As part of the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance)’s continued growth, we are announcing the following organizational changes to ensure greater efficiency, accountability and strategic alignment. These adjustments will help us better integrate core functions, improve decision-making and support the execution of our federally funded initiatives – positioning our organization for long-term success.
Lori MacMullen has stepped into the role of Interim Vice President, Operations & Security, following the departure of Brock Kahanyshyn. Brock joined the Alliance team in April 2021, and we thank him for his many contributions to our growth since that time and wish him all the best in his future endeavours, both personal and professional.
Lori has decades of experience in the ecosystem as the founding Executive Director of CUCCIO, Chair of the Alliance’s Applicant Board (2019-20), and a former CIO of both the University of New Brunswick and the Government of New Brunswick. Lori has been supporting the Alliance in a consulting capacity since November 2023, with a focus on mandate renewal and strategic projects. As Interim VP, Operations & Security, Lori will ensure the ongoing delivery, support and access to our national DRI services, including: enhanced security efforts and continuous improvement processes, oversight and support for the national compute infrastructure refresh enabled by recent federal investments, and continued engagement with community stakeholders, service partners and service users to expand and enhance DRI services for researchers.
Narinder Dehal, Vice President of Corporate Services, will retire on April 1 after four years with the Alliance. As one of our founding executives, Narinder has played a pivotal role in shaping and supporting the organization, creating strong foundational policies and practices within Corporate Services. His leadership and dedication have been instrumental in establishing robust financial, operational and administrative frameworks that will continue to benefit the Alliance for years to come.
Julien St-Pierre, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), now reports directly to the CEO, adding to his portfolio oversight of the Program Management and Administration team and Enterprise Risk.
Taura Caroscio, Director of Human Resources, now reports directly to the CEO. In this role, Taura will continue to focus on workforce planning, talent development and strengthening our organizational culture.
Both Julien and Taura will serve on the Alliance’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT). With these changes, we will not be filling the VP, Corporate Services role upon Narinder’s retirement.
Felipe Pérez-Jvostov will transition back to Strategy & Planning in the role of Director, Strategic Development & Initiatives, reporting to David Tweddell, Interim Vice President of Strategy & Planning. In this role, he will continue to lead strategic initiatives in support of our new mandate and investments in AI.
These changes reflect our organization’s maturity and will help provide continuity during the upcoming CEO transition, while also allowing for further refinements as needed. By strengthening our structure today, we are positioning the Alliance for continued success, ensuring we can meet our commitments and drive future growth.