Cybele Negris, ICD.D

Summary

Cybele Negris is CEO and Co-Founder of Webnames.ca Inc., Canada’s original .CA Registrar and one of the country’s leading Internet solutions companies. She serves on the boards of leading Canadian businesses and not-for-profits and offers insights gained from her vast business and governance experience. As a serial entrepreneur in technology and construction/real estate sectors, she brings key expertise in e-commerce, digital and cybersecurity, strategic planning & leading growth, enterprise risk management, government relations and ESG.

Board Positions (Current)

Cybele brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and integrity to the table in any engagement she undertakes and is open to intriguing challenges in technology, corporate, government/crown, and non-profit sectors. Her current board positions include:

• Vice Chair of Board; Royal Canadian Mint (June 2023 to present) 
• Finance, Risk and Audit Committee and Governance Committee of Science World (2019 to present) (previous Vice Chair)
• Vice-Chair to Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development & Innovation on the BC Small Business Roundtable (2009 to present)
• Audit Committee and Human Resource, Health & Safety Committee of the Royal Canadian Mint (2017 to present)
• Chair of Risk Committee and member of Governance Committee at BCAA (2019 to present) (previously on Audit and Conduct Review Committees)
• Board of Directors, AGF Management Limited (TSX: AGF.B), HR & Compensation and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees (2022 to present)
• Board of Directors, Telus Vancouver & Coastal Community Board (2022 to present)
• Board of Directors, Webnames.ca Inc. (2000 to present)

Board Positions (Previously held)

• Blueshore Financial Board (2021 - 2023)
• Damon Motorcycles (2022-2023)
• Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (2019 - 2021)
• BC Premier’s Technology Council (2016 – 2018)
• Vice-Chair of the Board, Small Business BC (2009 – 2015)
• Board of Governors, Capilano University (2013 – 2015)
• Board of Directors, Capilano University Foundation (2013 – 2015)
• Board of Directors, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (2007 – 2014)
• Board of Directors, Vancouver Economic Development Commission (2009 – 2011)
• President, Wired Woman Vancouver (2005 – 2007)

Other Key Positions

• Chair, Departmental Audit Committee, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (June 2020 to April 2024)
• Columnist for Business in Vancouver (May 2012 to present)
• Founding Visionary of Canadian Prosperity Project (May 2020) and Co-Chair, Rosie the Riveter Inspired Initiative (Oct 2021 to present)
• Regional Ambassador Council for Women Get on Board (Oct 2017 to present)
• Technical Advisory Board for the Riverview Lands Redevelopment (Jan 2017 to present)
• Industry Engagement Table, Government of BC (during COVID)
• Appointed to the 3-member Small Business Taskforce by Bruce Ralston, BC, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology (May 201 to Dec 2019)
• Contributor and member of Forbes Business Council (March 2021 to March 2023)
• Advisory Council of Science World (Feb 2016 to 2019)
• Mentor through the Women's Executive Network (2010 to 2020)
• Innovation Advisory Council, Simon Fraser University (Sept 2016 to Dec 2019)

Awards & Recognitions

• Women's Executive Network, Canadian Equity Diversity & Inclusion Award in the Corporate Board Director's category 2023
• BMO Celebrating Women on Boards 2023 Honoree
• Business in Vancouver BC500 Most Influential Business Leaders in British Columbia 2021, 2022 and 2023
• Canada's Marketing, Advertising, PR & Communications Hall of Fame Inductee 2021
• BC Business Most Influential Women in Business 2015, 2017 and 2018
• Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women 2011, 2012, 2014 and in 2015 was inducted into the Hall of Fame
• Canada 150 Women -the country's most inspiring, ground-breaking and powerful female role models (2017)
• Diversity 50 - Canada's most diverse and eligible board candidates (2017)
• BC Business 50 Most Influential Women (2015)
• Business in Vancouver Influential Women in Business Award (2010)
• PROFIT W100 - Canada's Top Women Entrepreneurs for nine consecutive years, (2004 to 2012)
• Canada’s Top 50 Mompreneurs (2010),
• New Pioneers – Stories of 100 BC Women Entrepreneurs (2008)
• YWCA Women of Distinction Award (2007), Finalist Entrepreneur category 
• Canary Derby Top Fundraiser Award (2008, 2009 and 2010)
• Canary Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award (2009)
• Finalist, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific (2005)
• Winner of Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40 (2003)

Speaking

Cybele speaks at over two dozen entrepreneurship and technology conferences or events each year. Notable events include:

• TEDx
• Level Up Conference featured with former Prime Ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chretien 
• Keynote for CIO/CISO Conference
• Keynote for CMA Conference
• FP Reach CEO’s Leveraging Media
• WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women Summit
• Social Media Week
• Startup Canada’s Innovating Differently
• The Entrepreneur
• Technovation

Entrepreneurial / Business Accomplishments

CEO, Director & Founding Partner, Webnames.ca Inc. (2000 – ongoing)

• Webnames.ca is Canada's leading domain name registrar and hosting provider; Founded in 2000, Cybele and partners rapidly grew the firm to $2.5M revenue in the first year of operations
• Continued growth over two  decades while remaining  profitable; over 800 products including webhosting, email, DNS, SSL and more
• Webnames.ca Corporate unit provides concierge services to leading Canadian corporations with enhanced security, and service levels 
• Rapidly grew and nurtured the company to cater to Fortune 500 clients, leading trademark agents, government departments and more

President, Director and Co-Founder, CBD Consulting Ltd. (dba Construction By Design) (2002 – 2013)

• Construction management division of CBD Consulting
• Completed a number of high-profile projects including the presentation centre for the Arthur Erickson designed Ritz Carlton Tower, many restaurants, retail and mall locations as well as numerous multi-million-dollar luxury homes.
• Won the prestigious Gold Georgie Award 2006; two-time finalist 2009

President, Director and Founder, CBD Consulting Ltd.  (1997 – 2013)

• Provided business and management consulting services to a wide client list including private and public companies as well as government agencies such as the Department of Fisheries, Forest Renewal BC, Fisheries Renewal BC, University Industry Liaison Office at UBC and many more.
• Provided management consulting to a pharmaceuticals/nutriceuticals startup, building it to 40 people and going public.
• The company later focused on construction management. See above spinoff.

Education

• Competent Boards Sustainability & ESG Program (2023-2024). GCB.D Designation 2024
• Institute of Corporate Directors -HR & Compensation Committee Effectiveness (2021)
• Institute of Corporate Directors - Board Oversight of AI (2021)
• Institute of Corporate Directors - Audit Committee Effectiveness (2021)
• Institute of Corporate Directors – Director’s Education Program (2018-2019). ICD.D Designation 2019
• Institute of Corporate Directors – Board Oversight of Strategy (2018)
• Crown Corporation Directors Course at Canada School of Public Service (2017)
• Carver Board Governance Training (2009 and 2015)
• Dale Carnegie Training - emphasizing public speaking, strengthening leadership skills (1993)
• University of British Columbia-Bachelor Degree Psychology (1991) 1st class standing

Media