Committee | Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund

Jo Blodgett
Jo is a Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of Sport Exercise and Health at UCL, and a co-director of Kohlrabi, an independent research consultancy supporting government, charity and industry. Her primary research interests are physical activity, population health, wellbeing, and women’s health. Jo’s interest in physical activity goes beyond research, as she enjoys sport and playing football alongside her work. A former CCSF scholar (18-19, 19-20), Jo completed her PhD in Epidemiology and Population Health at UCL in 2020 and her BSc in Neuroscience and MSc in Community Health and Epidemiology at Dalhousie University.

Jill Cannon, Trustee
Jill is from Toronto and is a graduate of Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo. She developed a love affair with Europe while touring as the athletic therapist for Canada’s Olympic Speed Skating team and moved to the UK in 1988. Jill has enjoyed a diverse 25+ years in healthcare; 14 years with Bupa in the area of workplace health and wellbeing. Through her own consultancy she now provides insight and guidance to companies, both small and large, who seek to create healthier organisations. She also delights in collaborating with entrepreneurs and early stage healthcare companies helping develop their proposition and business strategy. A CCSF Trustee since the early 90s, one of Jill’s annual highlights is meeting and supporting the exceptional Canadian talent who choose to study in the UK.

Joana Cook
Joana Cook, a former CCSF Scholar, is Assistant Professor of Terrorism and Political Violence at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA), Leiden University (Netherlands), and Editor-in-Chief, Senior Project Manager at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT, Netherlands). She is also an Adjunct Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University (US). Her research focuses primarily on terrorism and counterterrorism, with a specialization in the roles of women, children and gender dynamics. Her recent books have focused on women in counterterrorism, and non-state actor governance. She completed her PhD in War Studies at King’s College London.

Kaylyn Fraser, Treasurer and Co-Chair
Kaylyn is originally from Ottawa but has been living in London for the past ten years. She currently works for AgDevCo, a specialist investor in African agribusinesses, where she helps to manage the delivery of its technical assistance services. Prior to this, she spent several years working in the emerging markets practice of an economic and financial consultancy business in London. Kaylyn has an undergraduate degree in Economics and French from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and two postgraduate degrees: a Master of Economics and Public Policy from Sciences Po Paris and the Ecole Polytechnique (both in France), as well as an MSc Economic History from the London School of Economics.

Kate Friesen
Kate Friesen, originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, earned an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, majoring in Immunology with minors in Physiology and Biology. During her undergraduate studies, she completed two research internships at the Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia. She subsequently completed her DPhil in Oncology at the University of Oxford as a two-time CCSF Scholar (2023–2024, 2024–2025), supported by a Clarendon Scholarship, where her research focused on engineering novel oncolytic viruses for the treatment of solid tumours. Kate is now based in Oxford, working as a Senior Scientist at a biotech startup company specializing in the engineering of viral vectors for gene therapy.

Ilan Hughes
Ilan is a Senior Associate at Gatehouse, a boutique geostrategic advisory firm based in London. He advises clients across financial services, consumer goods, automotive and energy sectors. Prior to joining Gatehouse, Ilan served as a Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commission in the UK and as a Policy Officer in the South Asia Bureau at Global Affairs Canada. Originally from Ottawa, he holds an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA (Hons) from the University of Toronto. He is committed to supporting Canadian interests in the UK and mentors students navigating international education and careers.

Matilda Kentridge, Trustee
Matilda is a long time London resident and has been an active member of the CCSF since 2010. A native of Toronto, she completed a BA (Hons) at McGill University and an LL.B. from Dalhousie University as well as a Graduate Diploma in the History of Art at the Courtauld Institue of Art. Matilda has enjoyed a diverse career in education, communications, finance and policy analysis in London, Geneva and Toronto.

Alex Lee
Alex is an investment banker in Royal Bank of Canada’s London office. Previously he worked at Deutsche Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and PwC. A native of Edmonton, he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Alberta, achieved the Chartered Accountant designation and is a CFA holder. He is thrilled to support Canadian graduate and post-graduate students in furthering their education and helping to showcase what Canada can contribute globally.

Robin Mansell, Trustee

Robin Mansell grew up in Vancouver. She has been a member of the CCSF for more than ten years. She is Professor Emerita in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science where her interests focus on digital technology innovation, regulation and the social impacts of online services. She is trained in several social science disciplines including social psychology, politics and economics. She previously worked at the Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex and at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. She is Fellow of the British Academy and the UK Academy of Social Sciences, an elected member of Academia Europaea, Board Member and Secretary of the Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy, Washington DC and former President of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). She has been an active contributor to LSE life having served as head of her department, Academic Governor, and interim Deputy Director and Provost. Robin received her PhD in 1984 in Communication from Simon Fraser University and holds an MA Simon Fraser University 1980, MSc University of London (LSE) 1976, and BA Hons University of Manitoba 1974.

Liz Messud

Liz is originally from Toronto and did her undergrad and MA at the University of Toronto in Russian Language and Literature, subsequently completing her LL.B at Dalhousie University. After qualifying and practising law in Toronto, she attended Cambridge University from which she obtained an LL.M. She has been based in London since 2017, working latterly for a FTSE 100 retailer as their General Counsel. Prior to that role, Liz worked for the Nestle Group, leading in-house legal teams variously in Russia, Spain, France, Switzerland and the UK.

Jacqueline Siu, Co-Chair
Jacqueline is originally from Vancouver where she completed a B.Sc. at the University of British Columbia in Microbiology & Immunology. She then pursued her Ph.D at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Surgery (Transplantation), and was a CCSF scholar during this time (2019-2020). Jacqueline is currently a Wellcome Trust Early Career Fellow at the University of Oxford where she focuses on the immune system, especially on how B cells produce antibodies after vaccination.

Jolee Tung

Jolee is an Engagement Manager in Oliver Wyman’s London Office. She advises clients in the Sport and Entertainment sector on strategy, commercial growth and investment reviews. Most recently, she was a Fellow at the World Economic Forum building a new multi-stakeholder initiative to accelerate the impact of the sports economy on people and the planet. Outside her core role, she also serves as Chief of Staff to Oliver Wyman’s global Sport business and leads the firm’s Asian Network in UK&I. Jolee is originally from Vancouver and Hong Kong. She graduated from University College London with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree. As part of the CCSF committee, she is passionate about continuing to strengthen the Canadian community in the UK and advancing Canada’s position on the world stage through education.

David Glennie, Honourary Member
David is the managing partner of the London office of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, a leading Canadian law firm. A native of Toronto, he studied History and French at the University of Toronto and then took a Masters in history before turning to law. David moved to London in 1986 to help open his firm’s first international office, and except for two years in the early 90s when he was back in Toronto, has lived here ever since. He has been involved with the CCSF for 15 years and is also a trustee of the Maple Leaf Trust.

Michelle Cassidy, Special Member
Michelle is the Commercial Officer – Financial Services at the Canadian High Commission. Michelle is originally from Toronto and came to the UK in 1987. Michelle has a BComm from Queens University and a Msc from the London School of Economics. After a career in the City, Michelle took a break to look after her three children and at this time took an active interest in the CCSF.

Conrad Harrington, Special Member
Conrad is a Senior Director of International Media Relations for CDPQ (Caisse de dépôt et placement du Quebec). Previously he was a Principal in the London office of Sard Verbinnen, a strategic communications firm. A native of Montreal, he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Dalhousie University before a Masters in Financial Management at Exeter University. He served as a CCSF Trustee and Treasurer for seven years before relocating from London to Montreal in 2020.