Three women with close ties to Brock University will be celebrated this week after being named to the 2021 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award winners list.

Selected by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) last month, the 2021 cohort will be celebrated at a virtual two-day leadership summit and awards gala Wednesday, Nov. 24 and Thursday, Nov. 25.

On this year’s list are Brock alumnae Deborah Rosati (BAdmin ’84) and Nicolle Butcher (BBA ’92), along with Brock Board of Trustees member Stephanie Thompson.

“When I look at this year’s winners, I see a group of radically authentic women who remind us all of what it means to stand up with courage, for themselves and those around them,” said Sherri Stevens, owner and CEO of WXN. “By recognizing and celebrating the strength, fearlessness, resilience and heart these women demonstrate, we can inspire more of the same in generations to come.”

This is the 19th annual Canada’s Most Powerful Women awards list, with recipients in 13 categories representing the country’s private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Rosati is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Women Get On Board Inc. and was selected in the BMO Entrepreneurs category. Part of Brock’s first graduating Accounting co-op class, Rosati is a passionate entrepreneur who has spent more than 35 years growing businesses from the ground up. In 2015, she founded Women Get On Board Inc., a social purpose company with the goal of getting more women onto corporate boards.

Rosati is a past recipient of the Goodman School of Business Distinguished Graduate award and a 2014 Beta Gamma Sigma honouree. She served on the Goodman Dean’s Advisory Council from 2004 to 2017 and on the Brock Board of Trustees from 2014 to 2015. Rosati has been active in supporting student entrepreneurs through a number of funding award initiatives and as a judge with Goodman’s Monster Pitch business competition.

Butcher, Senior Vice President, Renewable Generation and Power Markets for Ontario Power Generation, was selected in the CIBC Executive Leaders category. In her role, she is accountable for operations of 10,000 megawatts of hydro and thermal generation in Ontario, as well as overseeing Atura Power and Eagle Creek Renewable Energy.

Butcher sits on the Advisory Board of MaRS-Advanced Energy Centre and on the Board of WaterPower Canada.

Thompson, Engineering Team Leader for General Motors of Canada and CEO of STEM by Steph, was selected in the CP Skilled Trades category.

Thompson is an engineering leader who promotes science and technology innovation in the Niagara area. With an extensive 21-year career at General Motors, she leads engineering teams on capital investment projects and lean manufacturing. In 2018, she created a community social enterprise to break down all barriers for women in STEM.

In addition to serving on Brock’s Board, Thompson completed a Professional Management Certificate at Brock in 2015.