Carleton University is holding its annual Fall Convocation on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 where honorary degrees will also be conferred upon Carleton alumna and philanthropist Zita Cobb and NRStor CEO Annette Verschuren.
There are two ceremonies. The morning ceremony will honour Verschuren with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa in recognition of her outstanding contributions to entrepreneurship and sustainability in Canada and globally. The afternoon ceremony will award Cobb with the Doctor of Laws honoris causa in recognition of her exceptional career as an entrepreneur and for her outstanding commitment to philanthropy.
“Our two honorary degree recipients are exceptionally dedicated to improving their communities,” said Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. “These women are a testament to the power of innovation to motivate positive change. We are very proud to honor them at this convocation ceremony.”
Media are welcome to attend.
When: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013. The morning ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. and the afternoon ceremony begins at 2 p.m.
Where: Fieldhouse, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa
Parking: Parking is available in P5 and media are asked to leave their credentials on their dashboards.
Carleton will be live-streaming both ceremonies from the university’s convocation website. Click here to view the stream.
About Annette Verschuren:
Annette Verschuren is chair and CEO of NRStor Inc. a new venture accelerating the commercialization of energy storage technologies. Verschuren has taken her wealth of experience unique and well-rounded skill set in finance, operations and leadership and applied it to a diverse array of public, private and non-profit ventures throughout her career.
She was formerly president of The Home Depot Canada and Asia, overseeing the growth of the company’s Canadian operations from 19 to 180 stores between 1996 and 2011 and led the company’s entry into China.
In 2011, she was honoured as an Officer of The Order of Canada for her contribution to the retail industry and Corporate Social Responsibility.
About Zita Cobb:
Zita Cobb grew up in Joe Batt’s Arm, a community of 700 people located on Fogo Island, off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. She went on to a financial career initially in the oil and gas industry. She later moved into high technology and was the chief financial officer of JDS Fitel, and senior vice president of strategy for NASDAQ-traded, fiber optics innovator JDS Uniphase.
She retired in 2001 to sail and to focus on her philanthropic work. She is keenly interested in the wellbeing of rural communities and the preservation of culture. She believes in the transformational power of the arts and in business innovation and social entrepreneurship as tools for effective community development.
Cobb is the visionary behind the Shorefast Foundation. Shorefast leads a number of innovative projects, including the recently launched Fogo Island Inn, aimed at the cultural and economic resiliency for Fogo Island and Change Islands.
Media Inquiries:
Chris Cline
Media Relations Co-ordinator
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
613-355-0336
christopher_cline@carleton.ca
Monday, November 4, 2013 in Media Advisories
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