CHIGOZIE OKWARA
Barrie,Ontario
Summary
Detail-oriented Executive Assistant with extensive experience supporting C-suite executives. Reduced scheduling conflicts by 30% and improved document turnaround by 25%, enhancing executive efficiency. Proven capacity to manage sensitive communications and coordinate Board governance while optimizing operational workflows.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Assistant / Board Liaison
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
12.2024 - Current
- Provided comprehensive strategic and administrative support to the Executive Director, serving as the primary point of contact for sensitive communications and coordinating all executive office functions.
- Acted as liaison between the Executive Director, Board members, senior government officials, and VIP stakeholders, fostering constructive relationships and ensuring the executive was appropriately briefed.
- Coordinated 12 subcommittees as Secretary to the Board of Trustees and Foundation Board, prepared agendas, recorded minutes, and maintained 200+ corporate governance documents with 100% compliance.
- Strategically managed executive scheduling, communications, and travel logistics, reducing scheduling conflicts by 30% and significantly improving preparedness for high-priority engagements.
- Drafted, proofread, and managed confidential correspondence, executive briefings, policy updates, and speeches with 99% accuracy in time-sensitive environments.
- Developed and maintained SOPs for executive correspondence, internal protocols, and document lifecycle management, reducing administrative response time by 30% across departments.
- Coordinated high-profile donor and government relations events, achieving 25% improvement in event delivery timelines.
- Tracked budgets and engaged vendors, achieving 95%+ budget accuracy and enhancing volunteer satisfaction by 15%.
Administrative Services Officer
Niagara College
Toronto, Canada
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Triaged 5,000+ emails as communications hub for executive and academic departments, reducing turnaround time by 80% and ensuring timely escalation of priority matters.
- Coordinated scheduling, digital tools, and CRM workflows to support senior leadership priorities, enhancing business development outcomes.
- Acted as the primary liaison between internal departments and external stakeholders, ensuring smooth communication and operational alignment for executive and academic leadership.
- Coordinated workshops and student engagement events, achieving consistent stakeholder satisfaction through well-organized logistics.
- Led onboarding and training for 12+ SaaS platforms, standardizing administrative practices across departments.
Human Resources Administrator
GoLocal Virtual Experience
Toronto, Canada
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Supported CEO and HR team by aligning project workflows with organizational strategic goals.
- Managed project timelines and deliverables while identifying risks and ensuring timely resolution.
- Implemented process improvements that enhanced HR documentation accuracy, reduced reporting errors, and supported compliance readiness.
- Drafted internal communications, policy memos, and governance documentation in collaboration with leadership, ensuring strict confidentiality.
Executive Administrative Manager, Talent Acquisition
Benefits Assets & Management Co. Ltd
, Nigeria
01.2019 - 01.2022
Executive Assistant, VP Human Resources
Benefits Assets & Management Co. Ltd
, Nigeria
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Provided high-level EA support to founders, COOs, and managing partners across HR consulting, education, finance, and technology sectors, managing all daily executive office functions.
- Oversaw calendar management, travel coordination, and meeting logistics across multiple time zones, ensuring seamless executive availability.
- Liaised with internal teams and external stakeholders for policy drafting, internal memos, and board documentation, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with organizational standards.
- Prepared variance reports, monthly performance dashboards, and financial reconciliations, enabling informed executive decision-making and strategic planning.
- Created SOPs for client onboarding, invoice tracking, and meeting cadences across cross-functional teams, streamlining processes and enhancing logistical support for Board committees and the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
- Facilitated onboarding and offboarding activities, processed technology requests, and maintained expense profiles.
Education
MBA Essentials -
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Toronto, ON, Canada01-2024
Essential Digital Skills for the Workforce -
Humber College
Toronto, ON, Canada01-2024
Graduate Certificate - Human Resources Management
Niagara College Canada
Toronto, ON, Canada01-2023
Project Management Skills Certificate -
01-2022
Executive Assistant Skills Certificate -
Alison
01-2022
Master of Laws - International Humanitarian Law
Imo State University
Owerri, Imo, Nigeria01-2018
Skills
- Board coordination
- Meeting coordination
- Calendar management
- Special Projects & Cross-Functional Initiatives
- Process improvement
- Records & Information Management
- Research and analysis
- MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Google Workspace
- SharePoint
- Calendly
- Zoom
- Project management tools
- CRM: HubSpot, ActiveCampaign
- Google Workspace
- Interpersonal Communication
Accomplishments
- Reduced executive administrative burden by up to 30% through proactive focus filtering, system automation, and workflow redesign.
- Cut organizational costs by 15% through process optimization and strategic vendor negotiations.
- Recognized for delivering high-stakes projects and confidential initiatives under pressure with exceptional quality and precision.
- Chaired and led cross-departmental administrative committees to standardize and enhance administrative practices region-wide.
Leadership Community
Advisor, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Club, Niagara College Toronto
Timeline
Executive Assistant / Board Liaison
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
12.2024 - Current
Administrative Services Officer
Niagara College
01.2023 - 01.2024
Human Resources Administrator
GoLocal Virtual Experience
01.2022 - 01.2023
Executive Administrative Manager, Talent Acquisition
Benefits Assets & Management Co. Ltd
01.2019 - 01.2022
Executive Assistant, VP Human Resources
Benefits Assets & Management Co. Ltd
01.2016 - 01.2019
MBA Essentials -
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Essential Digital Skills for the Workforce -
Humber College
Graduate Certificate - Human Resources Management
Niagara College Canada
Project Management Skills Certificate -
Executive Assistant Skills Certificate -
Alison
Master of Laws - International Humanitarian Law
Imo State University