The CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN) is pleased to announce the winners of our 2021 Impact Awards.
The Impact Awards shine a light on our dedicated members, who make it possible for technology leaders to problem-solve, share know-how and develop as leaders of Canada’s economy.
“Boosting performance, connecting and getting inspired and making an impact for the CIO profession is what drives our members” says Phil Johnston, Chief Information Officer, at the National Research Council, and President of CIOCAN, “The Impact Awards program profiles our exceptional members who are driving their organizations digital transformation through their leadership, passion and vision.”
Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all the nominees and everyone who participated – we couldn’t do what we do without the exceptional support from our members.
2021 Impact Award Winners
Presidents Award
The Presidents Award recognizes a Board member who leads by example, holds themselves and others accountable, makes volunteering enjoyable for others and sets the standard for all other members.
Winner: Andrew Dillane, President and Chief Product Officer, Curasion Inc.
Andrew has contributed countless hours and provided exceptional strategic and tactical leadership this past year and has truly helped CIOCAN grow and mature as a respected and professional organization. He has also shown exceptional collaboration skills in achieving these objectives and is very well respected on the CIOCAN Board of Directors. Andrews leadership in the marketing portfolio, and with the new CIOCAN branding and website has been exceptional. Congratulations Andrew.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes someone who has led by example and propelled the CIO profession forward with innovation and dedication – they are a model CIO and inspire greatness in others.
Winner: Jories Timmers, IT Director, Powerex
Jories has been a member of CIO Canada since 2006 and is one of the founding members of the Vancouver Chapter of the CIO Association, he has held a number of board positions and portfolios, including Vice-president, President and Chair, CIO Peer Forum. Jories is highly respected by his fellow board members for his experience and institutional knowledge of the CIO Association of Canada.
He has always treated his role in the CIO Association as a TRUE commitment and not a line on his resume. He has a background in IT security and is active in the CISO community. He also promotes CIOCAN to increase membership and awareness of the value of the CIO Association across the local IT community. Congratulations Jories.
Mentor of the Year Award
The Mentor of the Year Award recognizes someone who is seen as a true leader and teacher and has made a meaningful impact on those around them – by always being willing to share their time and experience with others.
Winner: Ron Murch, Senior Instructor Emeritus, Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary
CIOCAN is blessed to have a friend and partner like Ron. Regardless of the role you are in, the topic you want to discuss, or a general inquiry into the Association, Ron is always available. When CIOCAN was creating an International Women’s Day feature he was one of the first members to provide wonderful content to be shared amongst the membership.
Through his presence, knowledge and availability, individuals that get a chance to engage with him, will learn from him. Everyone knows he is genuine and experienced. His value offering can be described as: genuine, caring, knowledgeable, experienced, passionate, technical, strategic, informed, best interest of the individual. Congratulations Ron.
Crisis Leadership Award
Crisis Leadership award recognizes a current member for innovation and leadership during a crisis which may or may not include the Covid-19 pandemic.
Winner: Yves Boucher, Executive Director of IT Service Management, Transport Canada
When Transport Canada received orders to send all 6,000 employees home due to COVID-19, Yves quickly jumped into action and put together a crisis team spanning the entire organization. Yves led daily briefings with HR, finance, facilities, departmental business continuity, and of course, IT, to ensure the health and safety of the employees, and to keep operations up and running. He moved decisively on multiple action items and established clear accountability to ensure they were carried out successfully.
The value he demonstrated throughout this crisis was in maintaining the ability for all 6,000 employees to be fully productive from home. Everyone was ultimately able to connect to the network to do their jobs, so there was no major loss of productivity. This also enabled Transport Canada to effectively deliver critical advice and guidance to keep the transportation sector safe from Covid-19. Congratulations Yves.
CISO Award
The CISO award recognizes individuals in Canada that have demonstrated a high degree of commitment to promoting good security practices at senior levels.
Winner: Catherine Mendonsa, CISO, Director of Information Systems Security & Enterprise Architecture, Finning International Inc.
Catherine has been in the technology service industry for 30+ years with the last 20+ focused on information security and privacy programs. She has established 3 net-new security programs for large organizations introducing a culture of security awareness. Despite performing in a very time demanding role within her organization, she has made a focused effort to participate in the local and national security and privacy community. Catherine has been a member of CIOCAN and the CISO Division for the past year. Congratulations Catherine.
CIOCAN Member of the Year Award
The Member of the Year award recognizes a CIO Association of Canada member who goes above and beyond with their contributions.
Vancouver Chapter
Winner: Hilary Sinclair, Senior Director, IS Transformation, Ledcor
Hilary is an up-and-coming leader who adds a great deal of interesting perspective to the Vancouver Chapter and attracts other younger leaders. Her positive outlook, willingness to come up with new ideas and run with them has resulted in her actively engaging with the Chapter leadership. She is always willing to introduce contacts to each other and makes a concerted effort to connect with new members at events, always. Congratulations Hilary.
Calgary Chapter
Winner: Andrew Masterson, IT Manager, NuVista Energy
Andrews’ actions at the weekly virtual networking event, Calgary Connect, helps enforce why being a member is valuable. Andrew is both respectfully engaged in the overall conversation or providing thought provoking topics for the group to discuss and reflect on. By being a participant in CIOCAN surveys and demonstrating willingness to provide honest and constructive feedback, he ensures we continue to create value added benefits for our existing and potential members. Congratulations Andrew.
Toronto Chapter
Winner: Kyoko Kobayashi, Managing Partner, CIOs Beyond Borders Group
In a leadership role with the Toronto Chapter, Kyoko has displayed an unwavering willingness and dedication to positively impacting the goals of the Association. She is a strong networker and represents very well with new member prospects. She also mentors a number of individuals, willingly giving both her time and expertise. Congratulations Kyoko.
“Giving voice to the technology leaders of Canada’s economy is something we are proud of at CIOCAN,” added Tracy Blyth, CAE, Executive Director. “CIOCAN helps members build a professional profile and develop leadership skills through training and collaborating with industry peers. Together, we are stronger”.
The CIO Association of Canada awards were adjudicated by a group of committees and approved by the CIOCAN Board of Directors. The high number of nominees and participants is just another example of the active community of CIOs and the mutual respect we have for each other as peers.
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