Chair of the Board’s message
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
Gary Comerford, Chair of the Board, Brock University
2017-18 Annual Report
2
On behalf of the Board of Trustees at Brock University, it is my pleasure to invite you to review and reflect upon the positive story that is told in the pages of our 2017-18 Annual Report, as we conclude what has been an eventful and fulfilling year here at Brock.
I would also like to extend the Board’s sincere gratitude to Tom Traves, who served for 12 months as Brock’s Interim President, through July 2017. Tom’s calm, experienced presence was a steadying influence that was appreciated by the trustees and by many people across the Brock community.
This has certainly been a busy and enjoyable time, as it was the first year that I have had the privilege to serve as the University’s Board Chair. And as the Chair, I have been gratified by the support and counsel I receive from my fellow trustees, as well as from the senior administration, faculty and staff, as everyone across the Brock community works to sustain a future of growth and excellence, both academically and operationally.
Looking back at the past year, it is impossible to not be struck by the historic milestone of Gervan Fearon’s arrival, on Aug. 1, 2017, as Brock’s new President and Vice-Chancellor. I have had numerous Brock employees and students tell me how they’ve been reassured by the candid, consultative, supportive manner that Gervan shows in his daily conversations on campus.
I would like to say a special thank you to my predecessor, Past Chair John Suk, whose advice and assistance has been invaluable to me as I went through the transition and orientation of inheriting the significant responsibilities and expectations of the role of Chair.
In less than a year since his arrival, Gervan has engaged the input of many people across the Brock community to fuel several major initiatives, including scoping out a new strategic plan for the University, re-mapping Brock’s broad range of community engagement activities in Niagara and increasing outreach to members of Canada’s Indigenous population. Gervan’s arrival was just the opening act this year in terms of leadership renewal. On Jan. 1, 2018, we welcomed Tim Kenyon as our new Vice-President Research. Tim came to Brock from the University of Waterloo, where he was Associate Dean of Arts (Research). The Board is also pleased that Brock is deeply into a search for its next Provost and Vice-President, Academic, to take the place of Thomas Dunk who later this year will complete his two-year interim term in that busy office. I am also pleased to report that Brock starts the next fiscal year with a repeat balanced budget, following many years of financial uncertainty. For this, we can thank the hard work and innovation of Brian Hutchings, the senior administration and leadership team led by the President, and the entire Finance team and employee base of Brock. While our finances are balanced next year, we recognize that our fiscal model remains structurally imbalanced, with revenues growing at a lower rate than our expenses. I have every confidence in President Fearon and the Brock community to design and implement a strategic plan that will allow the University to prosper into the future. I certainly look forward to being a part of these exciting endeavours. It has been a gratifying year for the University, and looking at the road ahead, Brock is exceptionally well positioned to capitalize on opportunities that I believe will emerge in our immediate future. By working together toward common identified objectives, Brock will be able to further realize the national recognition and reputation for academic excellence that it so richly deserves. The future is bright. Surgite!