Vancouver, British Columbia - The Salvation Army British Columbia Division apppointed Robert G. McFarlane, former CFO of Canada's largest wireless carrier Clearnet, TELUS, as the 14th Vancouver Advisory Board Chair, which McFarlane has agreed to serve.
After an early career in corporate finance, McFarlane became CFO of start‐up national wireless carrier Clearnet for its 1994 IPO and was a key member of the executive team. Notably, he led eleven consecutive successful financings that raised over $3.3 billion until Clearnet's $7.7 billion sale to TELUS in 2000.
Re‐locating from Toronto to Vancouver, for the next dozen years McFarlane was EVP and CFO of TELUS Corporation. He supported a national team of over 800 professionals with responsibility for conventional Finance functions, as well as Corporate Strategy, M&A, Ventures Investment, Risk Management and Regulatory and Governmental Affairs. Throughout this time the TELUS Finance team received numerous awards and global recognition for leading practices including in treasury, financial reporting, investor relations and CSR. In 2007 Mr. McFarlane was named Canada's Top CFO and in 2011 was recognized by Queen's University with the Kathleen Beaumont Hill Award for his outstanding contribution to Queen's and Canada.
McFarlane has been a contributor to public policy and strong advocate of good corporate governance with accomplished board membership in both corporate and NPO sectors. Currently McFarlane is Deputy Chair of the Board and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of RSA Canada, member of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee of InnVest Real Estate Investment Trust, Vice Chair of the National Advisory Board of The Salvation Army, Director of Vancouver College and member of the Board of Trustees of Queen's University.
McFarlane has been active in coaching youth basketball and football for many years and in 2013 was recognized by BC Sports with an Exceptional Merit Award for his support and contributions to the BC youth basketball community. Mr. McFarlane holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queen's University at Kingston and a Master of Business Administration from the Ivey Business School, Western University.
As the incoming Advisory Board Chair, McFarlane was recommended by the Board's Nominating Committee and elected by a majority vote of its members and will serve as the 14th Chair of the Vancouver Advisory Board. The role of the board Chair and its members is to advise and assist The Salvation Army on issues that have a significant impact on its Province wide operations. The Vancouver Advisory Board, inaugurated in April, 1947, has been a continual tower of strength in support of Salvation Army work in British Columbia for nearly 70 years. Shared, Divisional Commander for the British Columbia Division, Lt. Colonel Larry Martin, "As the Divisional Commander for British Columbia over the last three years, I have relied on the expertise of The Salvation Army's Greater Vancouver Advisory Board, especially stemming from the experience of Mr. McFarlane. I am most confident that, as Board Chair, Mr. McFarlane will continue to provide guidance and direction in community engagement through corporations and individuals, government liaising, the strengthening of communityrelationships, fund‐raising and ultimately in promoting and investing in work of The Salvation Army. We are fortunate and grateful to have him serve on our Advisory Board.
"The Salvation Army wishes to thank outgoing Advisory Board Chair, Thomas E. Skidmore, who served from 2004 ‐ 2014. Mr. Skidmore has been a valued board member for over 20 years and will continue to serve as a member of the Advisory Board moving forward. Mr. Skidmore's distinguished service has helped to further the work of The Salvation Army throughout British Columbia and the Territory and as a result, he received the Distinguished Auxiliary Service Award last week. This award is the highest and most prestigious award that The Salvation Army can bestow, and is given in recognition of meritorious service rendered in support of Salvation Army programs. This award can only be granted by the General upon the recommendation of the Territorial Commander.
