Cuso International welcomes three new members to Board of Directors

Ottawa, Ontario—Cuso International is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors.

Rob Turpin, Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams, and Germaine Dechant were elected to the Board at its September 24th Annual General Meeting.

“We are delighted to welcome Rob, Sharon, and Germaine to the Board of Directors,” says Patricia Perez-Coutts, Chair of the Board. “Together they bring a wealth of experience in a variety of national and international sectors, and I am certain their expertise will enrich all of our discussions and decision-making processes at Cuso International.”

The full Board of Directors includes Lynn Graham (vice chair), Justin Winchiu (treasurer), Jeff Cates, Wayne Robertson, Lucie Edwards, Lori Spadorcia, Rosemary McCarney, Grant Curtis, and Darrell Gregersen.

“I join Patricia in welcoming our new members and look forward to working with them. I also wish to thank our outgoing members, Nora Murdock and Bruce McKean, for their dedicated years of service,” says Nicolas Moyer, Chief Executive Officer.

Newly elected Board members include:

Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams

A distinguished lawyer from Jamaica, Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams currently teaches law at the University of the West Indies. Sharon completed her first law degree in Jamaica and later moved to Canada, called to the Ontario Bar in 1985. She has served as legal counsel for numerous organizations and received a master’s degree in Administrative Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. Specializing in human rights law, Sharon was legal counsel for the Ontario Human Rights Commission for 18 years. From 2012-2016, Sharon served as a member of parliament and Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce in Jamaica.

Germaine Dechant

Germaine Dechant’s career in health care has spanned five decades, with accomplishments in bedside nursing, teaching, research, consulting, management, administration, coaching, and governance. She served as chief executive officer of Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health in Edmonton, Alberta, from 1996 to 2013 and taught in the Health Care Management Program at Grant MacEwan University from 1994 to 2000. Certified with the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors, Germaine has significant governance experience directly as a board member at several organizations and through over 25 years in executive positions. She supports many professionals through executive coaching and is a published author. Germaine served on the Cuso Board of Directors for a seven-year term ending in 2017.

Rob Turpin

Rob Turpin is a senior business leader with extensive executive and financial management experience in a wide range of fields, including technology, hospitality, airport management, and international development. Currently Vice-President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer with the Ottawa International Airport Authority, Rob is a skilled executive with substantial background in mergers and acquisitions, financing, transformation leadership, strategy, growth initiatives, legal and risk management, and human resources. Rob spent several years at Plan International Canada Inc. as executive vice-president, finance and operations, as well as more than a decade at IBM in various senior leadership roles.

For a complete list of members of Cuso’s Board of Directors, please visit cusointernational.org

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About Cuso International

Cuso International is a Canadian charity committed to ending poverty and inequality. Cuso works with local partners around the world to improve economic opportunities for all, enhance women’s and girls’ empowerment, and advance gender equality. Through skills sharing, we are building sustainable futures. Each year, we amplify our impact by mobilizing hundreds of professionals who volunteer their time and provide their knowledge. Learn more at: cusointernational.org.