Small groups are working to simplify processes, cut red tape, trim costs, and help ensure that 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ’s academic program delivery, research infrastructure and administrative services meet our community’s needs.

Ramping up their work in fall 2025, they and the Horizon Office will consult staff and faculty with relevant expertise, run surveys and focus groups, dive deep into institutional data, and improve our ways of working across ten key areas.

Working groups

Academic Programs

Mandate: To review and revise academic program offerings in conjunction with stakeholders.

Co-leads:

  • Christopher Buddle, Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs)
  • Vivek Venkatesh, Dean, Faculty of Education
Administrative Efficiency

Mandate: Improve administrative efficiency (excluding procurement), with a particular focus on expense management, IT solutions, and accounts payable.

Co-leads:

  • Fabrice Labeau, Vice-President (Administration and Finance)
  • Valérie Orsat, James 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Professor, Bioresource Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Specialist:

  • Annick Lecavalier, Director, Process Improvement and Client Orientation, Administration & Finance
91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ

Mandate: To develop strategies to recruit the best students while supporting the excellence and sustainability of the institution.

Co-leads:

  • Angela Campbell, Interim Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning)
  • Sean Ferguson, Dean, Schulich School of Music

Specialists:

  • Matissa Hollister, Assistant Professor (Teaching), Organizational Behaviour, Desautels Faculty of Management
  • Anna Vrontakis, Director, Internal Audit
Advancement

Mandate: To review our fundraising and use of philanthropic revenues to help fund operating expenses.

Co-leads:

  • Marie-Josée Gariépy, Assistant Vice-President (Development and Volunteer Partnerships)
  • Bruce Lennox, Former Dean, Faculty of Science

Specialist:

  • Suzana Kafadar de Rodriguez, Associate Director, Finance and Reporting, Secretariat to the Nutrition and Sustainable Agri-food Collaborative
Budget Model

Mandate: To review and develop 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ's budget model to support the academic mission of the university.

Co-leads:

  • Yolande E. Chan, Dean, Desautels Faculty of Management
  • Richard Martin, Executive Director, Analysis Planning and Budget

Specialists:

  • Catherine Essar, Associate Director, Finance, Faculty of Science
  • Julie Thériault, Director of Administration and Operations, Faculty of Science
Institutional Data

Mandate: To streamline institutional data collection, curation and management.

Co-leads:

  • Paul Chamberland, Chief Information Officer & Associate Vice-President (Information Technology)
  • Richard Martin, Executive Director, Analysis Planning and Budget
  • Lisa Shapiro, Dean, Faculty of Arts
Online Program and Course Development

Mandate: To develop and plan for the delivery of online programs to existing and new student audiences.

Co-leads:

  • Christopher Buddle, Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs)
  • Carola Weil, Dean, School of Continuing Studies
Procurement

Mandate: To improve the efficiency of procurement processes, reduce the number of steps required, and optimize resources.

Co-leads:

  • Cristiane Tinmouth, Associate Vice-President (Financial Services)
  • Viviane Yargeau, Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Specialist:

  • Evelina Ene, Director, Operations, Student Services
Reporting

Mandate: To decrease the time and resources spent preparing institutional reports.

Co-leads:

  • Guylaine Beaudry, Trenholme Dean of Libraries
  • Edyta Rogowska, Secretary-General

Specialist:

  • Antoine Skaff, Senior Advisor, Operations and Priorities, Faculty of Science
Research

Mandate: To examine how research governance structures affect both the efficiency of research administration and the university’s capacity for research growth.

Lead:

  • Dominique Bérubé, Vice-President (Research and Innovation)
  • Salwa Karboune, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Specialists:

  • Daniela Frischer, Director of Operations, Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation)
  • Martyn Liness, Associate Director, Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation)