ORBA introduces new leadership team

Walid Abou-Hamde. (Photo courtesy of Ontario Road Builders’ Association)

The Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA) has a new executive director. The organization recently named Walid Abou-Hamde to the role, one of several management-level changes included in a slate of recent personnel announcements. He begins the role today.

Abou-Hamde, who holds an honours bachelor of applied science degree in chemical engineering, has a career history that includes key government roles related to the construction trades, having worked with the provincial government in the infrastructure and labour portfolios, as well as with Skilled Trades Ontario.

“We are convinced that Walid will be able to leverage the strengths that he has achieved over the past seven years to benefit ORBA and Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council (OAPC) members,” said ORBA president, Mario Villeneuve. “ORBA/OAPC priorities over the next several years will focus on contract and risk management, workforce development and sustainability. Walid’s background and experience will serve our members and position the association as the leading voice for the transportation infrastructure industry in Ontario.”

He most recently served as vice-president, corporate affairs and partnerships at Skilled Trades Ontario, where his leadership significantly enhanced corporate governance and partnership cultivation. ORBA says his leadership style, characterized by strategic planning, innovative problem-solving and collaborative teamwork, promises to usher in a new era of growth and innovation for the association.

“This marks a significant new chapter in ORBA’s ongoing pursuit of excellence and innovation, underpinned by our commitment to being the leading advocate for sustainable transportation infrastructure that meets the needs of Ontarians,” said Villeneuve.

The president, and the ORBA Board, also extended gratitude to Michael McSweeney.  During a 12-month contract with ORBA, McSweeney worked on the tasks of restructuring, reposition and realign ORBA’s priorities to facilitate working with government. He will stay on as CEO of ORBA until the end of October, at which time Abou-Hamde will assume the position of ORBA CEO.

As part of the restructured, ORBA promoted several staff members this past May. Starting new roles with the organization were Jasvinder Singh, Guru Missar, Xin Chen, Abhinav Gupta, Ashley Manson, Simarpreet Kaur and Doubra Ambaiowei.

Singh is now director of membership Services and events planning; Missar has been promoted to director of marketing and Communications; Chen joins the team as head of finance; Gupta has been named senior manager of membership services and events planning; Manson is the head of human resources, administration and governance; Kaur is currently serving as manager of human resource, governance & administration while Manson is on parental leave; and Ambaiowei was named director of technical services.

www.orba.org