Announcements & Appointments HR News
HR leader Michelle Banik appointed to board of directors at Stella-Jones

Michelle Banik, an accomplished human resources professional, has been appointed to the board of directors for Stella-Jones Inc.

Banik brings particular expertise in performance management, talent optimization, HR innovation, succession planning and executive compensation to the Stella-Jones Board, the company said in a press release.

She joins Stella-Jones after having held increasingly senior HR roles at OMERS between 2010 and 2019, culminating in her appointment to the position of chief people officer and global head of HR, where she led a global team of HR professionals who were responsible for executing the OMERS People and Culture Strategy across OMERS’ Investment and Corporate teams.

Prior to her tenure at OMERS, Banik also served as a senior executive in HR at TMX Group, where she was director of human resources.

Banik has served on both corporate and not for profit boards. Current service includes Empire Company Limited (2021-present), Western University Board of Governors (2021 – present), National Board of Directors BGC Canada, formerly Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada (2017-present), and Western University, School for Advanced Studies in Arts & Humanities (2016- present).

In addition to a Bachelor of Arts from Western University and a Certified Human Resources Executive designation, Banik holds a Chartered Director designation from the DeGroote School of Business, and a Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. In 2023, Banik was honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Alumni Award of Achievement for Western University’s Faculty of Arts & Humanities.

“We are delighted to welcome Michelle to the Stella-Jones Board of Directors”, said Katherine Lehman, chair of the board. “She is an accomplished executive with an exceptional understanding of human resources, compensation, and diversity and inclusion, and will bring extensive knowledge to our board. I am confident that she will make an immediate contribution and all of our Board members look forward to working with her”.

Banik’s appointment is effective Jan. 15, 2024, and brings the total number of board members to eleven.

Stella-Jones Inc. is a producer of pressure-treated wood products. It supplies North America’s major electrical utilities and telecommunication companies with wood utility poles and North America’s Class 1, short line and commercial railroad operators with railway ties and timbers.

Stella-Jones also provides industrial products, which include wood for railway bridges and crossings, marine and foundation pilings, construction timbers and coal tar-based products. Additionally, the company manufactures and distributes treated residential lumber and accessories to Canadian and American retailers for outdoor applications, with a significant portion of the business devoted to servicing the Canadian market through its national manufacturing and distribution network.