The Mastercard Foundation today announced the appointment of Stephen J. Toope to its Board of Directors. Stephen Toope is a distinguished academic and global affairs leader whose career spans international law, human rights, and higher education, with a strong commitment to advancing inclusive and just societies.
“Stephen brings deep expertise in global governance, academia, and human rights to the Foundation,” said Zein Abdalla, Chair of the Board. “His perspective will be invaluable as we continue our work to enable young people in Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work and unlock opportunities for young people in Indigenous communities in Canada.”
"I look forward to joining the Mastercard Foundation Board of Directors,” said Stephen Toope. “The Foundation’s bold commitment to transforming lives through education, financial inclusion, and dignified and fulfilling work is closely aligned with my own values and life’s work."
Stephen is the President and CEO of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). He previously served as the 346th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, the first non-UK national to hold the post.
He was Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, President of the University of British Columbia, founding President of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, and Dean of Law at McGill University.
Stephen is a graduate of Harvard (AB), McGill (BCL/LL.B), and Trinity College, Cambridge (PhD). His public service includes chairing the United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, serving as Fact Finder for the Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Government Officials in relation to Maher Arar, being a UN Election Observer during the first post-apartheid elections in South Africa, and sitting on the Boards of the Social Sciences Research Council of Canada and the International Development Research Centre of Canada.
The Mastercard Foundation’s Board of Directors includes:
- Zein Abdalla (Board Chair), Retired President of PepsiCo, Inc.
- Baroness Valerie Amos, CH, Master of University College, Oxford University and former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN.
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
- Hon. Louise Arbour, C.C., Jurist-in-residence at Borden, Ladner, Gervais LLP, and former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
- Jay Ireland, Retired President and CEO of General Electric Africa.
- Jennifer Fonstad, Co-founder and leader of the Owl Capital Group.
- Michael Sabia, CEO of Hydro-Québec.
- Robin Washington, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gilead Sciences, Inc.
- Sewit Ahderom, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Gro Intelligence.
- Tsega Gebreyes, Founding Partner and CEO at Satya Capital Limited.
- Carole Wamuyu Wainaina, Former COO and current Senior Advisor to the CEO at Africa50 Infrastructure fund.