CANADA 2020 BIOs

Announcing Canada 2020′s new Advisory Board

February 21, 2014

February 20th 2014 (Ottawa) – Canada 2020 is pleased to announce its brand new Advisory Board.

Chaired by Don Newman, the new group will assist Canada 2020 in its pursuit of opening dialogue on strategic, progressive federal policy in Canada.

The new Canada 2020 Advisory Board is:

• Don Newman, Chairman
• Robert Asselin, University of Ottawa
• John Brodhead, Evergreen Cityworks
• Matt Browne, Center for American Progress
• Mark Cameron, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
• Ailish Campbell, Canadian Council of Chief Executives
• Diana Carney, London
• Kenneth Courtis, Themes Investment Management
• Kim Furlong, Amgen Canada
• Ian Mallory, Pickworth Investments
• David McLaughlin, University Waterloo
• Anne McLellan, Bennett Jones LLP
• Howie Millard, TD Bank Financial Group
• Peter Nicholson, Canadian Council of the Academies
• Emilie Potvin, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Michael Sangster, TELUS
• Mark Stabile, University of Toronto

About Canada 2020:

Canada 2020 is a leading, independent, progressive think-tank.
Canada 2020′s objective is to inform and influence debate, to identify progressive policy solutions and to help redefine federal government for a modern Canada.

We do this by convening leading authorities from Canada and abroad, generating original policy thinking, and prioritizing effective communication.
Our orientation is:

• Progressive and non-partisan.
• Long-term, with an emphasis on key structural issues facing Canada.
• Collaborative and outward focused.
• Activist: we aim to influence the policy agenda.

Founders & Staff

Tim BarberCo-Founder, Ottawa

Susan SmithCo-Founder, Ottawa

Thomas PitfieldCo-Founder, Montreal

Alex PatersonCommunications & Program Coordinator

Andrew BalfourDirector, Public Affairs

Laura YoungEvent Coordinator

 

Advisory Board Members

Don NewmanChairman

Robert AsselinUniversity of Ottawa

John BrodheadEvergreen Cityworks

Matt BrowneCenter for American Progress

Mark CameronHill+Knowlton Strategies

Ailish CampbellCanadian Council of Chief Executives

Diana CarneyLondon

Kenneth CourtisThemes Investment Management

Kim FurlongAmgen Canada

Ian MallorySea NG Corporation, São Paulo / Calgary

David McLaughlinUniversity of Waterloo

The Hon. Anne McLellanBennett Jones LLP

Howie MillardTD Bank Group

Peter NicholsonCouncil of Canadian Academies

Emilie PotvinCanadian Chamber of Commerce

Michael SangsterTELUS

Today Thomas d’Aquino

Thomas d’Aquino

 is an entrepreneur, lawyer, corporate director, author and educator. He is Chairman and Chief Executive of Intercounsel Ltd, a private company that provides advice to chief executives and entrepreneurs in Canada and internationally on business strategy and public policy.

He is also Senior Counsel at Gowlings, one of Canada’s largest law firms, chairs the firm’s Business Strategy and Public Policy Group, and is a member of the Gowlings International Strategic Advisory Group. His principal areas of practice are finance, international trade, energy and the environment.

Mr. d’Aquino serves on the Board of Directors of Manulife Financial Corporation, CGI Group Inc., and Coril Holdings Ltd. and is Chairman of the National Gallery of Canada Foundation.

He is associated with two of Canada’s leading academic institutions: as Distinguished Visiting Professor,Global Business and Public Policy Strategies at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs; and as Honorary Professor at The University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business.

Earlier in his career, he served as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada and as Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa lecturing on the law of international trade and global business transactions.


From 1981 to 2009, Mr. d’Aquino was Chief Executive and President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), an organization composed of the chief executives of 150 of the country’s leading enterprises and pre-​eminent entrepreneurs. Mr. d’Aquino assumed leadership of the Council in its formative stages.

Upon his retirement from the CCCE as of December 31, 2009, member companies accounted for $850 billion in annual revenues and $4.5 trillion in assets. With a combined Canadian stock market value of $675 billion, the companies are responsible for the majority of Canada’s private sector exports, investment and training. In recognition of his exemplary leadership, he was named by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives Board of Directors, a Distinguished Life Time Member.


Mr. d’Aquino’s has played an influential role in shaping the direction of fiscal, taxation, trade, energy, environmental, competitiveness and corporate governance policies in Canada. In the international arena, he has been a leading thinker and activist on a wide range of North American and global issues embracing international finance, competitiveness, trade, energy and the environment.

One of the private sector architects of the Canada-​United States free trade initiative and of the North American Free Trade Agreement, he currently is helping to spearhead private sector initiatives aimed at defining a new era in Canada-​United States relations and is active in negotiations aimed at deepening Canadian relations with China, India, Japan and the European Union. His work includes G20 related issues.


A native of Nelson, British Columbia, Mr. d’Aquino was educated at the Universities of British Columbia, Queen’s and London (University College and the London School of Economics). He holds B.A., LL.B., and LL.M. degrees, and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from Queen’s University and from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Mr. d’Aquino has been referred to as Canada’s most influential policy strategist and the country’s leading global business ambassador. He is the author of numerous publications including the influential book Northern Edge:

How Canadian Can Triumph in the Global Economy. He is a regular commentator on radio and television, and a frequent speaker on platforms in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Mr. d’Aquino has addressed audiences in forty countries and in over one hundred cities worldwide.