Women in Education Panel
Dr. Perri Sinal-Skelton is a professional accountant and academic. She has 30 years of experience primarily in post-secondary education, along with time spent in accounting public practice, corporate audit services and consulting for small business enterprises. After completing an undergraduate degree in commerce from the University of Alberta, she articled at KPMG in Edmonton. Subsequent to attaining her professional accounting designation she worked at EdTel and TELUS Corporation. During that time she discovered her passion for teaching. In 2004 she joined the Faculty at NAIT and has contributed to the mission of the Institute in various capacities including her current role as an Associate Dean of the JR Shaw School of Business. Perri holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Alberta (2009) and has recently completed her doctoral studies in higher education leadership from the University of Calgary (2015).
Dr. Jodi L. Abbott became NorQuest College's President and CEO in 2010. Since her arrival at NorQuest in 2010, Dr. Abbott has successfully evolved the college by introducing a Workforce Advisory Council, launching new innovative partnerships that build and leverage partner relationships and securing funding for and initiating construction of the new Centre for Learning. Dr. Abbott also maintains a strong volunteer commitment to the sport of figure skating. In 2011, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity named Jodi to its list of Canada's top 20 most influential women in sport. In 2012, Jodi received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal twice acknowledging her significant local, provincial, and national contributions in sport and post-secondary education.
Heather McCaw has more than 25 years’ experience in university fundraising and strategic business partnership. Most recently, she was the co-director of the University of British Columbia’s $1.5-billion fundraising and alumni engagement campaign and Associate Vice-President (Development). In her UBC role, McCaw has been responsible for more than 160 staff across three campuses, a central office and 16 decentralized fundraising units. In addition to her university experience, McCaw has been vice-president of two associated consulting companies, Give Canada Fundraising Corporation and Spectrum Marketing Corporation. These organizations specialize in securing strategic business partnerships and multimillion-dollar donations on behalf of non-profit clients that have included the United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Rick Hansen Foundation, the universities of Calgary and Victoria, and the Toronto Rehab Foundation.
Moderator: Bea Bohm-Meyer
