Mitacs to welcome four new members to its Board of Directors

Vancouver, BC — Following the Annual General Meeting on Monday September 29, 2025, Mitacs is thrilled to announce the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors. The new directors, David Agnew, Alice Aiken, Michael McNair, and Thomas Park, bring a wealth of experience and expertise to Mitacs.

New Directors

David Agnew, President, Seneca Polytechnic

David Agnew became the fifth president of Seneca in July 2009 and brings extensive experience across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. He previously served as Secretary to the Cabinet and head of the Ontario public service, President and CEO of UNICEF Canada, Principal at consulting firm Digital 4Sight, Executive Vice-President and Corporate Secretary for Credit Union Central of Ontario, and Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments. David currently serves as Chair of ventureLAB and as a Director of the Conference Board of Canada. He is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals in recognition of his community and public service. In 2018, he received the Award of Distinction from the Public Affairs Association of Canada.

Alice B. Aiken, Professor, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University

Dr. Alice Aiken is the immediate past Vice-President Research & Innovation at Dalhousie University and a full Professor in the Faculty of Health, where her research focuses on health systems transformation and evidence-informed policy in military and veteran health. She previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Health at Dalhousie and began her academic career at Queen’s University, where she founded and was the first Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research. A former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, she served for 14 years as a ship’s navigator and physiotherapist, earning a Canadian Decoration medal. She has also served as Honorary Captain (Navy) for Canadian Forces Health Services Atlantic, is a Dame of the Order of St George, and has received numerous honors, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and the Chapel of the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion (USA).

Michael McNair, President and CEO, Arctic Economic Development Corporation

Michael McNair is President and Chief Executive Officer of Arctic Economic Development Corporation, Canada’s Arctic infrastructure and logistics provider. He was formerly Global Managing Director at the Tony Blair Institute, leading its expansion to 125+ projects across 45 countries, and has worked as a strategy consultant with McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, and independently. He began his career in corporate finance at CIBC World Markets and spent over a decade in Canadian parliament and government, including as Policy Director for the Prime Minister of Canada. Michael is currently an Affiliated Researcher and part-time lecturer in Public Policy at Cambridge University. He completed graduate studies in Advanced Economic and Policy Analysis at Columbia University and Global Economic History at the London School of Economics.

Thomas Park, Chief Investment Officer, InBC Investment Corp.

Thomas Park is Chief Investment Officer of InBC Investment Corp., a $500-million strategic investment fund backed by the Province of British Columbia, where he leads the investment strategy to support BC’s founders and fund managers. He previously spent eight years at BDC Capital, launching several national funds including the BDC Deep Tech Fund, and earlier held senior roles at McKinsey & Company and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, working internationally on health systems, innovation, and economic development. He has advised global leaders through platforms such as the G7 and World Bank and served on boards including the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, Venture for Canada, Boann Social Impact Fund, and the Banff Forum.

The four new leaders join the current board members:

– Bruce MacDougall (Board Chair), Principal, Burcot Park Holdings Inc.

– Amiee Chan (Vice Board Chair), President and CEO, Norsat International Inc.

– Bing Cao, Founder and CEO, Nanode Battery Technologies Ltd.

– Leonard Daniels, Leonard Daniels, Principal, Daniels Management Consulting

– Alex LaPlante, Vice President, Cash Management and Technology Canada, Royal Bank of    Canada

– Wendy Luther, President and CEO, Halifax Partnership

– Nabila Mohammed, Chief Financial Officer, Cystic Fibrosis Canada

– Mario Pinto, Vice President Research, University of Manitoba

– Karen T. Y. Shaw, Legal Counsel, Fairstone Financial

– Paul Smith, Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Perimeter Institute

Mitacs is grateful to outgoing board members, John Milloy, serving member since 2015, and Tony Chahine, serving member since 2020, for their distinguished service.

Quotes

“The new appointments to Mitacs’ Board of Directors are an outstanding group and I look forward to working together to help move Mitacs forward at this critical moment for the organization and the country, a time where thinking big and bold action are needed to grow Canada’s global competitiveness, productivity, and prosperity.”

Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs

“On behalf of Mitacs’s Board of Directors, a warm welcome to our four new members. The diverse experience and expertise they bring—from public service to economic development, leadership in the private sector, and health research and academia—will be a tremendous asset for Mitacs.”

Bruce MacDougall, Chair, Mitacs Board of Directors

About Mitacs

As a leading Canadian innovation organization, Mitacs connects businesses and researchers with unrivalled access to talent, financial support, and the partnerships needed to turn ideas into impactful innovations. Through unique collaborations, Mitacs is driving productivity and positioning Canada as a global innovation leader.

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.