Board Member Profile - Caroline Abougoush, President Elect
Tuesday, Jan 3, 2017
Almost immediately after moving to Calgary from Toronto, I got involved with CREW Calgary thanks to, my now good friend, Karen Price and have been a member since 2008. I am passionate in my belief that CREW can make a difference in all of our goals in advancing women in commercial real estate in Calgary. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering and later chairing the Events Committee and serving as a Director of the Board and Secretary for the Board in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Being involved as an active member has been an extremely positive experience, both professionally and personally.
Over the past decade, I have been involved in commercial real estate in various roles. I have worked in private practice, as a commercial real estate lawyer with Norton Rose Fulbright LLP (then Macleod Dixon LLP) and more recently, with the boutique firm, SMBP Lawyers. In between I led a business real estate team at Canadian Pacific Railway as Manager, Real Estate, Prairies responsible for acquisitions and dispositions. Now, I am thrilled to be joining the Oxford Properties’ legal team this October, as Director, Legal, Real Estate Management with cross-Canada responsibilities. Having worked both sides of the file, I have gained unique perspectives both as the lawyer and as the client. I am excited to take my perspective and my skills to Oxford Properties and if elected, to the President Elect role at CREW Calgary.
During my time on the CREW Calgary Board level I assisted in the drafting and coordination of the organization’s policies and procedures. Putting to paper the code by which CREW Calgary governs itself for the benefit of its members has been extremely rewarding. In collaboration with my fellow Board members, Committee Chairs and volunteer members and the broader CREW Network, we have consolidated and established many of the policy statements and procedures that are essential for strong governance and effective administration and leadership. If elected, I look forward to the opportunity of serving our membership as President Elect and focusing on the long term visions this Board has set by continuing to enhance our decision making skills and accountability as well as drawing on the passion and commitment of our team of volunteers, so we can all benefit from promoting women in real estate. I am very proud to be a part of CREW Calgary. I will work to grow our membership, enhance the networking opportunities for our members and engage our members for their ideas and inputs on our programming.