Alumni Volunteer Award: Nancy Brown Andison

Nancy Brown Andison
B.Sc. (Agr.) '79

Nancy Brown Andison is a respected and committed volunteer who has tirelessly served the University of Guelph and many other organizations. She graduated from the University of Guelph with a B.Sc.Agr. in 1979 and went on to do an MBA at Queen’s University. She is also a graduate of the Chartered Directors Program at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business. Nancy joined the University of Guelph Board of Governors in 2014 and has demonstrated energy and passion in her service. As Chair of the Finance Committee she provides guidance and oversight for some of the most critical issues facing the University, particularly given the climate of fiscal uncertainty. Nancy served as the Board’s representative on the University Senate, as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Governance and Human Resource Committee and the Pensions Committee. She has also been the Board’s representative on both the President’s and the Provost’s Appointment Review Committees.

In 2015, Nancy worked in earnest as a member of the President’s Strategic Renewal Advisory Committee, helping steer the process and renew the University’s strategic plan for the first time in 20 years. Nancy was a driving force behind the Class of OAC ’79’s 25-year reunion project and currently their 40th year reunion project. Early in her career, she also served on the University of Guelph Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Building Committee for the University’s Alumni House.

Outside of the University, Nancy’s aggie spirit shines through — she serves on the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) Board of Directors and is also chair of the Royal’s Agriculture & Food Committee. For 18 years Nancy has been a Board Member and Treasurer of Farm Radio International a Canadian based charity which provides educational agriculture and food broadcasting to farmers in Africa. She has previously served on the Ontario 4-H Foundation, been a 4-H Club Leader as well as a board member and volunteer for community library and arts’ organizations.

With a distinguished career including national leadership positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM Canada, Nancy made important contributions to policy and strategy relating to food, agriculture, forestry, environment, transportation and trade.

Nancy has hired and mentored several OAC graduates and was recently named Distinguished Alumna by the Department of Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics for her contributions to agriculture & food economics and policy in Ontario and Canada. Despite her many responsibilities and commitments, she finds time to volunteer as a guest speaker in OAC undergraduate classes. The University is fortunate to have alumni volunteers like Nancy — her longstanding commitment and dedication are an inspiration to the entire community.