Genome Canada is entering the next phase of its evolution as a mission-driven organization, with new senior leadership appointments and strengthened leadership across its major initiatives.
Canada is navigating real and pressing challenges: health systems under strain, uneven access to innovation, growing demands on food and natural resource systems, and the need to turn research and data into solutions that deliver tangible benefits for people and communities. These challenges cut across sectors and jurisdictions, and they require coordinated, focused leadership to address them effectively. Genome Canada’s recent leadership updates reflect this reality, strengthening how we align expertise, set direction and deliver impact at national scale.
New senior leadership appointments
Genome Canada is pleased to announce two senior appointments that reinforce the organization’s focus on data, policy and public engagement as core enablers of our impact.
Naveed Aziz, Chief Data Officer
Naveed Aziz has been appointed Chief Data Officer, reflecting the increasingly central role of stronger data coordination and governance across Genome Canada’s missions and the broader genomics ecosystem. In this role, he provides enterprise‑wide leadership on data strategy and coordination, helping ensure genomic data assets are governed responsibly and used effectively to support mission outcomes. Naveed brings deep expertise in genomics, data systems and national and international collaboration.
Sapna Mahajan, Vice‑President, Policy and Public Affairs
Sapna Mahajan has been appointed Vice‑President, Policy and Public Affairs. Her role brings together policy, government relations and strategic communications under a single portfolio, strengthening alignment between Genome Canada’s strategic priorities and its external engagement. Sapna’s experience spanning public policy, health systems and stakeholder engagement supports Genome Canada’s role as a trusted partner and national thought leader.
Leadership for Genome Canada’s missions
To further strengthen delivery, Genome Canada has established mission director roles with clear accountability for strategy and integrated delivery across its major initiatives. Each initiative brings together research, data, partnerships and engagement in service of defined national outcomes.
Current mission director roles:
- Precision health (Canadian Precision Health Initiative) led by Étienne Richer
- Equity, social innovation and GE³LS led by Wesley Oakes
- Agri-food and natural resources (Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems, upcoming natural resources initiative) – lead to be announced
- Commercialization and adoption (Genomic Applications Partnership Program) – lead to be announced
Building a mission‑driven genomics ecosystem together
Solving complex national challenges requires the right strategy, leadership and sustained effort over time. Like the challenges our missions are designed to address, evolving our organization toward a more integrated, impact-focused way of working is an ongoing process.
Genome Canada is committed to showing our community how this approach is taking shape and continuing to learn as it evolves. We are grateful to our partners, collaborators and staff across the Canadian Genomics Enterprise for the flexibility and commitment they bring to making this model work every day—and for helping strengthen it for tomorrow.
Meet Team Genome Canada
Learn about our approach to research and innovation
About Genome Canada
Genome Canada is a national not-for-profit leading large-scale research missions that translate excellent science into economic, health and environmental solutions. We align Canada’s genomics ecosystem for impact.