The Distinguished Graduate Award celebrates the outstanding professional or personal achievements of graduates of the Goodman School of Business at Brock University.
2024 Distinguished Graduate
Haoran Deng (MBA ’05)
Chief Financial Officer
Board Secretary of Shenzhen Intellifusion Technology Co.
Deng Haoran (MBA ’05) is a Fellow Certified Public Accountant (Australia) and a full member of the Association of International Accountants (AIA). He was honored to be named as the “2020 Outstanding CFO of China” at the 16th China CFO Congress hosted by the Ministry of Finance. He has also received the 2023 Golden Tangerine Award for Gold Medal Innovative Growth Board Secretary and the “Pengcheng New Force” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Medal in Shenzhen. Additionally, he holds social positions and is as a member of the Shenzhen Bao’an District Political Consultative Conference and is an Industry Mentor for Master of Accounting students at Tsinghua University.
Having worked at Ernst & Young, Huawei Technologies, and the listed company Lingyi iTech, Deng currently serves as Board Member, Senior Vice President, CFO, and Board Secretary of Shenzhen Intellifusion Technology Co., Ltd. (688343.SH), a company listed on the STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. He oversees the Capital Center, Finance Center, Human Resources Center, Sales Management Department, Computility Business Department, Channel Management Department, Board Office, Legal Department, Administrative Department, Internal Audit Department, among others. He concurrently serves as Chairman of D-infuture Technology Co., Ltd., a leading smart wearable device manufacturer in China, and is a member of the Investment Committee of Qucheng Private Equity Fund.
With nearly 20 years of comprehensive management experience in Huawei, the Big Four international accounting firms, a manufacturing listed company, and an AI listed company, Deng possesses extensive knowledge and expertise in various fields.
Past Recipients
2023 – Alia Lee (BBA ’06, MBA ’07)
Chief Financial Officer, AOA, Operate Finance
Deloitte
Alia Lee is a finance and technology leader known for her strategic and strong corporate governance mindset of pursuing excellence in business management. Being a committed, visionary leader with a purpose to make a difference, Alia explores beyond the horizon in both her education and professional career.
Currently at Deloitte, serving as Chief Financial Officer for a portfolio of technology companies, Alia is laser focused on building a better future through her finance leadership in the commercialization of emerging technologies of startups in life science and technology.
2022 – Rhonda Klosler (BBA ’93)
National COO, RSM Canada
Rhonda has nearly 30 years of public accounting experience to her role as Chief Operating Officer at RSM Canada LLP and has been instrumental in the tremendous growth of the firm during her tenure. As COO of RSM Canada, Rhonda works with the leadership team on executing the firm’s national strategy.
She is a CPA, CA, having earned her designation in 1993 and became a partner in 2001. In 2012, Rhonda completed the Harvard Business School Professional Services program and in late 2021, was named a Fellow by CPA Ontario, the highest distinction bestowed upon a CPA in the accounting profession.
View the event recording below.
Rhonda met with a group of student leaders, shared advice, answered their questions and networked with students. Rhonda also sat down with Dean Barry Wright for a quick interview to discuss her career journey and what it means to be chosen as the 2022 Distinguished Graduate.
2021 – Cheryl Brandon (BBA ’04)
Co-founder of Waterton Global Resource Management
Cheryl has remained driven throughout her career, combining her passion for investing and building companies with her desire to give back to the community. In 2020, Brandon was recognized as a recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 award – a nod that celebrates the country’s top up-and-coming business leaders.
View the event recording below.
Cheryl discussed her career journey, shared advice and answered audience questions.
| Year | Honoree | Title |
| 2020 | Sean Washchuk (BAcc ’96) | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CCL Industries Inc. |
| 2019 | Rita Middleton (BAdmin ’87) | CEO, Interim CFO, and Board Member International Solar Solutions |
| 2018 | Brian Parsons (BAdmin ’90) | President and CEO Willis Towers Watson |
| 2017 | Joanne McKee (BAdmin ’86) | Chief Financial Officer, Ryerson University |
| 2016 | Martin Philp (BAdmin ’80, MA ’86) | Founding Partner, Next Advisory |
| 2015 | Jason Sparaga (BBA ’93) | Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Spark Power Corp.,Oakville |
| 2014 | Mark Arthur (BA ’77) | President Industrial Alliance Private Wealth Management, Toronto |
| 2013 | Anne-Marie Robinson (BSc ’87, BBA ’90) | President Public Service Commission of Canada, Ottawa |
| 2012 | Fred Losani (BAdmin ‘ 87) | Owner and CEO Losani Homes, Hamilton |
| 2011 | Jeff Park (BAcc ’95) | Executive Vice-President and CFO SXC Health Solutions Corp, Chicago |
| 2010 | Kristian Knibutat (BAdmin ’86) | Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Toronto |
| Year | Honoree | Title |
| 2009 | James MacLellan (BAdmin ’87) | Partner Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Toronto |
| 2008 | John Zoccoli (BAdmin ’86) | President Jamzoc Holdings Ltd., o/a Tim Horton, St. Catharines |
| 2007 | Jim Ryan (BAdmin ’84) | CEO Party Gaming,Gibraltar |
| 2006 | Dr. Stephen Young (BBA ’91) | Managing Director of Accounting Policy Citigroup’s Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB), New York |
| 2005 | Debbie Sevenpifer (BAdmin ’87) | CEO Niagara Health Systems, Niagara |
| 2004 | Dr. Paul Ingram (BBA ’90) | Professor of Management Columbia University,New York |
| 2003 | Deborah Rosati (BAdmain ’84) | President RosatiNet Inc.,Ottawa |
| 2002 | Doug Wilkinson (BBA ’91) | Partner Deloitte, Toronto |
Nominate a Deserving Goodman Graduate
Rules
- Nominees must have graduated from the Brock Faculty of Business or Goodman School of Business (hold a BAdmin, BAcc, BBA, MAcc, MBA, or MSc in Management degree)
- Nominees must have fifteen years post-graduate experience
- All nominees should demonstrate at least one of the following criteria:
- Outstanding professional achievements
- Outstanding educational achievements
- Outstanding community achievements
- Outstanding volunteer achievements
- Outstanding entrepreneurial achievements
- An ongoing commitment to Brock University
- Graduates may nominate themselves
- Current Brock faculty and staff are excluded
- Nominations must be received by March 1
The committee reserves the right to bestow the award to a graduate they feel is a worthy recipient.
Send nominations to [email protected].
