May 21, 2025 (OTTAWA, ON) – The board of directors is pleased to announce that Robert Asselin has been named as the new CEO of U15 Canada, effective June 9, 2025.
Mr. Asselin is a recognized expert on innovation, economic growth, and industrial strategy with extensive experience in senior roles within government as well as in academia. He is currently the Senior Vice President, Policy at the Business Council of Canada where he leads the Council’s work on economic and fiscal policy. He brings over a decade of experience advising at the highest levels of government, having served as Policy and Budget Director to Canada’s Minister of Finance and as a senior advisor to two Prime Ministers.
In addition, Mr. Asselin spent nearly a decade in academia, notably as Associate Director of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa and as Visiting Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. He currently serves on the advisory board of the U.S. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and is a Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
“We are pleased to appoint Robert as the next CEO of U15 Canada,” said Dr. Peter Stoicheff, President of the University of Saskatchewan, and U15 Canada’s board chair. “At a moment of real urgency to strengthen Canada’s economic future, we are excited to welcome a CEO whose experience in government, academia and advocacy will ensure that Canada’s leading research universities are uniquely positioned to contribute to the new government’s economic vision. His longstanding national leadership on innovation, economic growth and productivity policy make him well suited to leading U15 Canada and contributing to this national dialogue as productive partners.”
The board would also like to thank Dr. Chad Gaffield for his many years of service to the research community and leadership across academia, including during his three years as CEO of U15 Canada. Dr. Gaffield will be returning to academia as Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Ottawa and University Research Chair in Digital Scholarship, as well as spending more time with family and golf. We wish Chad all the best.
About U15 Canada
U15 Canada is an association of fifteen leading research universities across Canada. U15 Canada works to optimize research and innovation policies and programs that advance knowledge, develop highly-qualified leaders for all sectors, and mobilize knowledge for the benefit of all Canadians. In this way, U15 Canada seeks to help Canadian universities make a prosperous, sustainable and just future for all.
For further information, please contact:
James Hammond, Director of Public Affairs
613-715-4764
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