2019 alumni UBC Achievement Awards Recipients
On November 21, 2019, we honoured seven inspiring members of the UBC community.
alumni UBC is committed to an exceptional UBC and a better world. This November at the alumni UBC Achievement Awards, we honoured seven inspiring members of the UBC community who, through their extraordinary endeavours, have demonstrated this vision.
Congratulations to this year's recipients!
Young Alumni Award
Tara Cookson, BSc'73
Dr. Cookson is a distinguished scholar of gender equity and social policy. Her research has contributed greatly to policy debates by revealing that aid programs intended to alleviate poverty can actually place oppressive burdens on vulnerable mothers. She is the co-founder of Ladysmith, a feminist consultancy that rigorously collects and analyzes gender equity data for international development and humanitarian organizations.
Faculty Community Service Award
Douglas Clement, C.M., MD’59
Dr. Clement is a pioneer in the field of sports medicine who co-founded Canada’s first sports medicine clinic. He taught sport medicine at UBC for more than 20 years and was an early advocate for exercise as a key to preventing heart disease. A former Olympic athlete, Dr. Clement inspires community spirit through sport.
Volunteer Leadership Award
Gwendolyn Point, BEd’87
Dr. Point of the Sts’ailes First Nation is an educator, scholar, healer, knowledge keeper, cultural advisor, and leader. Her commitment to revitalizing and sharing Stó:lõ language, knowledge and practices has had transformative impacts on her communities. She is known as a “bridge builder” across Indigenous and settler communities – one whose eloquence, personal strength, passion for education, and spiritual leadership inspires healing.
Honorary Alumni Award
Deborah Buszard
Professor Buszard is a visionary champion for UBC Okanagan with a talent for forging productive community partnerships, notably with the City of Kelowna and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. As deputy vice-chancellor and principal, she has led efforts to double research funding, increased access to education for Aboriginal students, and promoted a healthy environment in which to work and learn.
Global Citizenship Award
David Morley, C.M., MEd’08
Mr. Morley is the president and CEO of UNICEF Canada. He brings to this role more than 40 years of experience in human rights and community development, including his leadership of organizations such as Doctors without Borders Canada and Save the Children Canada. He is known for his exceptional leadership and his commitment to addressing humanitarian issues.
Research and Innovation Award
John MacDonald, O.C., BASc’59, DSc’89
Dr. MacDonald is a pioneer of Canada’s high-tech industry. His novel use of satellites to produce high-resolution images of Earth is what made ubiquitous technology like Google Maps possible. Dr. MacDonald’s company was also involved in developing NASA’s Canadarm, an iconic remote-controlled robotic arm deployed on the Space Shuttle system. In 2001 he co-founded the successful solar energy company Day4 Energy Inc.
Sadly, shortly after the awards ceremony in November, we learned that Dr. MacDonald had passed away. His obituary details his impressive life and career achievements.
Alumni Award of Distinction
Dominic Barton, BA'84, LLD'12
Dr. Barton is global managing partner emeritus, McKinsey & Company, and has helped organizations from all sectors to set direction and drive change. He is also a prolific writer, who emphasizes the role business leaders can play in positive social outcomes. He chairs the Canadian Minister of Finance’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth, and in September 2019 was appointed Canada’s ambassador to China.
