The TMG Recognition Awards offer a meaningful way for TMG members to celebrate one another’s great work and express appreciation across the community.
This program is intended to celebrate TMG members who are contributing to a brighter McMaster through the demonstration and reinforcement of McMaster’s core leadership capabilities.
Nominations are accepted in October each year and nominees and recipients are honoured at the winter TMG Forum.
Award Recipient: Takes an Inclusive & Strategic Approach
Kate is the deserving recipient of the Takes a Strategic and Inclusive Approach award — a reflection of her remarkable ability to align institutional strategy, inclusive design, and meaningful community engagement to advance accessibility across McMaster University.
Kate has redefined what strategic accessibility leadership can look like in higher education. Through her vision and expertise, she has transformed accessibility from a compliance requirement into a catalyst for academic excellence and cultural change.
A defining achievement of Kate’s work is the co-design and implementation of the Accessibility in Teaching and Learning (ATL) Roadmap — a comprehensive institutional framework that operationalizes accessibility across all levels of teaching and learning. Now in its first year of implementation, the ATL Roadmap engages more than two hundred community members and advances over sixty strategic recommendations in preparation for the forthcoming AODA Post-Secondary Education Standards. Kate’s ability to translate long-term vision into coordinated, actionable plans has made accessibility a shared responsibility across the University.
Kate’s impact extends far beyond policy development. She has embedded accessibility into strategic planning, governance structures, digital learning systems, procurement frameworks, and instructional practices. Her work on accessible procurement, accessibility-focused micro-credentials, training programs, and system-level initiatives demonstrates her foresight and her capacity to connect institutional priorities with tangible and sustainable outcomes.
Throughout her decade of service, Kate has built strong and trusting relationships across diverse campus partners — including the Office of the Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning, Student Accessibility Services, the MacPherson Institute, and Faculties across the University. She excels at creating alignment in complex environments, ensuring that accessibility is thoughtfully considered in decisions that shape teaching, learning, and student experience.
Kate’s strategic mindset is grounded in compassion, humility, and accountability. She ensures that disabled students, staff, and faculty are not only consulted, but included as co-creators of meaningful institutional change. This commitment to authentic collaboration has built a foundation for systemic, long-term progress and advances McMaster’s vision of an equitable and accessible learning environment for all.
Kate’s leadership is transformative — she brings clarity to complexity, connection to collaboration, and inclusivity to every space she enters. It is no exaggeration to say that McMaster is a more accessible, more equitable, and more future-ready institution because of her work.
Congratulations, Kate!
Award Recipient: Champions Change & Innovation
Jessica is the deserving recipient of the Champions Change and Innovation award — a testament to her creativity, strategic thinking, and ability to redefine what meaningful donor engagement looks like at McMaster.
Jessica consistently seeks out new ways to elevate how we steward donors and tell the university’s story. Her visionary leadership was most powerfully demonstrated through the creation of McMaster’s first-ever MD Bursary Celebration, The Future of Medicine. This event represented a transformative shift: moving from traditional stewardship practices to an immersive experience connecting donors directly with the students whose lives they have changed. The result was an emotionally resonant and strategically aligned celebration that inspired renewed investment in medical education.
Jessica’s innovative approach is grounded in collaboration. She led a remarkable cross-campus partnership — uniting the Dean’s Office, MPS, AVTEK, medical students, the Undergraduate Medical Education program, McMaster Catering, and University Advancement. From content design to audience flow to student storytelling, she led an ambitious vision with care, precision, and joy.
The outcome was exceptional: the event exceeded engagement goals, strengthened key donor relationships, and directly contributed to new philanthropic commitments. Jessica’s courage to think beyond convention, her ability to break down silos, and her deep understanding of how change fuels progress have set a new standard for donor experiences at McMaster.
Jessica’s leadership has made a lasting impact.
Congratulations, Jessica!
Award Recipient: Develops People
Gord is the recipient of the Develops People award — a reflection of his exceptional ability to empower others, cultivate inclusive team dynamics, and create environments where people can learn, grow, and succeed.
Working with Gord on McMaster’s AWS Landing Zone and Control Tower initiative has been a masterclass in people-centered leadership. This project brought together individuals from different teams, backgrounds, and levels of technical expertise. From the very beginning, Gord understood that success depended on shared learning and psychological safety. Instead of guarding expertise, he opened doors widely — encouraging questions, inviting curiosity, and ensuring that no one felt “behind” or “less than.”
