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Each year the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Alumni Association (MAA) recognizes alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff whose commitment has had a significant impact on alumni life, the University and/or the community. This year, three ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Desautels alumni were among those honoured for their contributions to the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ community.

Neil Murdoch, BCom'81

Award of Merit
Neil Murdoch (BCom’81) was presented with the 2024 Award of Merit for his outstanding dedication to supporting ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ University and the Desautels Faculty of Management as a guest speaker, event host, startup coach, Dobson Cup judge, and trusted advisor. He has long shared his valued expertise as a member of the Desautels International Advisory Board, which he is currently chairing. He is also a member of the Toronto Regional Advisory Board and Campaign Cabinet. Known for his kindness and quiet patience, Neil is an inspiration to fellow volunteers and is exceptionally deserving of the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Alumni Association’s highest honour.

George Attar, BCom’82

E.P. Taylor Award
George Attar was honoured with this year’s E.P. Taylor Award for his loyal support for ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ both as a donor and volunteer. George played a key role in the creation of a student award to honour the memory of his close friend Richard Donovan, a widely beloved professor at the Desautels Faculty of Management who passed away in 2019. George’s impactful voluntary fundraising effort is one of the many ways he has demonstrated his leadership in support of the Faculty in its mission, and he continues to lend his expertise as a judge and supporter of the Desautels faculty’s case competitions.

Tanya Ezekiel, BCom’93

Alumni Student Engagement Award
Having enjoyed a successful career, first on Wall Street and more recently as an executive coach, Tanya has shown that she is always eager to help others get on the right path by sharing some of the lessons she has learned on her journey, and it is for this reason she was presented with this year’s Alumni Student Engagement Award. She has been generous in giving her time to ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ and has participated in an array of student and alumni activities at the Desautels Faculty of Management, with the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Women’s Alumnae Association, the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Women, Leadership and Philanthropy group in New York, and the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ New York Finance Group. She is also a Desautels Global Expert.