I am delighted to report that Gwen Burrows will be joining the Office of the Vice-President, International as Executive Director, International on August 1, 2017.

The Executive Director, International will serve as Chief of Staff to the Office of the Vice-President, International, working with myself and our Associate Vice-Presidents to translate the University of Toronto’s International Strategic Plan (TISP) into action via close collaboration and partnership with divisions and Vice-Presidential portfolios.

A senior leader in the child health sector, Gwen has served in a number of leadership roles at SickKids over the past 20 years. Since 2013, Gwen has been the Executive Director, Communications, Public Affairs, and Advocacy. There, with a team of two dozen communications and design professionals under her leadership, Gwen led communications strategy development, issues management, media relations, and executive communications. During her time in that portfolio she led the communications for a number of key SickKids initiatives including the launch of SickKids’ new strategic plan.

Previously, Gwen was the Director of Strategic Projects at the SickKids Research Institute where, working with Dr. Janet Rossant, she co-wrote the successful $227 million Canada Foundation for Innovation grant application to fund the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning. There she was a key player in the implementation of the vision for that facility, including working closely with fundraising partners. She also led a number of other strategic initiatives including the SickKids International Qatar research strategy, the Research Institute’s 5-year review and subsequent 5-year plan, and the development of multidisciplinary Centres at SickKids. Gwen began her career at SickKids in 1997 in the National Grants Program at SickKids Foundation. There she held the role of Director, National Grants Program for 5 years, working with researchers across the country to build capacity in child health research and support community organizations engaged in child health issues.

Gwen has also been an active volunteer in the charitable sector, including as President for the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs from 2009-2011. Gwen holds a Masters in Philosophy from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University.