Gord excels at demystifying complex concepts, connecting technical decisions to broader institutional contexts, and building confidence in others. He celebrates small wins, offers balanced and timely feedback, and invites diverse perspectives into the room. His leadership turns uncertainty into shared ownership.
Equally transformative is Gord’s ability to rebuild trust between teams. Where there was once hesitancy, Gord’s warmth, humour, and authenticity created space for collaboration and renewed connection. His presence shifts dynamics — colleagues now seek out opportunities to work with him. His impact extends far beyond a single project; it has strengthened relationships, expanded capabilities, and elevated the culture of collaborative learning at McMaster.
Congratulations, Gord!
Award Recipient: Invests in Relationships
T.J. is the recipient of the Invests in Relationships award — a reflection of his integrity, humility, and extraordinary commitment to building meaningful connections across McMaster and the broader community.
For more than 15 years, T.J. has been a cornerstone of Athletics & Recreation. His leadership is most visible on game days, where his team delivers some of the best hosting experiences — contributing to over 40,000 varsity tickets sold last year. Yet T.J.’s impact is far deeper than any single metric. He fosters a culture where students, staff, partners, and guests feel seen, valued, and appreciated.
After major events, T.J. sends thoughtful messages recognizing the contributions of everyone involved. He models the standard he expects from others — rolling up his sleeves, supporting his team, and leading with quiet strength.
T.J. is a true connector. He nurtures partnerships with student clubs, academic and operational units, and external organizations — including the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during their annual training camp. His strategic community-building helped enable 1.48 million check-ins to the DBAC and 18,000 hours of facility bookings last year.
When challenges arise, T.J. responds with creativity and collaboration. During unexpected construction in the Mindfulness Centre, he mobilized his network to secure alternate spaces so that student programs — from the marching band to instructional classes — could continue uninterrupted. His actions kept students at the centre and demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness.
T.J.’s dedication enhances McMaster’s brand, strengthens community connections, and enriches the student experience. He is a trusted colleague, a generous mentor, and a steady force behind many of our most successful initiatives.
Congratulations, T.J.!
Award Recipient: Drives Results
Meera is the recipient of the Drives Results award — a reflection of her extraordinary initiative, technical expertise, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Since stepping into her role in May 2024, Meera has transformed the MRCMS Core Facility into a model of innovation, operational efficiency, and research impact. Under her leadership, the Facility achieved its highest annual user-fee revenue in history, fueled by new analytical methods she developed to support interdisciplinary public health and biomedical research. These innovations generated more than $90,000 in additional revenue and attracted research groups from across McMaster and neighbouring universities.
Meera pairs scientific excellence with fiscal responsibility. She proactively reviewed and optimized consumable and operating expenses, enabling the Facility to operate at a surplus — a rare achievement for a Core Facility. Her strategic management of aging equipment, including decommissioning outdated instruments and integrating refurbished components, added significant operational value.
Meera is not only delivering exceptional results today — she is building the future. Her long-term vision includes instrumentation upgrades, enhanced turnaround times, and expanded student training opportunities. Her commitment to inclusive excellence ensures that learners from all backgrounds can access meaningful scientific training.
Meera’s leadership blends rigorous analytical thinking with deep commitment to community, sustainability, and equity. She has strengthened the Facility’s reputation, expanded its impact, and created pathways for continued success.
Congratulations, Meera!
Award Recipient: Communicates & Collaborates
Shayla is the deserving recipient of the Communicates and Collaborates award, celebrating her exceptional ability to foster trust, inclusivity, and connection through thoughtful, user-centered communication strategies.
Shayla blends strategic planning, creative storytelling, and team leadership in a way that humanizes McMaster’s brand and strengthens community engagement. Her work has significantly expanded the Faculty’s and University’s digital footprint — generating more than 3 million social media impressions and securing a landmark partnership with YouTube Health. Her content amplifies diverse voices, highlights student journeys, and elevates research breakthroughs in ways that resonate deeply with audiences across campus and beyond.
A standout achievement is her award-winning explainer video series featuring McMaster health experts, now nearing 800,000 views and adopted by CMPA as part of the university’s central content strategy. Shayla openly shares templates, approaches, and best practices with communicators across the institution, strengthening our collaborative culture and modeling transparency.
Her communication is rooted in empathy and inclusion. Shayla works closely with the Equity and Inclusion Office, the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge, and more than 20 cross-campus partners to ensure storytelling reflects diverse perspectives and cultural contexts. As co-chair of the Health Sciences EDIIR Communications Group, she has championed new forms of inclusive storytelling that foster belonging and pride. Her ability to secure and nurture partnerships — from YouTube Health to academic departments — reflects her strategic foresight, collaborative spirit, and deep respect for the people and communities she serves.
