Franca Gucciardi Wins 2015 Gil Bennett Gold Standard Governance Award

TORONTO, March 27, 2015 /CNW/ - The Directors College last night awarded the 2015 Gil Bennett Gold Standard Governance Award to Franca Gucciardi for her superior achievements as one of the College's latest Chartered Director graduates. Ms. Gucciardi is the CEO of the Loran Scholars Foundation, an organization that recognizes and supports exceptional young Canadians for their character, service and leadership.

Ms. Gucciardi is also a trustee of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada and vice-chair of the College Montrose Children's Place. She has previously served as vice-chair of Volunteer Canada and chair of its public policy committee. In 2013, she was one of 33 women named a Fellow of the International Women's Forum. Previously she designed and implemented Canada's Millennium Excellent Award program, and has worked for the Ontario Legislative Assembly, Brampton Caledon Community Living, and TV Ontario.

"The strength of the College's Chartered Director Program lies in its ability to arm graduates with the expertise and proficiency to exercise informed judgment and to ask the difficult questions required to create real value for their organizations and their stakeholders," said Dr. Michael Hartmann, Principal of the Directors College. "Franca's professional acumen, innovative thinking and core instincts exemplify the qualities and aptitudes organizations are searching for to steward their boards."

The Gil Bennett Gold Standard Governance Award, named after the former chairman of Canadian Tire, is presented to the graduate who has received a top grade on the Chartered Director exam designed to test technical governance knowledge and has also demonstrated over the course of the Program's 5-modules, the technical and personal characteristics needed to be an effective board director. 

In accepting this award at The Directors College 11^th graduation ceremony, Ms. Gucciardi applauded the Chartered Director Program. "Organizations are currently facing many challenges where strategy, vision and leadership are vital to success and prosperity. The Directors College's program has enabled me to further recognize the importance of corporate governance through a new lens and provided me with new tools to be a better director," said Ms. Gucciardi. "I believe good governance makes good communities and that boards have a huge role to play in building a just and fair society."

Founded in 2003, The Directors College launched Canada's first university accredited corporate director development program now offered across the country and in both official languages. The College is a joint initiative of McMaster University and The Conference Board of Canada.  For more information visit, http://thedirectorscollege.com. 

Past Award Recipients
Brian Friedrich: Principal, friedrich & friedrich corporation, Winner 2014
Dr. Richard Florizone: President, Dalhousie University, Winner 2013
Reena Sagoo: Chief Financial Officer, Borealis Infrastructure, Winner 2012
Jim Adamson: Director, Com Dev International, Winner 2011

SOURCE Conference Board of Canada

For further information: Sara-Lynne Levine, Media Relations Specialist, Tel: [phone] x294, E-mail: [email protected]