Calgary Avansino
About Calgary Avansino
Calgary Avansino (born 1975) is an Independent Trustee of The Gabelli Healthcare & WellnessRx Trust (GRX) since 2021, with oversight of five portfolios across the Fund Complex. Her background spans consumer, media, and wellness: CEO of Glamcam (2018–2020), Contributing Vogue Editor and wellness entrepreneur (2014–), author of “Keep It Real” (2016), and previously Executive Fashion Director and Digital Project Director at British Vogue (2009–2013). Education: Cate Preparatory School ’93 and Georgetown University ’98 (English Literature major; Women’s Studies minor) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glamcam | Chief Executive Officer | 2018–2020 | Social commerce app focused on Gen Z |
| British Vogue | Executive Fashion Director; Digital Project Director | 2009–2013 | Led digital projects; fashion editorial leadership |
| Vogue (Contributing Editor) | Contributing Editor; Wellness company founder | 2014– | Launched wellness brand; published “Keep It Real” (2016); public speaking on wellness trends |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Start Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cate School | Trustee | 2017 | Non-profit education governance |
| E.L. Wiegand Foundation | Trustee | 2018 | Philanthropic foundation trustee |
| Common Sense Media | Advisory Council Member | 2019 | Advisory capacity on media and youth |
Board Governance
- Independence: Classified as an Independent Trustee; service since 2021; oversees 5 portfolios in Fund Complex .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee (Chair: Vincent D. Enright; members: Enright, James P. Conn, Salvatore J. Zizza); Nominating Committee (Chair: Enright; members: Enright, Conn, Zizza). Avansino is not listed as a member or chair of these committees in the proxy disclosures .
- Board leadership/roles: Lead Independent Trustee role held by James P. Conn; Audit Committee Financial Expert designated as Vincent D. Enright .
- Meeting cadence and attendance: Board met four times in FY2024 (all regular quarterly), and five times in FY2023 (four regular quarterly plus one special). Each Trustee then serving attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings in both years .
- Annual meeting attendance: Trustees and nominees were not expected to attend; none attended the May 13, 2024 or May 22, 2023 annual meetings .
- Risk oversight: Board oversees investment, valuation, compliance; Audit Committee engages with PwC on risk controls and financial reporting .
Fixed Compensation
Board fee structure (FY2024):
- Annual retainer: $3,000; Board meeting fee: $1,000 per meeting; Committee meeting fee: $500 per meeting; Chair fees: Audit ($3,000), Nominating ($2,000); Lead Independent Trustee ($1,000). Trustees not employed by the Adviser are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses .
| Metric | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate Compensation from GRX (USD) | $8,000 | $8,000 | $7,000 |
| Aggregate Compensation from Fund Complex (USD) | $49,000 | $53,000 | $52,000 |
| Portfolios Overseen (Count) | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Performance Compensation
| Component | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity grants (RSUs/PSUs/Options) | None disclosed | None disclosed | None disclosed |
| Bonus / performance-linked pay | None disclosed | None disclosed | None disclosed |
| Performance metrics tied to director pay | None disclosed | None disclosed | None disclosed |
Director compensation for GRX is structured as cash retainers and per-meeting fees; no equity or performance-based compensation is described for Trustees .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Type | Entity | Role | Public Company? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Cate School | Trustee | No |
| Foundation | E.L. Wiegand Foundation | Trustee | No |
| Non-profit advisory | Common Sense Media | Advisory Council Member | No |
- No other public company board service or disclosed interlocks for Avansino in the last five years (proxy “Other Directorships” field lists only the above roles) .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Consumer and digital media: Senior editorial and digital leadership at British Vogue; entrepreneurship in wellness and social commerce .
- Communications and public engagement: Author and public speaker on wellness trends .
- Governance exposure: Trusteeships at education and foundation boards; advisory role at Common Sense Media .
Equity Ownership
Beneficial ownership as of year-end:
| Metric | Dec 31, 2023 |
|---|---|
| GRX Common Shares (Amount) | 0 |
| Percent of Shares Outstanding | <1% (asterisk) |
Dollar range classification:
| Metric | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Dollar Range in GRX | A = None | A = None |
| Aggregate Dollar Range in Fund Complex | A = None | A = None |
- No disclosed interests for Avansino in entities under common control with the Adviser; the related-party interests table lists certain other Independent Trustees but not Avansino .
Governance Assessment
- Independence and engagement: Avansino is an Independent Trustee with steady service since 2021 and oversight of five portfolios; attendance met the ≥75% threshold in FY2023 and FY2024 .
- Committee influence: She is not disclosed as a member of core committees (Audit, Nominating), which concentrates oversight responsibilities among Enright, Conn, and Zizza—limiting Avansino’s committee-level impact on financial reporting and nominations .
- Compensation structure: Cash-only fees (retainer, per-meeting, chair premiums) provide straightforward incentives, but lack equity alignment mechanisms for Trustees .
- Ownership alignment: Zero GRX share ownership and “None” dollar range classification across multiple years indicate low “skin-in-the-game,” a potential alignment concern for some investors. RED FLAG: No fund share ownership disclosed .
- Shareholder engagement: Trustees did not attend annual shareholder meetings in 2023 and 2024; while common for closed-end funds, some investors may view this as reduced direct engagement .
- Conflicts/related-party: No Avansino-specific related-party interests disclosed; committee charters and audit/nominating structures appear robust, led by seasoned independent trustees .
Overall signal: Independent, consumer/media-savvy director with consistent attendance; however, absence from key committees and lack of fund share ownership may temper perceived alignment and board influence .