Board Mandate
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Our Board represents our shareholders and is the decision-making body for all matters deemed material to the business. The Board supervises the management of CN's business affairs, with the objective of increasing shareholder value.

In advising management on significant business issues, the Board has formal responsibility for:

  • Approving CN's strategy
  • Assessing and overseeing the succession planning of executive management
  • Monitoring corporate governance issues
  • Monitoring financial matters and internal controls
  • Monitoring pension fund matters
  • Monitoring environmental, safety and security matters

For more detailed information on these responsibilities, refer to the Management Information Circular.

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Board Members
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SHAUNEEN BRUDER
Chair of the Board, Retired Executive Vice-President Operations, Royal Bank of Canada

SHAUNEEN BRUDER

Chair of the Board, Retired Executive Vice-President Operations, Royal Bank of Canada


Ms. Bruder was, until her retirement on October 31, 2019, the Executive Vice-President, Operations at the Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) where she was responsible for overseeing operations related to all personal and business clients in Canada. Her previous senior roles at RBC include Executive Vice-President of Business and Commercial Banking, Chief Operating Officer of the Global Wealth Management division and President of RBC Centura Bank, Inc. in North Carolina.

She is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and served as Chair of the Board of Governors for the University of Guelph. Previously, she was appointed as the Chairperson of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian American Business Council. She serves as Honorary Consul for Luxembourg in Toronto. In 2012, she was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. She was appointed Chair of the Board of CN on May 20, 2022.

Ms. Bruder was inducted in the Women’s Executive Network 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada Hall of Fame in 2016. Ms. Bruder holds a B.A. from the University of Guelph and an MBA (Gold Medalist) from Queen’s University.

Ms. Bruder has been chair of the board since May 20, 2022. She is an official member on all committees of the board.

 
TRACY ROBINSON
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian National Railway Company

TRACY ROBINSON

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian National Railway Company


Ms. Robinson was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of CN on January 25, 2022, effective February 28, 2022. Prior to joining CN, she held various senior and executive positions at TC Energy Corporation between 2014 and 2022, including most recently as Executive Vice-President of TC Energy Corporation, President of Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines and President Coastal GasLink from 2019 to 2022. She also previously worked at Canadian Pacific Railway for nearly three decades.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Robinson has developed meaningful experience on private and industry boards. She chaired the board of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association and served on the boards of the Canadian Gas Association and the Business Council of British Columbia. She also served on the board of Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS), a charitable and non-profit entity governed by a volunteer board of directors, and acted as a board member of Smart Sand, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed frac sand supply and services company. Ms. Robinson is currently on the Campaign Committee of the University of Saskatchewan (“U. of S.”) and the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Edward’s School of Business of the U. of S.

Ms. Robinson holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Saskatchewan. She received her Institute of Corporate Directors designation in 2015.

 
JO-ANN DEPASS OLSOVSKY
Retired Executive Vice-President and Chief Information Officer, Salesforce

JO-ANN DEPASS OLSOVSKY

Retired Executive Vice-President and Chief Information Officer, Salesforce


Ms. dePass Olsovsky was most recently the Executive Vice-President and Chief Information Officer at Salesforce.com, Inc., a cloud-based software company, from February 2018 to August 2022 when she retired. At Salesforce.com, she oversaw a global information technology organization responsible for all internal systems, global network infrastructure and connectivity, cyber security and M&A systems integrations to ensure effective business automation and operations supporting a mobile workforce. Ms. dePass Olsovsky led the team responsible for many successful large scale system implementations, enabled Salesforce to migrate to 100% remote operations globally at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, integrated numerous acquisitions eliminating redundant systems infrastructure.

Prior to Salesforce.com, Ms. dePass Olsovsky was on the executive team at BNSF Railway (“BNSF”) for approximately 12 years. As their Senior Vice-President and Chief Information Officer, she led BNSF’s enterprise information technology function supporting all freight transportation systems, back-office systems, network technology, and cyber security enabling train movement and internal operations throughout North America. She led BNSF to greater operational efficiency through a migration to cloud applications and modernization of legacy systems, implemented positive train control (PTC), launched aerial drone operations for enhanced safety applications, and delivered predictive analytics for proactive maintenance of rolling stock through big data. Prior to her work at BNSF, Ms. dePass Olsovsky held technology leadership positions at GTE/Verizon and AT&T from 1984 to 2006.

