William Crooks
Margaret Shepherd and Charles Milliard stand in front of the Bishop’s University Library following the announcement of Milliard’s appointment as Executive in Residence at the Williams School of Business

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Bishop’s University’s Williams School of Business (WSB) is bringing new real-world expertise into its classrooms with the appointment of Charles Milliard as Executive in Residence for the fall term. The position, recommended by WSB Dean Dr. Margaret Shepherd, is designed to strengthen ties between the university and leaders in the business world, offering students direct access to contemporary perspectives on strategy, innovation, and responsible growth.

Milliard, 45, is a North Hatley resident, pharmacist by training, and former executive vice-president of Uniprix. He later served as CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), overseeing chambers of commerce across the province. Milliard also recently ran for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party, placing second before deciding to seek a new professional challenge in the region.

“I’m immensely proud to be joining the team at Bishop’s University’s Williams School of Business,” Milliard said. “Bishop’s is a small gem of a university, truly one of a kind in Quebec and Canada. I’m genuinely delighted to be able to contribute, in my own way, to its profile, and to have the opportunity to teach the next generation of business leaders.” He added that his career has brought him into contact with leaders in health, economics, and politics, and he looks forward to discussing “the importance of our entrepreneurial fabric as a driver of our collective prosperity, and our shared ambitions for the Quebec of tomorrow.”

As Executive in Residence, Milliard will teach three courses, mentor students, give guest lectures in other faculties, and take part in a variety of WSB and campus activities. “It’s not a weekend thing,” he noted. “I live [in North Hatley] full time.” Beyond his classes, he intends to inspire students with stories and lessons from his two decades of work with entrepreneurs across Quebec. He expressed concern about what he sees as a decline in entrepreneurial instinct in the province, citing the complexity of starting a business and the lure of opportunities elsewhere. “We need a new start when it comes to entrepreneurship in Quebec, and that’s going to be a way for me to take part in that challenge,” he said, stressing the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for 85 to 90 per cent of Quebec’s businesses.

Dr. Shepherd said the appointment reflects the WSB’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, which aims to create “young, vibrant, innovative leaders” through real-world engagement. “Charles is here to inspire our students and to connect our students and our faculty with real-world experience and to offer an opportunity for us to get on the innovation track,” she said. While the school last had an executive in residence some 20–25 years ago, she described this as both “a revival and a new start,” aligned with WSB’s growing focus on experiential learning.

Ninety per cent of WSB courses now include an experiential component, with the goal of reaching 100 per cent. Dr. Shepherd said the university’s interdisciplinary approach means that students outside the business school, in areas such as social sciences and natural sciences, will also benefit from Milliard’s presence.

Both Dr. Shepherd and Milliard pointed to wider challenges facing students, including uncertainty in the job market, the need for applied skills, and anxiety about the future, particularly with emerging technologies such as AI. “When you have breadth and depth in terms of competencies, you can do more than just being an accountant, for example, if they study accounting or HR,” Shepherd said, noting that Milliard’s career path—from pharmacy to business leadership—demonstrates the value of versatility.

The Executive in Residence role is honorary and reflects the university’s appreciation for the expertise and perspective Milliard brings. Bishop’s says in a related release that his work will contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen what makes the institution distinct while fostering innovation and community connection.