OTTAWA, August 22, 2023 – Research Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Alison Evans as President and CEO, effective October 16, 2023. Alison Evans is stepping into this role as a strategic communications, marketing, fundraising and public affairs executive with more than 25 years of progressive experience spanning the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
“Since 2005, Research Canada has been a collaborative advocacy leader for the health research and innovation ecosystem, and we are very happy that Alison Evans, a well-renowned advocacy expert, will continue to advance our important mission,” says Dr. Tarik Möröy, Chair of Research Canada, Director of the Hematopoiesis and Cancer Research Unit at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute and Professor at the Université de Montréal.
Ms. Evans was the recent Vice President of Public Engagement at CARE Canada and prior to this she held many leadership positions within Canada’s high tech, postsecondary education, healthcare, tourism and agriculture sectors. She was Vice President, Members and Public Relations at Universities Canada and Vice-President of Communications, Volunteers and Information Resources at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). She is an expert in creating synergy between organizations, their vision and ambitions, and the stakeholders, donors, customers, funding organizations and partners who and which are essential to their success.
“Ms. Evans takes on this new role at a critical time for the health research and innovation ecosystem in Canada. Her experience as a registered lobbyist working in the academic, health, voluntary and private sectors, will be instrumental in leading Research Canada as we continue to push for a strong, well-funded health research and innovation ecosystem,” adds Dr. Rose Goldstein, Past Chair of Research Canada and Professor of Medicine at McGill University.
“I wish Alison all the best as she takes the helm of our Alliance for health discovery. I know our Members, Supporters and Partners will welcome her with open arms as will our Board and Staff,” says Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, current President and CEO. “With such support, she can only succeed in amplifying our health research and innovation policy influence in Ottawa.”
Research Canada would like to thank the Chair, Dr. Rose Goldstein, and the members of the President and CEO Search Committee for their tremendous efforts and the outgoing President and CEO, Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, who has served Research Canada and its predecessor organization, the Council for Health Research in Canada, for the past twenty years with her visionary leadership.
About Research Canada
Research Canada is a national alliance dedicated to increasing investments in health research through collaborative advocacy and engaging government, academia, industry and non-profit sectors to build support for long-term health research funding. For more information, visit rc-rc.ca.
For inquiries:
Gillian Hogerland
Research Canada
613-234-5129
ghogerland@rc-rc.ca