Entrepreneurship Annual Report
Message from the Council Chair
Much of the activity of the 2008-2009 academic year was inspired by change,providing a unique opportunity to review the aspirations and core values of the Pierre L. Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Inn July 2008, Professor Stewart Thornhill was appointed Executive Director of the Institute. Stewart’s expertise in strategicleadership enabled the Institute to look with fresh eyes and retune it’s core offerings in response to the increasingly complex challenges faced by Ivey students and alumni entrepreneurs.
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The Institute also welcomed Ron Close, HBA ’81, as Executive Entrepreneur-in-Residence, and Professor Simon Parker, as Director of the Driving Growth through Entrepreneurship and Innovation Cross-Enterprise Leadership Centre. A successful entrepreneur, Ron brought enormous practical experience to the classroom while Simon, a research professor at the Max Planck Institute (Germany) and a fellow of the Amsterdam Center for Entrepreneurship(The Netherlands), broadened the Centre’s research foci.
The winds of change stirred Council as well. On May 1, 2009 David Wright, HBA ’83, was appointed Chair. Active on Council for several years, David brings continuity and strong leadership to the role. I would also like to acknowledge outgoing Teaching Committee Chair, Teddy Rosenberg, HBA ’73, who grew that mandate significantly with her dedication for the Institute. Michael Boyd, MBA ’76 and Robert Peterman, MBA ’02 now chair the Teaching and Outreach committees, respectively.
Sincere thanks to Lisa Colnett, HBA ’81, Deland Jessop, MBA ’02, John Besterd, HBA ’78 and Russell Payson, MBA ’70 who transitioned off Council this year, and a hearty welcome new members Ian Aitken, HBA ’87, Bob Dhillon, EMBA ’98 and Alexa Nick, MBA ’95.
In closing, I thank Council for their active involvement in the classroom and at Institute events, and for their ongoing financial commitment in support of entrepreneurship at Ivey.
David S. Anyon, EMBA ‘97