Willie is a
Principal at Baker Tilly SK LLP, a public accounting firm, where he focuses on audit and assurance
engagements. Outside of work, Willie’s favourite thing is to go golfing and spend time with family
and friends. Willie believes that leadership is imperative to creating a strong community and that
Leadership Saskatoon has had a substantial positive impact in the Saskatoon area.
Julian is
currently the Senior Strategist to the President at the University of Saskatchewan and is
responsible for senior management oversight and leadership to institutional-level projects of the
president and his executive team. Julian’s superpowers include an ability to see patterns in chaos
and an ability to understand the needs of a wide variety of audiences.
Outside of work Julian spends time with his daughters and wife playing cards, watching movies, and having fun. Julian is proud to have been involved with Leadership Saskatoon since its inception 20 years ago and is dedicated to helping the organization achieve its important mandate well into it’s next 20.
Don is Grants Manager
for Saskatoon Community Foundation. Don’s superpowers are community investment, communications, and,
unfortunately, puns. Outside of work, his favourite pastimes are making music and cooking. Don is
proud to represent Saskatoon Community Foundation as one of the founding partners of Leadership
Saskatoon because he has seen the transformative power of compassionate and thoughtful leadership
time and again during his career working with community-based organizations.
Leon Ferguson
is the President and CEO of Stream Business Advisory. Leon’s 20+ years of experience in high level
strategy development, leadership, internal/external collaborations, and partnerships developing high
performance and strong cultures has an award-winning proven track record providing teams to grow in
strength and profitability. Leon’s superpowers are leadership specializing in Workplace
Psychological Health and Safety, and Mental Health combined with his unique harmonious approach to
overall peak performance. Leon is passionate and proud to be a part of Leadership Saskatoon as he is
a big ambassador of Saskatoon and the Community and believes Saskatoon is a beacon of community
strength and possibilities.
Ken
McCullough is a retired senior retail professional with over 30+ years experience in the food,
petroleum, liquor, pharmacy, general merchandise and travel businesses. During his career in the
Co-operative Retailing System, Ken was known for high standards in merchandising, customer service
and employee engagement. He received numerous awards and was featured in the May 2008 issue of
Canadian Grocer magazine. Ken is proud to currently serve as Promotional Co-ordinator of the Global
Leadership Summit hosted by his church. He also continues to offer his leadership expertise as part
of a team of coaches that provide mentorship to small group leaders. Ken enjoyed being a mentor for
Leadership Saskatoon in 2020.
Masood is Head of the Genomics and Canadian Operation Leader for
NRGene Canada Inc. subsidiary of NRGene Ltd, a genomics company that provide turn-key solutions.
Masood’s superpower is Diving leadership skills, strategic alliance and team coaching. Outside of
work his favourite thing to do is “travelling across world” and explore exotic destinations. Masood
is passionate about Leadership Saskatoon because he believes passionate and energetic leadership
skill can bring lot of value to toon town and will give an edge over other big Canadian cities.
Alison Robertson is a Saskatoon-based community leader and social
innovator. She is the founder and principal consultant at Systems Bright, a consulting practice
specializing in whole systems solutions to complex issues.
Alison has more than fifteen years’ senior leadership experience within the non-profit sector concentrating on issues related to poverty reduction, food security, education, disability and community health and wellbeing. She has served as the co-chair of the Saskatchewan Advisory Group on Poverty Reduction and acted as spokesperson for Poverty Costs, a collaborative initiative recognized with a Global Citizen Award from the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation. She has been named one of Saskatchewan’s outstanding young leaders by the CBC Future 40 Awards.
Alison graduated with distinction from the post-graduate Executive Leadership in the Non-Profit Sector program at Grant MacEwan University. She is a graduate of the 2011 Leadership Saskatoon program and is proud to serve on its board of directors.
Rhonda
is a Senior Advisor with Western Economic Diversification Canada and past senior leader of a major
corporation, leading a best-in-class global corporate Community Investment program. With the ability
to combine strategic and entrepreneurial thinking, her superpower is her ability to identify,
develop and execute innovation solutions to complex problems with creative flair. Outside the
workplace, her favorite thing to do is travel and enjoy new experiences. With 15 years experience
funding non-profits, she worked with hundreds of community organizations and gained a true
appreciation for great community leadership. She was excited to join Leadership Saskatoon and play a
role in developing great leaders who will masterfully lead the way toward a strong, healthy
community and economy in Saskatoon.
