Donna Hayes

Ms. Hayes is the retired Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Harlequin, one of the world’s leading publishers of books for women. She also spearheaded Harlequin’s industry leading level of innovation by incorporating forward looking technology (eBooks, downloadable audio, mobile applications) into their business model. Recognition of Harlequin under Hayes’ leadership included a Levy Home Entertainment Award for best mass market publisher, the Canadian Public Relations Society’s Gold Award of Excellence for communications management, a YWCA “W” Award for promoting the empowerment of women and Book Business Magazine’s Publishing Innovator of the Year. Ms. Hayes has served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Publishers, the Toronto Public Library Foundation and the Board of Directors of the TD Financial Group (Toronto-Dominion Bank), where she served on both the Audit and Corporate Governance Committees. She is currently the Co-Chair of the Toronto Wildlife Centre Board, the largest wild animal rescue center in Canada and also serves on the Board of the Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PiBO), founded by Graeme Gibson and Margaret Atwood and dedicated to the study and preservation of Canada’s migratory birds. Ms. Hayes holds an Honours Degree in English Literature and Communications from McGill University and has completed the Professional Publishing Course at Stanford University as well as the Executive Management Program at the Richard Ivey School at The University of Western Ontario.