Dr. Don Tapscott '66 & Ana Lopes

Dr. Don Tapscott '66 served as Trent's eleventh chancellor and was the first alumnus to hold this distinguished role. During his time as chancellor, he presided over Trent’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, the grand opening of the Student Centre, and the transformation of the Bata Library. When presiding over convocations, he would always encourage new graduates to live a life of consequence.

A celebrated author, Dr. Tapscott's books include 1992 bestseller, Paradigm Shift, and The Digital Economy, written in 1995. He helped popularize the terms “Net Generation” and “the Digital Divide” in Growing Up Digital. His most recent and ambitious book, published in 2016, Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Underlying Bitcoin is Changing Business, Money and the World, was co-authored with his son, bitcoin governance expert Alex Tapscott.

He is co-founder of the Blockchain Research Institute, leading definitive investigation into blockchain strategy, use-cases, implementation challenges and organizational transformations.

Among his many accolades, Dr. Tapscott is a member of the Order of Canada, is ranked the second most influential management thinker in the world by Thinkers50, and is one of the world’s leading authorities on innovation, media, and the economic and social impact of technology.

Ms. Lopes, born in Lisbon, Portugal, is a Toronto-based social innovator and entrepreneur who has led numerous not-for-profit transformations with a focus on corporate governance and philanthropic strategy. She has worked for 25 years in senior positions in both the private and public sector and is Director of the Tapscott Group, a privately held think tank focusing on the digital revolution in business and society.

Ana was appointed to Trent’s Board of Governors in 1998 and served for two terms. She was granted a lifetime appointment as Governor Emerita in December 2005 after the end of her board service. In 2018, the Trent University Alumni Association recognized Ana for her years of dedication by awarding her honorary alumni status.

Ms. Lopes was listed as one of WXN's 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in December 2013 and in 2014 and was awarded Portugal's Order of Merit by the President of Portugal. the President of Portugal. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2011.