Dr. Geneviève Tanguay holds a Ph.D. in Parasitology from McGill University and brings with her an extensive experience in science policy, research management and science diplomacy. As Assistant Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, she spearheaded the first two iterations of the Quebec Research and Innovation Strategy. Furthermore, as Vice-Rector of Research, Innovation and Creation at the Université de Montréal, she was instrumental in increasing the research funding available, enabling the university to rise from 4th to 2nd place among Canadian universities.
For the last seven years, Dr. Tanguay was Vice-President, Emerging Technologies at the National Research Council (NRC) where she oversaw the Emerging Technologies Division, which included five research centers (Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics; Nanotechnology; Metrology; Advanced Electronics and Photonics; and Security and Disruptive Technologies) counting more than 600 researchers and technicians. In this capacity, she also oversaw the contribution agreement between the Government of Canada and TRIUMF. She has been instrumental in gathering the research community towards the elaboration of the National Quantum Strategy. During her time at the NRC, she championed women in STEM and innovation (WISI) by launching an annual symposium celebrating the achievements of women in science; she also championed collaborations with academic partners where she set up collaboration centers and bold research programs and, she championed partnerships with Germany.
Dr. Tanguay has chaired or been a member of over fifty boards of directors. She has notably served as the President of Acfas, the world’s largest association of Francophone scientists (with 7,000 members); President of Calcul Québec; Co-Chair of the Interdepartmental Committee on Quantum Science and Technologies; and Co-Chair of the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee between Canada and Germany.
As a proven leader with over 25 years of experience in the management of research activities; in the representation of the interests of research, innovation, and technology transfer community; and in the passionate communication of science, she was awarded the 2023 APEX (Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada) Award of Excellence in Leadership. This award recognizes Dr. Tanguay’s outstanding and transformational leadership across the NRC and throughout the Government of Canada.