Advisory Board

Advisory Board Chair

John London has over 30 years of experience managing a wide variety of public and private businesses. His experience includes international Masters of Law degree, partnership at a Toronto Bay St. law firm, senior position at auto parts multinational, co-founder of public auto parts company, venture capital investing and CEO and board positions at technology and public pharmaceutical businesses. London’s current focus is business and academic board roles, including his roles at the Wood Centre as Chair of the Advisory Board and Executive in Residence.

President, Wood Development Group

Susan Frasson, born and raised in Guelph, Ontario, has been actively involved in her family’s businesses since age 9. After graduating from Western University, she worked as a Project Manager in the family business, designing new appliances and setting up assembly lines. She took time off to raise her growing family, then returned to the family business to implement special projects and strategic planning.

After the business was sold in 2008, Susan shifted to real estate and is now President of Wood Development Group. In 2009, her family established The W.C. Wood Foundation, where she remains actively involved. Along with her role at Wood Development Group, Susan and her family own and operate several other businesses. More than just a businesswoman, Susan is a philanthropist, activist, dedicated partner, and proud mother of four.

CEO, Crafty Ramen; Franchisee, Harvey's 

Khalil's passion for the restaurant industry began early, inspired by his family's success. He earned a degree in Management Economics and Industry Finance at the University of Guelph, co-founding Fresh Media Events Inc. during his studies. Khalil then went on to become the youngest multi-unit franchisee in Harvey’s, with top-performing locations and multiple awards.

Joining Crafty Ramen as a strategic investor in 2018, Khalil became CEO in 2021, quadrupling system sales and earning a spot on Canada’s Top Growing Businesses list in 2022 and 2023. He also chairs the board at the Foundation of The Guelph General Hospital and engages in numerous philanthropic efforts. Khalil's expertise in marketing, operations, finance, sourcing, and IT has established him as a leader in the restaurant industry.

Chief Executive Officer, Norfolk General Hospital

Emma Rogers is a proven social entrepreneur and an accomplished leader in social impact, advocacy, and fund development. For the past five years, Emma served as the dedicated CEO of the Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington. Prior to this role, she refined her expertise as the Director of Marketing at IG Wealth Management, following her tenure with United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin, where she held the position of Director of Community Relations and Engagement.

She has also been widely recognized for her philanthropic efforts, as co-founder of Guelph Gives, a community charitable initiative to encourage civic philanthropy and business engagement that was launched in 2014. and other community initiatives, Emma received the Guelph Mayor’s Award, Paul Harris Award, and was recognized as one of the community’s Forty Under Forty for her dynamic and visionary leadership.

Founder, Cullen’s Foods

Ben Cullen grew up in a gardening family which inspired his love for food and led him to attend an agriculture college in Ridgetown, Ontario. After college, Ben attended university in Nova Scotia and worked in the food industry before joining the John F. Wood Centre's Hub program to launch Cullen’s Foods. His company connects agricultural producers directly with consumers, ensuring a transparent supply chain by dealing directly with known farmers. 

Wood Centre Chair in Innovation

Barak S. Aharonson is the John F. Wood Centre’s Chair in Innovation in the Department of Management. He holds a BA from Tel-Aviv University, an MBA and CPA from Recanati Business School, and an MBA and PhD from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Before joining the Lang School in May 2021, he taught at Xiamen University, NYU's Stern School of Business, and the Coller School of Management.

A globally recognized scholar in strategic management and entrepreneurship, Dr. Aharonson supports the Wood Centre's mission to enhance innovation in Canada. He is an associate editor for the European Management Journal and teaches entrepreneurship and research methods. He supervises graduate students, serves on multiple committees, and continues to work on international research projects.

Wood Centre Chair in Entrepreneurship 

Felix Arndt is the John F. Wood Centre’s Chair in Entrepreneurship in the Department of Management. His research focuses on strategy, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and has been published in journals like the Academy of Management Review and the Journal of Business Ethics.

Felix is an active entrepreneur and investor with a fascination for new technologies. He holds patents and has extensive experience in scaling businesses, consulting, and lobbying. As a recognized executive and start-up coach, Felix provides consulting services to the private sector, policy advice to the government, and is an active board member at Boundless Accelerator.

Assistant Dean Strategic Partnerships and Societal Impact, Lang, University of Guelph

Audrey Jamal is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean at the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, specializing in community-engaged research. Her work focuses on enhancing local economic development through initiatives such as community wealth building, newcomer integration, downtown renewal, and the sharing economy. With a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo and an M.A. in Conflict Analysis and Management, Jamal is dedicated to fostering resilient communities.

Audrey collaborates with organizations like the Shorefast Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada, and the Canadian Urban Institute to study place-based strategies that activate local economies across Canada. Her research also explores the role of small and mid-sized cities in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Previously, Jamal led sustainability efforts at the University of Guelph, earning the institution a Gold rating in sustainability. She brings extensive experience in project management, fundraising, and community engagement from her executive roles in the not-for-profit sector.