Cyndi McLeod, CEO of GUS Canada, won the ‘Canada China Business Council’s (CCBC) 5 at 50 Award’ in the ‘Alumni’ category.

To recognise the 50th anniversary of Canada-China diplomatic relations, the CCBC’s 5 at 50 programme honoured individuals who have helped Canada benefit from its relationship with China.

Throughout her 25+ year career, Cyndi has been at the forefront of international initiatives. She has been a leader in the evolution of worldwide education, looking beyond global student recruitment to the internationalisation of institutions. She has also helped influence the direction of international education policy in Canada and China.

Since joining GUS, she has utilised her relationships to bring many Chinese delegations to GUS Canada institutions, including the Shanghai Publishing and Printing College, and has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the China Vocational Education Association and the South China Business School of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

Recently, UCW became one of only two private universities in British Columbia to be added to the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Education’s list of recognised universities from across the globe.

Cyndi McLeod said: “Winning this award is a true honour. I have spent most of my career working in international education, developing strategic partnerships and joint programmes with partners in China; getting this recognition from the Canada China Business Council is truly humbling.”