Weir Limited, managing director of Lancaster Financial Holdings, and the executive vice president and chief investment officer of the TD Bank Financial Group. In 2008, Robert was named one of Canada’s most influential investment executives by Globe Investor.

Rob is the chair of Northleaf Capital Partners, a global investment firm with US$18 billion in private equity, credit, and infrastructure commitments under management. Rob is an independent director of investment firm T. Rowe Price and Magna International a global automotive parts company. Previous for-profit boards he has served on have included Silcorp Limited, Ace Aviation, Yellow Media Limited and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Rob has served on several not-for-profit boards including Right to Play, United Way Toronto and the Foundation Boards of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the National Arts Centre.

Rob and his wife, Margaret, are strong believers in the power of philanthropy and have contributed to several organizations and causes over the years, including Right to Play, United Way Toronto, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Royal Conservatory of Music and Carleton University.

In 2011, Rob and Margaret endowed a bursary for the Sprott School of Business that supports a student every year who demonstrates financial need.

The Professional Excellence Award is awarded to a graduate from any of Sprott’s programs who has demonstrated outstanding lifetime achievement within their career and community.