UFV Top 40: Alex McAulay — Young executive with entrepreneurial spirit and love of service

Alex McAulay is no stranger to well-deserved praise.

His hardworking, multi-tasking qualities were recognized when UFV presented the then-28-year-old with its inaugural Young Distinguished Alumni award in 2012.

Alex was so honoured that he delayed his honeymoon with new wife Kaila just to receive the award.

Presented to a UFV graduate under the age of 35 who has demonstrated excellence in volunteer work, humanitarian efforts, community contributions, commitment to others, leadership, and innovation, the award foreshadowed Alex’s inclusion among UFV’s Top 40 Alumni.

Now Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Garmatex, an innovative developer and supplier of scientifically-engineered fabric technologies, Alex was previously best known for helping start the Naked Brand Group (operating as Naked Underwear). As the company’s CFO, he helped the brand expand into department stores across North America, and become publicly traded. He helped raise more than $2 million in funding for the successful start-up, and even pitched the Naked company on the popular CBC TV series Dragon’s Den.

He credits UFV with helping him succeed.

“Faculty and administration facilitated everything I wanted to do and helped push me to want to do great things for myself and for the university,” he says.

“I’m incredibly humbled to be named one of UFV’s Top 40 Alumni. I hope I can make UFV proud by continuing to build great companies and contribute to the communities I live in.”

During his time at UFV, Alex was enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration program. He pursued the accounting avenue to develop a strong financial understanding so he could build a business after graduation.

As he entered his third year of studies, he became heavily involved in the university. Already representing the citizens of Chilliwack on the local school board, Alex also became president of the Business Administration Student Association. In addition, he sat on the UFV Board of Governors, and took part in the UFV presidential search committee.

Alex has since achieved his Chartered Accountant designation, and done community service as a director and president of Chilliwack Community Services.

“It’s a pretty amazing experience being able to put all your university and professional training into your work like I have,” says Alex. “It’s hard not to be excited about life.”

Looking to the future, he is focused on building a strong marriage with his wife Kaila. Later in life he’s interested in starting a donor-funded private school, and re-entering politics.