Cheryl Foy is currently University Secretary and General Counsel at Ontario Tech University. She also acts as the University’s Chief Privacy, Compliance and Risk Officer. She is the author of the newly-published book An Introduction to University Governance. In addition to her book, Cheryl is a columnist on ethics for Canadian Lawyer InHouse (print and online). She also writes an online column called “Legally Speaking” for University Affairs Magazine. Cheryl was awarded the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, General Counsel Award in 2020 for her leadership and her commitment to the success of women in law. She is a 2021 finalist in the Canadian General Counsel Awards, in the category of Innovation.
Cheryl is an advocate for good governance and the development of the in-house legal profession. She is a founder and the Past President of Women General Counsel Canada, a national organization established by female general counsel who recognize that the role of GC is a unique leadership role bridging law and business and also that women in the GC role have common challenges and opportunities. Cheryl has served on a number of boards and currently serves as Investment Committee Chair, and Board member for the Canadian Universities Reciprocal Insurance Exchange.
Cheryl holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Studies, and a Bachelor of Laws, from Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1995.