Ms. dePass Olsovsky is also a member of the board of directors for Reltio Corp, a high-tech cloud native data management company and serves on its Finance and Audit Committee. She has been active in local communities and over the past 15 years acted as customer board member at various global companies (AT&T, Amazon, Google, Dell), and previously acted as a member of TCU Neeley School of Business Information Technology Advisory Board and the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Ms. dePass Olsovsky holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University, as well as a master’s degree in Project Management from George Washington University.

Ms. dePass Olsovsky has been chair of the Human Resources and Compensation committee since January 1, 2023. She is also part of the Audit, Finance and Risk committee.

 
DAVID FREEMAN
Former Executive Vice-President of Operations, BNSF

DAVID FREEMAN

Former Executive Vice-President of Operations, BNSF


Mr. Freeman is the former Executive Vice-President of Operations for BNSF. In this capacity, Mr. Freeman oversaw all engineering, environmental, mechanical, operations support, transportation, safety and training, service design and resource protection for the entire railway. After a successful 19-year career during which he held various senior positions, Mr. Freeman retired from BNSF in early 2020. Prior to joining BNSF, Mr. Freeman worked from 1981 to 2001 in the aluminum industry at Alcoa Corporation and Imco Recycling Inc., where he occupied various roles, including in manufacturing and supply chain. From 1976 to 1981, Mr. Freeman held different functions relating to engineering, mechanical and transportation at the Missouri Pacific Railroad (now a part of Union Pacific Corporation).

Mr. Freeman is a member of the Board of directors of Loram Holdings, Inc., a private company involved in the design, build and operations for various maintenance of way equipment and activities in the railroad industry. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Freeman sat on the Board of governors of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association.

Mr. Freeman holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University.

Mr. Freeman is a member on the Governance, Sustainability and Safety committee and the Pension and Investment committee.

 
DENISE GRAY
Former Director External Affairs & Government Relations, North America, LG Energy Solution Michigan Inc., U.S.

DENISE GRAY

Former Director External Affairs & Government Relations, North America, LG Energy Solution Michigan Inc., U.S.


Ms. Gray was Director, External Affairs & Government Relations, North America, LG Energy Solution Michigan Inc., U.S., a subsidiary of LG Energy Solution Ltd. Until March 14, 2022, she oversaw the North American subsidiary of South Korean LG Energy Solution, one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturers, as President of LG Chem Michigan Inc. Tech Center, subsidiary of LG Energy Solution Ltd, since 2018. Before that, she was President and Chief Executive Officer of LG Chem Power, Inc., a company focused on lithium-ion polymer battery technology applications in the North American automotive and commercial markets. Prior to September 2015, she was Vice-President, Powertrain Electrification at AVL List GmbH in Graz, Austria and North America. For over 30 years prior to March 2010, she had roles of increasing responsibility at General Motors including acting as head of Global Battery Systems Engineering where she was a driving force behind the Chevrolet Volt Vehicle Battery.

Ms. Gray was a member of the board of Tenneco, Inc., a U.S. public company and a manufacturer of automotive products for global markets, including light vehicle, commercial truck, industrial and the aftermarket from 2019 to 2022 and served as a member of the board’s audit and compensation committees. Ms. Gray also serves on the board of directors of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA), a non-profit trade association that represents original equipment automotive suppliers in North America. Her support of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) academic disciplines was recognized when she was awarded the 2017 Women of Color Technologist of the Year Award.

Ms. Gray holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University and a master’s degree in Engineering Management Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Ms. Gray has been chair of the Governance, Sustainability and Safety committee since April 25, 2023. She is also a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk committee.

 
JUSTIN M. HOWELL
Senior Investment Manager, Cascade Asset Management Co.

JUSTIN M. HOWELL

Senior Investment Manager, Cascade Asset Management Co.


