Women's Executive Network Celebrates Their British Columbia Top 100 Award Winners

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) - Who are some of Canada's boldest female leaders that will stop at nothing to push boundaries within their careers and organizations?

On November 27, the Women's Executive Network (WXN) revealed its 2014 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners at a Gala in Toronto. This event shined a spotlight on remarkable women who are agents of change in reshaping Canadian organizations at the highest levels.

"Despite ever-changing styles and tastes, great leadership is classic," says WXN Founder Pamela Jeffery. "Top 100 Award Winners are a testament to the incredible range of female talent and leadership in Canada and proof that change is happening, with more women earning a place at the highest levels of Canadian organizations."

On Thursday, January 29, 2015, the Winners from British Columbia will be honoured at the Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Vancouver Awards Luncheon. Anne Giardini, Chancellor of Simon Fraser University, Director and Author will be the keynote speaker for this inspiring event that will feature Award recognition to these incredible women, as well as remarks from WXN Founder Pamela Jeffery.

The Top 100 Award Winners from British Columbia who will be celebrated are:

• Mary Ackenhusen, President & CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health
• Jill Bodkin, Director & Chair, Human Resources and Compensation Committee, Westport
• Shelley Brown, Partner, Deloitte, BC (WXN Hall of Fame)
• Dr. Amiee Chan, President & CEO, Norsat International
• Dr. Elizabeth Croft, Associate Dean, Education and Professional Development, Faculty of Applied Science; NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, BC and Yukon Region, The University of British Columbia
• Karen Flavelle, CEO & Chief Chocolate Connoisseur, Purdys Chocolatier
• Anne Giardini, President, Weyerhaeuser Company
• Dr. Paula Gordon, Clinical Professor, Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia; Medical Director, Sadie Diamond Breast Program, BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre, BC
• Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, Chief Executive Officer, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, Absolute Spa Group
• Fiona Macfarlane, Managing Partner, British Columbia; Chief Inclusiveness Officer, Canada, Ernst & Young LLP
• Tracey McVicar, Managing Partner, CAI Capital Management; Director and Audit Committee Chair, BC Hydro
• Monique Mercier, EVP, Corporate Affairs, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, TELUS
• Cybele Negris, President, CEO & Co-Founder, Webnames.ca
• Shannon Rogers, President & General Counsel, Global Relay
• Launi Skinner, Chief Executive Officer, First West Credit Union, BC (WXN Hall of Fame)
• Sandra Stuart, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC Bank Canada

The full list of WXN's 2014 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners can be found at www.wxnetwork.com/top-100/top-100-winners.

Top 100 Award Winners include some of Canada's most iconic women trailblazers, such as Dr. Roberta Bondar, Astronaut, Arlene Dickinson, Chief Executive Officer, Venture Communications, Christine Magee, President, Sleep Country Canada, Kathleen Taylor, Chair of the Board, Royal Bank of Canada and Michaëlle Jean, Former Governor General of Canada.

Top 100 Awards enjoys a strong commitment from corporate supporters. For a complete list of partners, visit www.wxnetwork.com/top-100/top-100-women.

The 2015 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards Luncheon will be held at the Four Seasons Vancouver. The Top 100 Award Winners from Alberta and the Prairies will be celebrated in Calgary (March 4), as well as the Winners from Québec will be celebrated in Montreal (April 14) at Awards Galas.

About the Women's Executive Network (WXN)
At WXN, we inspire smart women to lead. WXN creates and delivers innovative networking, mentoring, professional and personal development to inform, inspire, connect and recognize our community of 19,500 smart women and their organizations in the pursuit of excellence. WXN enables our partners and corporate members to become and to be recognized as employers of choice and leaders in the advancement of women.

Founded in 1997, WXN is Canada's leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of women in management, executive, professional and board roles. WXN is a founding member of the Canadian Board Diversity Council, dedicated to increasing the diversity of Canada's corporate boards. In the fall of 2008, WXN launched in Ireland, a first step in creating an international community of female leaders.

More information and details are available at www.wxnetwork.com or www.top100women.ca.