Throughout her career, Mary Jo Haddad\u2019s work has been centred on care.<\/p>\n
From her time as a nurse to her progressive leadership roles over four decades with the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), she has made it her mission to support families in the most vulnerable moments of their lives.<\/p>\n
When Haddad retired as the long-standing President and Chief Executive Officer of the nation\u2019s top pediatric hospital in 2014, she didn\u2019t rest on her laurels.<\/p>\n
Instead, she used her expertise to create further impact, providing strategic leadership and advisory services to health-care systems around the world as President of MJH & Associates and also lending her expertise as Corporate Director at Telus and past Director at TD Bank Group.<\/p>\n
Haddad will share lessons in leadership with Brock University\u2019s graduating class when she delivers the address at Fall Convocation on Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. During the ceremony, she will also be recognized with an honorary Doctor of Laws for the indelible mark she\u2019s left on Canadian health care and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am truly honoured and grateful to be receiving an honorary degree from Brock,\u201d Haddad says. \u201cIt\u2019s a great honour to share my congratulations and address the graduates at such a pivotal time in their lives.\u00a0I hope to bring them a heartfelt message of inspiration and optimism on all that the future holds at this incredibly exciting time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Haddad says she\u2019s learned much over her rewarding career, with one of the most profound takeaways being that \u201cleadership matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Enabling people to be their best self in their working environment begins with strong leadership \u2014 no matter the field, she says. She hopes to inspire Brock\u2019s graduates to see themselves in leadership roles, whether civic or professional, and reflect on ways they can have a positive impact on the world, including in their local communities.<\/p>\n
Haddad has been recognized for her innovative leadership and contributions to children\u2019s health care, being named a Member of the Order of Canada (2010) and receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2014), among her many accolades.<\/p>\n
Now residing in Niagara-on-the-Lake, she maintains a strong commitment to giving back as a mentor and leadership coach and as an advocate for children and youth through her volunteer work as past Director of the Board of Kids Health Links Foundation, as former Director at Capitalize for Kids, with the SickKids capital campaign and as founding Chair of Children First Canada, a not-for-profit organization committed to helping make Canada the best place for kids to grow up.<\/p>\n
Brock\u2019s 120th Convocation will include two ceremonies held Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Ian Beddis Gymnasium of Brock\u2019s Walker Sports Complex.<\/p>\n
All ceremonies will be livestreamed online at\u00a0brocku.ca\/livestream<\/a><\/p>\n