EllisDon appoints new CFO and two new board members

MISSISSAUGA, ONT.—EllisDon Corporation has appointed a new chief financial officer (CFO) and two new board members to its team.

New CFO Brian Kilburn is taking over the position from John Bernhardt who is retiring after a 32-year tenure with the company, 18 years as CFO. 

Kilburn is a Certified Public Accountant and received his Bachelor of Accounting degree from Brock University and his Masters of Business Administration from Queens University.

Kilburn joined EllisDon in 2009 as a controller working with capital, services and international divisions. In 2011 and 2012, he was actively involved in EllisDon’s acquisition of Looby and PME Inc. Kilburn held the role of treasurer from 2014 to 2016. 

In 2016, Kilburn was promoted to vice-president of finance and gradually took on more responsibility, including banking and bonding relationships, cash management and financial reporting, indicates a release. Kilburn has also contributed to the analysis and negotiations that will see EllisDon become a 100 per cent employee-owned company.

“I am very honoured to take on the opportunity as CFO for a company where I have spent the better part of my career,” said Kilburn in a statement. “I want to sincerely thank John Bernhardt, with whom I have worked closely over the years, for his support, mentorship, and friendship. I wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Two new directors have also been appointed to the EllisDon board: Dr. Gina Parvaneh Cody, Ph.D., a professional engineer, corporate executive and principal; and Saad Rafi, an infrastructure, transportation, energy and public safety leader. Brendan Calder is retiring from the board.

Cody holds a masters and doctorate in building engineering from Concordia University and has over 30 years of professional practice in the private sector as a professional engineer, the release states.

She is the benefactor and namesake of the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science at Concordia University. She was also the first woman in Concordia University’s history to earn a Ph.D. in building engineering. In 2019, Cody was awarded the Order of Montreal and in 2020, she was named one of the Top 25 Women of Influence in Canada and appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.

Rafi has worked in the public and private sectors, including several deputy minister roles in the Ontario government in transportation, energy and infrastructure and health. He was the CEO of the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in Toronto in 2015.

Rafi was also a partner at a global consulting firm, where he started an infrastructure and project finance practice and subsequently led their government and public services practice for Canada, adds the release.