Tammy is the CEO at TCU Place, Saskatoon’s premiere convention, meeting and
performing arts space. She is also a passionate leader and speaker, helping companies across North
America and Europe to
develop stronger leaders. Tammy’s superpowers are a passionate desire to create a better world
around her paired with
the vision to ask what’s possible and inspire people to join the cause. She cares passionately about
creating a culture
where people can thrive and be their best selves. Outside of work, Tammy enjoys reading, music,
singing, and attending
events (because her work IS her play!). She is an avid cook and loves to make and enjoy delicious
food with family and
friends. Tammy is excited to be part of Leadership Saskatoon to provide a safe place to grow
leadership skills,
confidence and the desire to serve…because that truly makes our world and community a better place.
Bio coming
soon.
Cassie Josephson (she/her, ISFJ). She works as a consultant with People Things Consulting, a social
purpose organization that focuses on diversity, inclusion and cultural competence across sectors and
industries. Cassie is
also the Co-owner of Phil’s Lawn Service, a custom residential, commercial and industrial herbicide
application business.
She has a B. Sc.
in Agribusiness from the University of Saskatchewan, is a Myers Briggs Type Indicator® Certified
Practitioner, a
Facilitator for the Red Cross’ Psychological First Aid course, and a Qualified Administrator for the
Intercultural
Development Inventory. Her superpowers are creating safe and inclusive places for people to learn and
grow. Cassie is
passionate about Leadership Saskatoon because it creates places for people to be themselves, to get
comfortable in their
uncomfortable, and to grow as humans.
Our mission is to develop effective collaborative leaders by building awareness and understanding which inspires involvement in building an inclusive community.
Four values that distinguish Leadership Saskatoon are:
Leadership Saskatoon was founded by the University of Saskatchewan, the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, and the Saskatoon Community Foundation.
We are grateful for their continuing and unwavering support.
Our alumni now number over 500 in total. Here are the photos from each class. Click on each year below to see who they are.
Nancy Lautner is currently on the board of directors of the Nutrien Wonderhub, she is a past board member of the Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association and the Saskatoon Federation of Early Learning. She is the Executive Director and creator of an organization that has 5 Early Learning centres, with 273 licensed spaces, 2 preschools, 2 forest schools, 3 before and after school care programs and 1 summer school age camp program that services over 600 families – The Tykes & Tots Early Learning Centre Inc.
Currently she is taking a Life and Wellness Coach Certification to become a more passionate coach and mentor to not only her management team but to others as well. She has also taken a Reiki certification and will be soon becoming a Certified Yoga Instructor. In addition, she has incorporated many of Leadership Saskatoons teachings by including it in her workplace’s regular professional development for their educators. This includes Myers Briggs Type Indicator, the 360 review, and the 5 principles of a good leader – and, she is often saying it’s the process not the product. She is a huge proponent of leadership development for her staff and those around her.
Betty Mutwiri
2021 Recipient
Bill Brooks
2019 Recipient
Kelly Moore
2018 Recipient
Jason Aebig
2017 Recipient
Namarta’s participation spans many dimensions of
the community – from providing advice to the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee and
mentoring through the Saskatchewan Association of Human Resource Professionals to sharing arts,
fashions and the culture of India through the India Pavilion at Folkfest. She values the
improvement of the quality of life for others in Saskatoon including Dress for Success,
Saskatoon Salvation Army, Children's Hospital Foundation, as well as many other organizations.
Namarta is an acknowledged community leader whose achievement and leadership have been recognized as a Woman of Influence from SaskBusiness Magazine, a finalist for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, one of CBC Saskatchewan’s Future 40, as well as receiving the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal and the Champion of Children Award from the Saskatoon Preschool Foundation to name a few.
Zeba Ahmad
2016 Recipient
Tom Kischuk
2015 Recipient
Milton
Taylor
2014 Recipient
Dave Dutchak
2013 Recipient
Kirby Wirchenko
2012 Recipient
Om Kochar
2011 Recipient
Ayten Archer
2010 Recipient