Tradex is dedicated to following best practices in corporate governance. We are governed by an 11-member Board of Directors – 10 of whom, including the Chair, serve in the spirit of volunteerism and are completely independent of management. These ten individuals are all current or retired senior public sector or quasi-public sector professionals. The Board meets at least seven times per year and the Directors also receive a separate extensive quarterly briefing package.
KARIN ZABEL
Director and Chair, Karin, has more than 30 years experience in the public and private sectors and has held executive leadership positions in the areas of financial management, strategic planning , enterprise risk management and Board governance. Karin holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has received the ICD.D certification. In addition to her role with Tradex, she has also served on the Board of WaterAid Canada, and Big Sisters of Ottawa.
CHRISTINE ALLISON
Director and Chair of the Audit Committee, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D, is a results-oriented individual with over 35 years of experience in a wide variety of senior financial management and leadership positions, principally in the financial services sector. Christine graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) and began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Having joined MD Financial Management Inc. in 1996 and now retired, Christine was formally the Chief Financial Officer, MD Financial Management Inc., as well as CEO of MD Life Insurance Company. Christine serves on several investment, governance, audit, and finance committees, as well as Board of Directors. Christine is married and has two grown children. In her spare time Christine is an avid, though not very talented, golfer. She also loves to bike and has become a You Tube workout video addict in our current COVID world.
BOB BALDWIN
Director, is an Ottawa-based pension consultant. He is a director of Addenda Capital and co-chairs the pension policy council of the CD Howe Institute. Past assignments include Director of the Social and Economic Policy Department at the Canadian Labour Congress, Director of PSP Investments and member and Chair of the Canada Pension Plan Advisory Board. He is a frequent author and speaker on pension issues. Bob has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from University of Western Ontario.
PHILLIP CHARKO
Director, has extensive experience in the fields of pensions, benefits, and compensation and played a significant role in the establishment of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board. Before retiring in December 2008, he was the Assistant Secretary, Pension & Benefits Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada. He has a postgraduate degree in Canadian Studies from Carleton University and a PhD in Political Studies from Queen’s University. He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and has received ICD.D certification.
MONIQUE COLLETTE
Director and Treasurer, retired from the Public Service of Canada after a career spanning 37 years. She has a vast experience in the fields of economic and social development and management. A translator by profession, she rose to the highest rank of the Public Service of Canada, that is that of Deputy Minister and her last postings were Senior Advisor to the Privy Council of Canada and President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Monique is the former Chair of the Public Service Pensions Advisory Committee, has ICD.D certification, holds 2 Honoris Causa degrees from U de M and UPEI and is an officer of the Ordre national du mérite de la France.
BLAKE JOHNSTON
Director, is President of Diligence Public Affairs Inc. and has over 25 years of experience in politics and public affairs. A former advisor to federal cabinet ministers in three portfolios, and now a public affairs advisor with a focus on regulatory policy and risk management communications, primarily for clients in the agri-food sector. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Canadian History from Acadia University and studied journalism prior to starting his career as a staffer on Parliament Hill.
TOM MACDONALD
Director , retired from Global Affairs Canada in 2016 after 41 years. His appointments included Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, (2012-2015), Canadian Consul General, Sydney, Australia (2007-2011), Director General, Central, Eastern & Southern Europe (2004-2007), Ambassador to Argentina & Paraguay (2001-2004), Minister (Commercial/Economic) at the Canadian High Commission in London & Canada’s Alternate Director at the European Bank for Economic Development (1996-2001) and Director General, Canada-US Trade & Economic Relations (1994-1996). Tom earned his MA in Latin American History from U of Calgary after obtaining his Hon. BA in History/Political Science from Queen’s University
DAVID PLUNKETT
Director, retired from the Public Service of Canada after a 34-year career. David joined the Foreign Affairs and International Trade as a Trade Policy Officer and went on multiple postings to Geneva, Washington, D.C., and London. In his last posting in Brussels, he served as Ambassador of Canada to the EU until his retirement in 2015. David has a Bachelor of Arts from University of British Columbia and Master of Arts from University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands.
HANNY TOXOPEUS
Vice-Chair & Director, retired in 2013 after serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX). For the previous 16 years of her public service career, she was responsible for major international governance projects which were designed to share Canadian public sector expertise. Hanny is a graduate of Carleton University and of the University of Toronto.
IRIT WEISER
Director and Corporate Secretary, is a retired Department of Justice lawyer who was Senior General Counsel and Head of Legal Services for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Other positions held by Irit include General Counsel and Director of the Human Rights Law Section. She also taught International Human Rights Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa. Irit is currently active on several boards of directors in addition to Tradex, including Royal College Canada International and Canvet. She is also a contributor and editor for the PKI Global Justice Journal at the Faculty of Law, Queen’s University. In addition, Irit is active with the Refugee Sponsorship Support Program, providing pro bono legal services to persons seeking to privately sponsor refugees.
BLAIR COOPER
President and CEO, Blair was appointed President and CEO on January 1, 2010. He joined Tradex as a Vice-President in August 2000, following years of increasing responsibilities with the Bank of Montreal. At the time of leaving the bank, he was Community (Group) Manager in the North Bay area. Blair is a CFA Charterholder. He is an MBA graduate from Queen’s University (1987) and holds a B.Sc. degree from the University of Western Ontario.
