Thomas d'Aquino
Encyclopedia
Thomas d'Aquino is a lawyer, entrepreneur, corporate director, educator and author. He is the former chief executive and president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives
(CCCE), an organization composed of 150 leading corporate chief executives and entrepreneurs. He headed the organization, known prior to 2001 as the Business Council on National Issues (BCNI), since 1981 until December 31, 2009.
d'Aquino was born Trail, British Columbia
and was raised in nearby Nelson. He was educated at Trafalgar and L.V. Rogers Schools in Nelson and the University of British Columbia
, Queen's University
, and the University of London
(London School of Economics and University College). He holds B.A., LL.B., and LL.M. degrees, and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from Queen's and from Wilfrid Laurier University
.
Under his leadership, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives has played an influential role in shaping the direction of fiscal, taxation, trade, energy, environmental, competitiveness and corporate governance policies in Canada. In the international arena, he has worked on a wide range of North American and global issues germane to Canada and to Canadian enterprises. He is acknowledged as one of the private sector architects of the Canada-United States free trade initiative and of the North American Free Trade Agreement
. In 1997, he organized and co-chaired the first-ever APEC CEO-Summit which took place in Vancouver. In addition, he has played a leading role in shaping Canada's business relations with the United States, the European Union, China, India, Japan and Mexico.
Mr. d’Aquino assumed leadership of the Council in its formative stages. Upon his retirement from the CCCE as of December 31, 2009, member companies accounted for $850 billion in annual revenues and $4.5 trillion in assets. With a combined Canadian stock market value of $675 billion, the companies are responsible for the majority of Canada’s private sector exports, investment and training. In recognition of his exemplary leadership, he was named by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives Board of Directors, a Distinguished Life Time Member.
Currently, d'Aquino chairs his own venture capital and strategic consulting company, Intercounsel Ltd. He also serves as Senior Counsel to one of Canada's largest law firms -- Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLPhttp://www.gowlings.com/, is a director of Manulife Financial Corporationhttp://www.manulife.ca, of CGI Group Inc.http://www.cgi.com/en/home, and of Coril Holdings Ltd., and is Distinguished Visiting Professor, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), Carleton University, and Honorary Professor, Richard Ivey School of Business
http://www.ivey.uwo.ca. d'Aquino also Chairs the National Gallery of Canada Foundationhttp://www.ngcfoundation.ca.
His career combines experience in government, business, and law. He has served as a special assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada, and as an international management consultant in London and Paris. He also has served as an international trade lawyer and as an adjunct professor of law, lecturing on the law of international business transactions, trade and the regulation of multinational enterprise.
d'Aquino serves on boards and advisory committees in Canada and abroad. He is the author of numerous publications, a regular commentator on radio and television, and a frequent public speaker in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. He has addressed audiences in 40 countries and in over 100 cities worldwide.
Canadian historian Jack Granatstein
has listed d'Aquino as one of the 100 most influential Canadians of the 20th century. Canadian author Peter C. Newman
, in his book Titans, describes d'Aquino as "the most powerful influence on public policy formation in Canadian history". d'Aquino is the co-author of an influential book published in 2001, titled Northern Edge: How Canadians Can Triumph in the Global Economy.
Canadian Council of Chief Executives
The Canadian Council of Chief Executives is an organization in Canada of chief executive officers of roughly 150 major Canadian corporations. The organization was founded in 1976 as the Business Council on National Issues, but renamed itself in 2001. The council actively comments on public...
(CCCE), an organization composed of 150 leading corporate chief executives and entrepreneurs. He headed the organization, known prior to 2001 as the Business Council on National Issues (BCNI), since 1981 until December 31, 2009.
d'Aquino was born Trail, British Columbia
Trail, British Columbia
Trail is a city in the West Kootenay region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:Trail has an area of . The city is located on both banks of the Columbia River, approximately 10 km north of the United States border. This section of the Columbia River valley is located between the...
and was raised in nearby Nelson. He was educated at Trafalgar and L.V. Rogers Schools in Nelson and the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, and the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(London School of Economics and University College). He holds B.A., LL.B., and LL.M. degrees, and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from Queen's and from Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
.
Under his leadership, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives has played an influential role in shaping the direction of fiscal, taxation, trade, energy, environmental, competitiveness and corporate governance policies in Canada. In the international arena, he has worked on a wide range of North American and global issues germane to Canada and to Canadian enterprises. He is acknowledged as one of the private sector architects of the Canada-United States free trade initiative and of the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
. In 1997, he organized and co-chaired the first-ever APEC CEO-Summit which took place in Vancouver. In addition, he has played a leading role in shaping Canada's business relations with the United States, the European Union, China, India, Japan and Mexico.
Mr. d’Aquino assumed leadership of the Council in its formative stages. Upon his retirement from the CCCE as of December 31, 2009, member companies accounted for $850 billion in annual revenues and $4.5 trillion in assets. With a combined Canadian stock market value of $675 billion, the companies are responsible for the majority of Canada’s private sector exports, investment and training. In recognition of his exemplary leadership, he was named by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives Board of Directors, a Distinguished Life Time Member.
Currently, d'Aquino chairs his own venture capital and strategic consulting company, Intercounsel Ltd. He also serves as Senior Counsel to one of Canada's largest law firms -- Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLPhttp://www.gowlings.com/, is a director of Manulife Financial Corporationhttp://www.manulife.ca, of CGI Group Inc.http://www.cgi.com/en/home, and of Coril Holdings Ltd., and is Distinguished Visiting Professor, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), Carleton University, and Honorary Professor, Richard Ivey School of Business
Richard Ivey School of Business
The Richard Ivey School of Business is located on the University of Western Ontario campus in London, Ontario, Canada, and is consistently rated as the top business school in Canada. It is offered, along with a range of other programs, by the University of Western Ontario, but is managed separately...
http://www.ivey.uwo.ca. d'Aquino also Chairs the National Gallery of Canada Foundationhttp://www.ngcfoundation.ca.
His career combines experience in government, business, and law. He has served as a special assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada, and as an international management consultant in London and Paris. He also has served as an international trade lawyer and as an adjunct professor of law, lecturing on the law of international business transactions, trade and the regulation of multinational enterprise.
d'Aquino serves on boards and advisory committees in Canada and abroad. He is the author of numerous publications, a regular commentator on radio and television, and a frequent public speaker in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. He has addressed audiences in 40 countries and in over 100 cities worldwide.
Canadian historian Jack Granatstein
Jack Granatstein
Jack Lawrence Granatstein, OC, FRSC is a Canadian historian who specializes in political and military history.-Education:Born in Toronto, Ontario, Granatstein received a graduation diploma from Le College militaire royal de Saint-Jean in 1959, his BA from the Royal Military College of Canada in...
has listed d'Aquino as one of the 100 most influential Canadians of the 20th century. Canadian author Peter C. Newman
Peter C. Newman
Peter Charles Newman, CC, CD is a Canadian journalist and writer.Born in Vienna, Austria, Newman emigrated from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to Canada in 1940 as a Jewish refugee. His father, Oscar, was a self-made wealthy factory owner. Newman was educated at Upper Canada College, where he was...
, in his book Titans, describes d'Aquino as "the most powerful influence on public policy formation in Canadian history". d'Aquino is the co-author of an influential book published in 2001, titled Northern Edge: How Canadians Can Triumph in the Global Economy.