Shayla’s leadership has enriched McMaster’s digital presence and strengthened relationships across the university.
Congratulations, Shayla!
A list of all nominees and recipients of the 2025 TMG Recognition Awards.
* denotes recipient
A heartfelt congratulations to all of our award nominees and recipients.
A list of all past award recipients since the inception of the program in 2018.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
In the 2014 TMG Focus Groups, TMG employees expressed a need to feel more valued for their contributions. In response to this feedback, the TMG Total Compensation Re-Design Sub-Committee recommended a peer-to-peer recognition program as one way to acknowledge great work and show appreciation between TMG colleagues. This TMG recognition program launched in 2018 and runs annually.
The TMG Recognition Awards provide TMG members an opportunity to recognize their fellow TMG colleagues and are intended to celebrate members who are contributing to a brighter McMaster through the demonstration and reinforcement of McMaster’s core leadership capabilities.
As the intent of this program is for TMG members to recognize their colleagues, both the nominator and nominee must be members of TMG.
Full-time and part-time TMG members are eligible to participate. Nominators are encouraged to think of TMG colleagues they work with through projects and/or committees as well as TMG colleagues in their immediate department or faculty area.
Nominations from all levels of TMG will be supported which may include supervisors nominating their direct reports or TMG members nominating their supervisors.
Please note that nominators can submit a maximum of two nominations.
This program takes place annually and the award period is the calendar year. Nominations will open in the fall each year, and the awards will be presented at the winter TMG Forum. Announcements will be sent out to TMG members annually to identify the specific nomination period. Updates can also be found on this website when dates are confirmed and nomination forms are available.
When the nomination period opens for the TMG Recognition Awards, the nomination form will be available on this website. The nomination form collects basic identifying information and nominators are asked to share examples of how their nominee has demonstrated one or more of the six core leadership capabilities.
Answers on the nomination form may not exceed 500 words.
Nominators should consider reviewing the “What is the selection process?” section below to better understand how the nomination will be scored. Nominators may also wish to review the Sample Successful Nomination Submissions located on the right column of this webpage to see the breadth and depth of the answers that resulted in an Award.
Once the nomination form is completed and submitted, it is reviewed as part of the selection process (outlined below).
The TMG Recognition Awards celebrate outstanding contributions by members of the TMG community. To ensure a fair and thoughtful selection process, the following steps are undertaken:
1. Nomination Submission
All nominations must be submitted through the designated process outlined on the TMG Awards website. Once received, each nomination is reviewed for completeness and alignment with the eligibility criteria.
2. Initial Review and Consultation
Submitted nominations are shared with the nominee’s supervisor and Human Resources Services.
3. Short-Listing
Following the initial review, a short-list of nominations is prepared. This short-list reflects those nominations that are complete, meet all eligibility requirements, and are deemed to be strong candidates for further consideration. Not all nominations will advance to this stage.
4. Committee Review and Final Selection.
A selection committee is convened and is composed of members from the TMG Committee and TMG Sub-Committees.
Once nominations have closed, members of the TMG Awards Selection Committee independently review and score the short-listed nominations in each award category (based on the scoring criterion rubric) and develop a list of recommendations.
Nominations are scored based on the depth and breadth of examples provided. The scoring criterion rubric ranges from 1 (no information or clearly does not demonstrate the capability) to 5 (shows exceptional (above and beyond) evidence of demonstrating the capability).
Committee members reference McMaster’s Core Leadership Capabilities to help them identify observable abilities, skills, knowledge, motivations, and traits outlined in the nomination submission.
Committee members also reference the Proficiency Levels to consider the scope of each capability at different levels of leadership.
Once scores are submitted by all committee members, they are compiled and shared in a selection committee meeting. The Committee will select the list of final award recipients whose contributions are, in the committee’s view, the most significant. A maximum of one award for each of the six leadership capabilities will be granted, which could result in a maximum of six TMG members being recognized annually.
After the selection committee determines the list of TMG Award recipients, the TMG Committee Co-Chairs and/or Human Resources Services will:
Each award recipient will:
Additional recognition may appear in other University communications. Award details are subject to change.
For more information about the program or to request a coaching session to support your nomination submission, please reach out to Deb Garland, Manager, Workplace Health & Well-being Strategies.
To ensure continuous improvement for this program, we invite you to provide your feedback and suggestions by contacting any of the responsible parties listed under the Contact Us section located in the menu on the right column of this webpage.