Posted on behalf of David Phipps
I am sad for us to let you know that Connie Tang will be leaving Research Impact Canada (RIC) on March 12, 2025. I am delighted for Connie that she has taken up a position as Director, Public Sector and Small Business, in the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
Connie joined RIC in fall 2019 as our first hire under the partnership with Future Skills Centre (FSC) of Canada. She grew that partnership to a team of 12 who piloted a knowledge mobilization community of practice (CoP) for FSC and then operationalized the CoP into maturity phase where it continues today with another extension until September 2025.
She also worked with all of you and especially KMb York (Michael and Krista) and MobilizeU teams at SFU (Lupin and Sophie). She helped rationalize RIC Governance into Member Engagement and Implementation Committee. Other notable accomplishments include the RIC Strategic Plan 2024-2027, annual reports, the Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum in 2020 (pivot to virtual), 2022 (blended) and 2024 (in person in Montreal). She also led the RIC annual meetings, which were virtual until 2022 in Winnipeg, 2023 in Calgary, and 2024 in Ottawa. She was instrumental in establishing and driving the bilingualism policy for RIC, enabling us to lower barriers to participation for Francophone RIC members. She continues to help us to the end of her time at RIC by finalizing the new RIC membership process – to be released soon.
While she was with RIC, she took time to become a mom to the lovely and amazing Eleanor, now almost 2 years old. She even came out of parental leave early to help me draft the (unfortunately unsuccessful – booo) Lab to Market application.
I am pleased to let you know that Bissy Waariyo will be returning to RIC until the end of October 2025 to finalize our obligations to FSC. Bissy developed the evaluation strategy and EDIA action plan for the FSC CoP and stepped into Connie’s RIC director role during her parental leave. The amazing Sandy Chan will also remain with RIC to keep everything running smoothly.
And, finally, Connie is also a delightful human being. RIC is better for having worked with her. I am better for having known her.
Please take a moment to send her your best wishes.
David Phipps
Assistant VP Research Strategy & Impact, York University
Network Director, Research Impact Canada