Mr. Howell is a senior investment manager with Cascade Asset Management Co., the investment office for the Gates Family and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr. Howell was formerly an investment banker, with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, New York, New York and a lawyer with the law firm, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, New York.

Mr. Howell is the chair of the nomination and compensation committee and a member of the board of directors of Sika AG, a multinational specialty chemical company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and headquartered in Baar, Switzerland.

Mr. Howell studied at McGill University, Montreal, Canada and holds a B.A. from UNBC and a LL.B./B.C.L. degree from McGill University Faculty of Law. He is retired from the New York and Washington State Bars.

Mr. Howell has been chair of the Pension and Investments committee since May 20, 2020. He is also a member of the Governance, Sustainability and Safety committee and the Human Resources and Compensation committee.

 
SUSAN C. JONES
Corporate Director, TC Energy

SUSAN C. JONES

Corporate Director, TC Energy


Ms. Jones is a Corporate Director having served on numerous public company boards and having held various leadership positions within public companies throughout her career in the energy, energy transition, mining and agricultural sectors. She also has experience with Class I railroads from a customer-lens, having dealt with such railways as customers throughout her career. She currently sits on the boards of the companies in the below table.

Ms. Jones served as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Potash Business Unit at Nutrien Ltd. (“Nutrien”) until her retirement in 2019. She also held a variety of leadership roles within Nutrien between 2004 and 2017, including, among others, Chief Legal Officer, Senior Vice-President of the Phosphate Business Unit, Managing Director of the European Fertilizer trading business, Vice-President of Marketing and Distribution, and Senior Director of Business Development and Strategy. In these roles, she was responsible for running and transforming large businesses, with a focus on operational excellence, people and culture, including leadership in unionized environments. Prior to her career at Nutrien, Ms. Jones was a partner at Jones & Ruud Law Corp from 1996 until 2003.

Ms. Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Hispanic Studies from the University of Victoria, as well as a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa. She also earned a Leadership Diploma from the University of Oxford and holds a Director Certificate from Harvard University. In 2017, she was named the Osler Purdy Crawford Deal Maker of the Year at the Canadian General Counsel Awards in recognition of her role in the merger of Agrium Inc. and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. Ms. Jones has also served on the United Way and the Canadian Bar Association and has been an active supporter of women’s leadership groups and equity, diversity and inclusion throughout her career.

Ms. Jones is a member of the Human Resources and Compensation committee and the Pension and Investment committee.

 
ROBERT KNIGHT
Retired Chief Financial Officer, Union Pacific Corporation

ROBERT KNIGHT

Retired Chief Financial Officer, Union Pacific Corporation


Mr. Knight is a corporate director and the former Chief Financial Officer of Union Pacific Corporation, a position he held for 15 years before retiring in December 2019. For seven consecutive years, Mr. Knight was named to Institutional Investor magazine’s All-America Executive Team as the top CFO in all of transportation. During Mr. Knight’s 40-year tenure at Union Pacific Corporation, he also held a variety of senior executive positions, including General Manager of the company’s energy and automotive business units.

As a proven leader with extensive experience in finance, strategy and corporate governance, Mr. Knight serves as a director and member of the Compensation Committee at Schneider National, Inc., director and Chair of the Audit Committee at Hyliion Holdings Corp. and was a director at Carrix Corporation, a private transportation services company.

Mr. Knight holds an MBA from Southern Illinois University and a B.A. from Kansas State University.

Mr. Knight is a member on the Audit, Finance and Risk committee and the Human Resources and Compensation committee.

 
MICHEL LETELLIER
President and Chief Executive Officer, Innergex Renewal Energy Inc.

MICHEL LETELLIER

President and Chief Executive Officer, Innergex Renewal Energy Inc.


