Equestrian Canada (EC) is pleased to confirm the three officers of the Board for the 2022-23 year who were voted and confirmed by the Board of Directors on Monday, September 26, 2022. Lisa Robertson takes on a new role as President, Christopher Lowe moves into the position of Vice President and Charles Cue is reaffirmed as Second Vice President.
Robertson, who resides in Regina, SK was first elected to the board in 2020. A lifetime athlete, sports professional and equestrian, Robertson served the last year as Vice President 1 on the Board and led the Strategic Initiatives Planning (SIP) Committee for the Strategy 2022-25: Building for a Better Future.
Coming from an equestrian family originally from California, horses have been part of Robertson’s life from a very early age. She became a competitive show jumper when her family moved to Alberta in the 1980s. After a short three years in the province, she won a famed scholarship at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament that moved her to the show grounds for three years to train under Canadian Olympian Jonathan Asselin.
In addition to her riding, Robertson played five years with the University of Calgary women’s basketball program while earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree where she was also a Canada West Universities Athletic Association champion and first-team all-star.
“We are honoured and excited to see Lisa step into the President role.”
Currently Director of Sport, Community Engagement and Athlete Development at the University of Regina, prior to her current position, Robertson enjoyed a long tenure in the Athletic Department at the University of Calgary as Director of Development and then Associate Director of the Olympic Oval. She also has a long history of volunteerism with various local sport clubs and community associations.
Taking on a leadership role at a National Sport Organization some might say was inevitable with her personal athletic achievements as well as her successful career in sport program management. In addition to enjoying continued time in the saddle today as an adult amateur, Lisa’s show jumping experience coupled with her sport development and high-performance experiences helps inform her role on the Board and has prepared her for the challenges ahead.
“The board and the organization under Chris Sorensen’s and Meg Krueger’s leadership became further stabilized and has set the future course through the new strategic plan and Vision 2030. I am so appreciative to him and the board for their work and now their trust in me,” said Robertson. “We are at the cusp of a new day for Equestrian Canada, and I am excited to be taking the reins at this time of growth and promise for the future!”
Krueger, EC’s Chief Executive Officer, is also enthusiastic about Robertson’s election. “Lisa has demonstrated her natural leadership and vision during her time as Vice President 1, and we are honoured and excited to see her step into the President role.”
Lowe, a portfolio manager in Vancouver, BC who also balances an equestrian career competing up to the 5* level, joined the board in 2021. With a desire to make an impact in a sport and industry he holds very dear, he is a member of the Finance Committee and was also on the SIP Committee this past year. Now as Vice President 1, he is looking to continue to combine his talents and passion for equestrian to help EC continue the progressive momentum of the organization.
Christopher who holds designations as a Charted Financial Analyst and Chartered Investment Manager, works for Odlum Brown in Vancouver, BC. Lowe competes in show jumping and develops a number of horses out of training facilities in Langley, BC and Iserlohn, Germany (R).
“I think where I can add value to an organization like Equestrian Canada is, on the one hand, I understand the sport and actively compete at a reasonably high level and on the other, I’m a finance professional and can assess it from a business perspective.” said Lowe. Through this election, the Board agrees that Lowe will bring valuable insights to the work to come.
Cue, a senior policy advisor and former Colonel in the Canadian Forces and at Veterans Affairs, joined the board in 2017. In addition to his lengthy service to Canada, his roots in the equestrian community also run deep as a co-owner of Rohan Wood Stables in Aylesford, NS, a social enterprise that he helped establish in 2003 that ties business and charity together through a partnership with Free Spirit Therapeutic Riding Association.
On the Board, Cue has been a judicious force and strong advocate for governance in both his role as Chair of the Governance Committee and Second Vice President. The board’s trust in his abilities was endorsed with his continuation for another year in his officer position.
“At this time of year, it is one of appreciation for those who’s terms are now complete and a time to look forward to what’s next,” said Krueger. “Chris Sorensen, Doug Orr, Carla Robin and Mark Goldman all made a significant impact and will be missed. Looking ahead, we have some new directors joining and having worked with all three of our newly elected officers over the past year, I am thrilled to have them leading the journey ahead.”
Krueger, who has been working together with Robertson, Lowe and the Board over the past 18 months on the new strategic plan, believes with these strong individuals and an excellent operational team, the future looks bright for EC.
“The board has created a vision 2030 and a strategy 2025,” she continued. “This will provide the foundation for what we are going to be working towards over the next few years. We have a lot of work ahead to see it come together but with the leadership from Lisa, and our two VPs, we’re all feeling very optimistic.”
For more information on the EC Board of Directors, visit here.
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