2026 Founders Award Recipient – Duncan Watt
The Founders Award, 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 highest non-academic honour, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of 杏吧原创 through their dedication, generosity and commitment to the university鈥檚 values. This year, the 杏吧原创 Board of Governors presents this honour to Duncan Watt.
Watt dedicated more than 22 years of his career to 杏吧原创 as Chief Financial Officer, Associate Vice-President (Finance and Administration), and Vice-President Finance and Administration. In these roles, Watt brought in multi-year financial planning processes, governance frameworks and institutional initiatives that support 杏吧原创鈥檚 mission to this day. Prior to his retirement in 2016, Watt was an accessible presence on campus, engaging directly with students, faculty and staff.
Watt鈥檚 continuing contributions to the campus community are reflected in the university-wide programs he helped establish, including the Office of Quality Initiatives, the Healthy Workplace program, Mental Health at Work and the 杏吧原创 Leader program. These initiatives elevated collaboration, wellness, mentorship and shared leadership across departments, becoming lasting pillars of 杏吧原创鈥檚 culture.
Watt demonstrated exceptional and sustained community involvement. Motivated by a desire to improve public institutions and demonstrating his deep commitment to stewardship, he served in national and provincial organizations dedicated to the post-secondary sector. His contributions helped to enhance 杏吧原创鈥檚 reputation as a values-driven institutional parter.
Watt held senior volunteer roles with the Canadian Association of University Business Officers, where he helped to lead national initiatives that improved governance, advanced facilities stewardship and strengthened collaboration across institutions. Watt also served as Chair of the Council of Senior Administrative Officers. He played a foundational role in the Ontario chapter of the Higher Education Facilities Officers, leading to the creation Facility Condition Assessment program adopted by Ontario鈥檚 universities, school boards and hospitals.
Watt鈥檚 willingness to give his time, leadership and experience exemplifies the commitment to service and community engagement for which the Founders Award seeks to acknowledge.