47th Annual Commerce Society Business Dinner

On March 18, 2022, the commerce society held an in-person follow up to their virtual speakers showcase on March 4, 2022 to celebrate the 47th Annual Business Event Gala. The gala provided a chance for event speakers, local business leaders, students, faculty and alumni to connect while the commerce society presented the 2022 Commerce Society Awards.  

2022 Commerce Society Award recipients: 

  • Full-time professor of the year: Dr. Paul Dixon 

  • Part-time professor of the year: Jackie MacKay 

  • Commerce Society member of the year: Jay Blake 

  • Commerce Society Community Service Scholarship: Shayne Edwards 

  • Husky Leadership and Tenacity Award; nomination based: Grace Morrison 

Guest Speakers: 

  • Mark McIntosh, Community Engagement Manager, Phoenix House 

  • Sara Napier, CEO, United Way Halifax. (Keynote for March 4th)  

This year, the commerce society chose to donate their $5 collection from every membership to United Way. During the event, they were able to present Sara Napier with a cheque to United Way for $285.  

Winners of the 2022 Charter Day award, the Sobey School of Business Commerce Society is a student run society at Saint Mary’s University. Their goal is to provide students with networking opportunities, as well as business and university resources, while helping to inspire peer to peer engagement. The 2021/2022 team is comprised of undergraduate students pursuing a commerce degree at the Sobey School of Business: 

  • Morgan Baker-Tucker, Co-President 

  • Chelsea Greenham, Co-President 

  • Manav Khera, Vice President 

  • Ishaan Singh, IT Director 

  • Tara Haughton, Financial Director 

  • Logan Waters, Communications Director 

  • Yasmine Hussain, Social Media Director 

  • Carmen Scott, First-Year Student Representative 

  • Rashae Hart, Academic Engagement Officer 

  • Sophia Hein, Volunteer and Fundraising Coordinator 

  • Queen-Esther O. Okundonor, International Student Engagement Officer 

Thank you to all the members for their hard work, and organizing and showcasing a wonderful two-part event! Please enjoy some photos from the March 18, 2022 in-person event.   

Executive-In-Residence

Ian Smith headshot.jpg

Ian D. Smith | Chief Executive Officer

Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership

Ian D. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Seafoods.  Mr. Smith joined Clearwater in May 2010 and has over 33 years of international experience in the food and consumer products industry.  Prior to joining Clearwater, Mr. Smith held senior leadership positions at the Campbell Soup Company within Canada, the United States and China.  Prior to his time at Campbell’s, Mr. Smith held various marketing, sales and international business development positions with Allergan, Colgate-Palmolive and the Gillette Company.

Mr. Smith currently participates as a director on a number of boards and advisory councils focused on international trade and public policy including; The Business Council of Canada and the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Foundation.  He is a graduate of McGill University (BA Economics, MBA), a former Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and currently serves as Honorary Colonel of 36 Canadian Engineer Regiment located in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Alumni-In-Residence

Wendy Luther | President and Chief Executive Officer

Halifax Partnership

Wendy Luther Proud Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. EMBA’08

Wendy Luther is a leader in economic and export development, with vast experience promoting Nova Scotia and its assets globally. Halifax Partnership is Halifax’s public-private economic development

organization. Wendy joined as President & CEO in 2019. In 2023, Halifax

Partnership was honoured with four Excellence in Economic Development

Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

including Gold for Economic Development Organization of the Year. Prior to joining Halifax Partnership, Wendy was President & CEO of EduNova, a co-operative association of public and private-sector education providers committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy internationally. Under her leadership, EduNova was honoured with the prestigious international PIEoneer Association of the Year Award in 2017. Earlier in her career, Wendy worked in export development with the Atlantic Canada World Trade Centre and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) where she led trade missions to over twenty countries and has mentored and advised hundreds of Nova Scotian exporters on how to be competitive in international markets. At NSBI, through her role as Nova Scotia’s first Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO), she was appointed by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to connect entrepreneurs and institutions to opportunities funded by International Financial Institutions. Wendy has served on and led numerous boards and committees including advisory boards for two private sector companies (Canada and U.S. based). Currently, Wendy serves on the Board of Directors and the Management Resources and Compensation Committee of Canadian-owned LED Roadway Lighting; the Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Governance Committee of Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization focused on increasing Canada’s innovation competitiveness; and is Membership Chair on the Executive Committee of the International Women's Forum (IWF) Atlantic Chapter. Born in Vancouver, Wendy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She holds a Certified International Trade Professional designation (CITP) and is an alumna of the Caribbean Canada Emerging Leaders Dialogue and Royal Canadian Navy Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) Program. In November 2023, she attained her ICD.D designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director Education Program and is really geeking out on governance! In March 2023 Wendy was honoured with Atlantic Canada's 25 Most Powerful Women in Business award.