Mr. Letellier has been the President and CEO of Innergex Renewal Energy Inc. (“Innergex”) since October 25, 2007. Mr. Letellier is responsible for providing strategic leadership and overseeing all of Innergex’s business activities, in order to ensure its sound financial management and long-term sustainability. Prior to his current role, he acted as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Innergex from 2003 until his appointment as President and CEO on October 25, 2007. From 1997 to 2003, Mr. Letellier was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Innergex GP Inc. and was responsible for the financial management of the affairs of Innergex GP Inc., Innergex, Limited Partnership and Innergex Power Income Fund. Prior to joining Innergex, Mr. Letellier worked at Boralex Inc. from 1990 to 1997, where he was involved in the development and operation of several run-of-river hydroelectric projects and where he held positions of increasing responsibility. Prior to that, he spent two years as a member of the Corporate Finance group at Brault Guy O’Brien Inc.

He holds a MBA from Université de Sherbrooke as well as a bachelor’s degree in commerce (finance) from Université du Québec à Montréal.

 
MARGARET A. McKENZIE
Corporate Director, PrairieSky Royalty Ltd

MARGARET A. McKENZIE

Corporate Director, PrairieSky Royalty Ltd


Ms. McKenzie is a Corporate Director with more than 30 years’ experience in the energy sector where she developed expertise in financial reporting, treasury, corporate finance and risk management. She currently serves as a director and Chair of the Audit Committee of PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.

Ms. McKenzie is the founder and former Chief Financial Officer of Range Royalty Management Ltd, a position she assumed from 2006 to 2014. In addition to being the Chief Financial Officer of Profico Energy Management Ltd. from 2000 to 2006, Ms. McKenzie served on both public and private company boards since 2006. She has also served on non-profit boards including the Audit Committee for the University of Calgary from 2014 to 2017 and the Capital Campaign Committee for the Alex Community Food Centre in 2016–2017.

Ms. McKenzie holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Accounting) from the University of Saskatchewan and has obtained her designation as ICD.D with the Institute of Corporate Directors. She has also been Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA CA) since 1985 and received the designation of Fellow CPA in 2022.

Ms. McKenzie has been chair of the Audit, Finance an Risk committee since May 20, 2022. She is also part of the Governance, Sustainability and Safety committee and the Pension and Investments committee.

 
AL MONACO
Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, Enbridge Inc.

AL MONACO

Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, Enbridge Inc.


Mr. Monaco was, until his retirement on January 1, 2023, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Enbridge Inc. (“Enbridge”), an energy infrastructure company. Appointed as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Enbridge in 2012, Mr. Monaco led Enbridge through a period of transformational growth combined with an intensified focus on safety, reliability and environmental protection that has positioned it as North America’s leading diversified energy delivery company. Previously, he held a number of executive positions at Enbridge, including President, Gas Pipelines, Renewable Energy & International, President, Gas Distribution and Storage, Executive Vice President, Major Projects & Renewable Energy and Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning and Development.

Mr. Monaco is a director of Weyerhaeuser Company, and a former director and member of the executive committee, and Chair of the Finance Committee, of the American Petroleum Institute; a director and a member of the Business Council (US); the U.S. National Petroleum Council, the Business Council of Canada, the Business Council of Alberta, and the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board. He was the recipient of the Fraser Institute’s Founders Award (2019) and has been recognized, among many other recognitions, as “Canadian Energy Person of the Year” (2017). Most recently, he was awarded the Honouring Integrity, Legacy and Leadership (HILL) Award from the University of Regina.

He earned his MBA from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and is a CPA and a certified management accountant. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Mr. Monaco is a member of the Governance, Sustainability and Safety committee and the Human Resources and Compensation committee.

 
Committees and Mandates
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COMMITTEES AND MANDATES DEFINITION CHAIR MEMBERS
Audit, Finance and Risk (PDF)

Margaret Mckenzie

Shauneen Bruder
Jo-Ann DePass Olsovsky
Denise Gray
Robert Knight
Michel Letellier

Governance, Sustainability and Safety (PDF)

Denise Gray

Shauneen Bruder
David Freeman
Justin M. Howell
Michel Letellier
Margaret McKenzie
Al Monaco

Human Resources and Compensation (PDF)

Jo-Ann DePass Olsovsky

Shauneen Bruder
Justin M. Howell
Susan C. Jones
Robert Knight
Al Monaco

Pension and Investment (PDF)

Justin M. Howell

Shauneen Bruder
David Freeman
Susan C. Jones
Margaret McKenzie