Karen Bertrand has been appointed Western's new Vice-President (University Advancement) effective Aug. 1.
Reporting to the President and Vice-Chancellor, Bertrand will oversee the portfolio dedicated to engaging and building long-term relationships with alumni and donors and raising funds to support students and priority areas of excellence.
She is currently Vice-Principal (Advancement) at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. where she leads a team of 145 staff members, overseeing fundraising, alumni and donor engagement and advancement operations.
"I'm delighted to welcome Karen to Western," said President Alan Shepard. "She is known for her strategic and innovative approach to alumni and donor engagement, and she has a proven track record in leading a comprehensive advancement team. Karen's passion for fundraising is from the heart - she truly believes in the power of philanthropy to help our students achieve their goals and advance our world-class teaching and research."
Under Bertrand's leadership, the advancement team at Queen's has raised more than $426 million in the last four years, and last fall celebrated the launch of Smith Engineering, thanks to a transformational gift of $100 million.
Prior to joining Queen's in 2018, Bertrand held progressively senior positions in advancement at the University of Guelph starting in 2006, leading a team that raised $200 million for the BetterPlanet Project campaign and serving as Associate Vice-President, Major Gift Advancement. She previously served as Area Manager for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Wellington/Dufferin.
Bertrand is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and a member of the National Council of Fundraising Executives, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education and Council for Support and Advancement of Education. She holds a bachelor of arts in Canadian Studies from Queen's.
Connection through conversation
Bertrand developed her aptitude for fundraising early on, working as a student caller in the Queen's call centre.
"There were two key learnings I took from that experience," she said. "One is the importance of making a personal connection, even in a cold-call exchange with an otherwise complete stranger. The second thing is the sheer necessity to ask someone if they've ever considered supporting their school philanthropically or if they've considered how they can make a gift to support a cause that matters to them and also advance the work of their alma mater."
For Bertrand, successful fundraising is all about relationships, "and at its core, is a conversation."
"Throughout my career, I've been able to get to know some extraordinary people, and really learn about them and what is important to their families. Marrying their priorities with those of the institution has been my absolute privilege."
"Donors can advance progress on societal issues that matter to them and support their alma mater that's the magic of giving to a postsecondary institution."
Bertrand looks forward to joining Western, leading staff and connecting with donors, alumni and volunteers as the university prepares to launch its next major fundraising campaign.
"There is so much momentum at Western," she said. "To build on the success of the first 150 years of its history and the alumni engagement supporting this university and take it to new heights as we approach the next 150 years, is an exciting proposition."
