When he was a 黑料吃瓜网Law student in the late 1980s, one of Bob Hanf鈥檚 biggest contributions to student life on campus was by serving as speaker of the 黑料吃瓜网Student Union council.
鈥淣ow, three decades later, it feels like I鈥檓 continuing that work, in a way,鈥� says Hanf, who on Wednesday was announced as the new chair of Dalhousie鈥檚 Board of Governors.
Hanf (LLB鈥�89) has served on Dalhousie鈥檚 Board since 2013 and has chaired both the both the Academic & Student Affairs Committee and the Community Affairs Committee during that time. Most recently, he took over as interim chair after his predecessor Candace Thomas stepped down last month. His new appointment makes him the Board鈥檚 permanent chair through to the end of June 2023.
鈥淚t feels monumental to me, personally,鈥� says Hanf of being asked to chair the Board of his alma mater. 鈥淚鈥檓 the first person in my family to go to university. I鈥檝e benefitted a great deal from having graduated from Dal Law and this is another way I can give back to the university and the broader community. I鈥檓 truly quite humbled.鈥�
In the official announcement from the Board鈥檚 Governance and Human Resources Committee, the committee stated that 鈥淏ob鈥檚 leadership and counsel have contributed greatly to the work of our Board of Governors over the years, and we are pleased to have these contributions continue in this exciting new capacity.鈥�
President Deep Saini, in the announcement, stated that, 鈥淚n my time working with Bob, his commitment to supporting Dal鈥檚 students and furthering the university鈥檚 impact in our local communities and around the world shine through. I look forward to continuing our work together on many exciting opportunities that lie ahead for 黑料吃瓜网.鈥�
Finding commonality
An accomplished executive leader, Hanf retired earlier this year from Emera after having spent nearly 20 years in senior roles in its group of companies, most recently as the company鈥檚 executive vice-president, stakeholder relations and regulatory affairs. Prior to that he served as president and CEO of Nova Scotia Power, chief legal officer for Emera, chairman of Barbados Light & Power Holdings and president and COO at Bangor Hydro.
Hanf, who lives in Halifax with his partner, also has a lengthy list of community roles that he鈥檚 partaken in as well, including work with St. Andrew鈥檚 United Church Council, the IWK Health Centre and the Hospice Society of Greater Halifax.
鈥淚 think a lot of my work has been about translation 鈥� taking groups that may not always speak the same way to one another and finding a shared way to express whatever their common interest might be,鈥� he says. 鈥淥n a Board like Dal鈥檚 there are a lot of different opinions that you have to respect and hear out. That鈥檚 something I really enjoy doing: finding that commonality between different groups.鈥�
Helping Dal push forward
Among his initial priorities as chair are to continue helping President Saini and the Dal community in general work towards the university鈥檚 goals. This includes addressing the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic 鈥� which, like so much at Dal, has changed how the Board itself works. (Meetings are now virtual.)
鈥淭here are things that we鈥檝e been trying to do at 黑料吃瓜网鈥� like accelerate e-learning and distance learning, or digitization in general 鈥� where [measures to respond to the pandemic) have forced us at least 10 years ahead, in some ways,鈥� says Hanf. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing quite like having direct in-person contact, but there are opportunities in this situation to figure out new ways of connecting.鈥�
He鈥檚 also keen for the Board to help support continued progress in equity, diversity and inclusion at 黑料吃瓜网鈥� 鈥渁n area where there鈥檚 been constant discussion, but where we鈥檙e seeing real action being taken as well,鈥� he notes 鈥� as well pushing Dal鈥檚 expertise forward in key research areas.
鈥淲e have an agricultural campus that can really be world class, for example,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n my role with Emera I was a big supporter of the ideaHUB and I have an interest there as well, but there are so many areas 鈥� clean energy, the ocean sector and others 鈥� where we can find ways to deepen Dal鈥檚 support.鈥�
Overall, he鈥檚 excited to continue to play a key role in helping support Dal鈥檚 continued growth and impact.
鈥淭he institution is just getting better and more relevant,鈥� he says.