New members join OCAD University’s Board of Governors

 

Friday, April 22, 2016 - 4:00am

OCAD University welcomes Dr. Myrna Francis and Daniel Sawaya as external members of its Board of Governors. Francis and Sawaya were appointed by the Government of Ontario, each for a three-year term effective April 6, 2016.

“These new members of our board bring with them extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, as well as expertise in business incubation in health and technology,” said Dr. Sara Diamond, President and Vice-Chancellor of OCAD University. “We are fortunate to have them join us at a time when the university is experiencing tremendous growth and expansion through the Ignite Imagination campaign.”

Background

Daniel Sawaya: Founder & CEO, AyaWas Investment Group

Daniel Sawaya’s career spans more than 25 years with general management and functional hands-on experience across several industries. Today, he is founder and CEO of the AyaWas Investment Group, a private investment firm focused on providing advisory and financing services to early-stage and mid-size companies in information and communications technology, financial services, consumer products and retail. Sawaya is also an active advisor at MaRS Discovery District and is involved in a series of technology incubators across North America.

Sawaya has served on boards of directors in both the private and public sector, was chair of the Canada Post United Way Foundation and volunteered as a mentor at the University of Ottawa.

Dr. Myrna Francis: President, Mfran Enterprises Inc.
Dr. Myrna Francis’s career spans more than 25 years of experience in the health-care and technology industries. She provides strategic advice to both public-sector and multi-national private-sector companies focused on health information technology (IT), commercialization of Internet 2.0/digital innovation, and health IT business and product-growth strategies.

Francis has been a board director for a broad spectrum of organizations in the private and public sectors, and is an advisor to health IT and medical device incubators, such as those housed in the MaRS Discovery District and the Biomedical Zone. With her diverse, international experience in the public and private sectors, Francis brings a unique and comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing growing companies.

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Friday, April 22, 2016 - 4:00am

OCAD University welcomes Dr. Myrna Francis and Daniel Sawaya as external members of its Board of Governors. Francis and Sawaya were appointed by the Government of Ontario, each for a three-year term effective April 6, 2016.

“These new members of our board bring with them extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, as well as expertise in business incubation in health and technology,” said Dr. Sara Diamond, President and Vice-Chancellor of OCAD University. “We are fortunate to have them join us at a time when the university is experiencing tremendous growth and expansion through the Ignite Imagination campaign.”

Background

Daniel Sawaya: Founder & CEO, AyaWas Investment Group

Daniel Sawaya’s career spans more than 25 years with general management and functional hands-on experience across several industries. Today, he is founder and CEO of the AyaWas Investment Group, a private investment firm focused on providing advisory and financing services to early-stage and mid-size companies in information and communications technology, financial services, consumer products and retail. Sawaya is also an active advisor at MaRS Discovery District and is involved in a series of technology incubators across North America.

Sawaya has served on boards of directors in both the private and public sector, was chair of the Canada Post United Way Foundation and volunteered as a mentor at the University of Ottawa.

Dr. Myrna Francis: President, Mfran Enterprises Inc.
Dr. Myrna Francis’s career spans more than 25 years of experience in the health-care and technology industries. She provides strategic advice to both public-sector and multi-national private-sector companies focused on health information technology (IT), commercialization of Internet 2.0/digital innovation, and health IT business and product-growth strategies.

Francis has been a board director for a broad spectrum of organizations in the private and public sectors, and is an advisor to health IT and medical device incubators, such as those housed in the MaRS Discovery District and the Biomedical Zone. With her diverse, international experience in the public and private sectors, Francis brings a unique and comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing growing companies.