Research & Innovation (R&I) is pleased to welcome Tess Finlay to the team as the new Business Development Coordinator.
Tess is a communications specialist with a passion for youth engagement and social change. After graduating from Humber College with an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations, Tess worked alongside three of Canada’s largest and most impactful charitable organizations – World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF), Free The Children, and Environmental Defence Canada. More recently, Tess held the position of HR Director at Cyber-Seniors Inc. where she played a key role in successfully growing the organizations’ community engagement and expansion across North America, since its inception.
With more than 10 years in the field, Tess has assisted in the execution of various national marketing campaigns and promotional events, established strategic alliances with Fortune 100 companies, developed integrated communications plans for major national campaigns, and implemented a number of highly successful partnership programs.
”I’m looking forward to fostering some strategic partnerships, identifying new ways to help promote the various R&I initiatives and hopefully contributing to the overall growth and continued success of the R&I division.” – Tess Finlay, Business Development Coordinator
Tess has a unique set of skills that are a perfect fit for the position, having fostered and managed several external stakeholder relationships and executed largescale events.
“Having grown up in the Niagara region, I have a great appreciation for the area. Having attended a polytechnic college, I also know firsthand how rewarding and impactful a college education can be,” she said.
While it’s only been a few days on the job, everyone has been so warm and welcoming, she noted.
“I’m looking forward to fostering some strategic partnerships, identifying new ways to help promote the various R&I initiatives and hopefully contributing to the overall growth and continued success of the R&I division.”
Tess is the proud mom of three small kiddos. She has a passion for wine and a couple of years ago she earned her Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 certification. She also happens to be a lover of karaoke, both cheering others on and tearing the stage up herself.
To learn more about the work Tess will be doing, visit the R&I website.
