2017 CPA Manitoba Member Recognition Spotlight MemberRecognitionSpotlight2017 | Page 8

Fellow CPA (FCPA)
Cheryl Barker, FCPA, FCA
Cheryl began her career as a member on an audit team at what is now KPMG. Twenty-one
years later she was president and CEO of MTS Communications Inc. and named one of
Canada’s top-100 most powerful women by WXN (Women’s Executive Network).
Cheryl worked at MTS for over 19 years. First as Treasurer and then Executive VP Finance
& CFO, before ultimately becoming President and CEO in 2002. Along the way she worked
on and led many incredible projects.
She was integral to the process which led to the initial public offering of MTS when it
transitioned from a provincial crown corporation in the late 1990s.
Under her leadership, MTS pursued and secured the rights to name True North Sports
+ Entertainment’s MTS Centre. The deal equipped the facility with the latest possible
technology and continues to generate massive
brand recognition for the company.

Cheryl also worked with partners and
colleagues to create a multi-faceted program
that enables equitable career
advancement for women.

In addition to her contributions in the public
and private sectors, she also lent her skills to
many volunteer and charitable organizations.

In 2006, she was appointed to the PSP
Investment board where she served as
Chair. During her tenure, the board
developed a Risk Appetite Statement that
defined the board’s appetite, attitude and
tolerance for risk and became a signatory
of the United Nations-supported
Principles for Responsible Investment.

Her accomplishments as Chair of the
board at Manitoba Film & Music includes
helping to bring the 2005 Juno Awards to
Winnipeg and an increase in the number
of major motion pictures filmed in
Winnipeg. This lead to an appointment on
the Canadian Media Fund Board where
she currently serves.