The University of Toronto (U of T) is excited to welcome you to the 2025 CFREF Symposium. This event is an opportunity for CFREF programs across Canada to exchange experiences and best practices for the administration of their initiatives.
The theme of this year’s symposium is “Excellence and Impact” and the ways in which we implement our large-scale, transformational research programs that are addressing grand societal challenges. Through plenaries, panels, workshops and reflections, participants will engage on the topics of financial management, governance and team management. Sessions will also explore strategies to expand the reach and impact of your CFREF research program through partnerships, knowledge mobilization and outreach.
Representatives from the Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) will be in attendance to connect with participants throughout the symposium.
Symposium Program
Click on dates to expand schedule.
Monday, May 26
8:00AM-8:45AM | Third Floor Foyer
Registration & Warm Breakfast
8:45AM-9:30AM | University Room
Welcome
Speakers:
Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives, University of Toronto
Valérie Laflamme, Associate Vice-President, TIPS
Duke Redbird, Elder from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and member of the Indigenous Research Council for U of T’s Acceleration Consortium CFREF
Stephannie Roy, Executive Director, Strategy & Office of the Vice-President, University of Toronto
Judith Chadwick, Assistant Vice-President, Research Services, University of Toronto
9:30AM-10:45AM | University Room
Update from Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS)
Speakers:
Valérie Laflamme, Associate Vice-President, TIPS
Christian Chouinard, Director, CFREF, CERC and C150 programs, TIPS
Guillaume Beaulieu-Houle, Manager, CFREF, CERC and C150 programs, TIPS
10:45AM-11:15AM | Third Floor Foyer
Break & Refreshments
11:15AM-12PM
Breakout Sessions
- Session 1 | University Room
Community of Practice: Partnership Engagement Facilitator:
Sean Caffrey, Executive Director, Acceleration Consortium, University of Toronto
— - Session 2 | Terrace East
Community of Practice: Financial Management Facilitator:
Jeremy Knight, Director, Research Development, Research Services Office, University of Toronto
— - Session 3 | Terrace West
Community of Practice: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Facilitator:
Mami Schouten, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Research Officer, University of Victoria
12PM-1PM | University Room
Lunch
1PM-2PM | University Room
Transforming Collaboration Networks: The Role of Government Funding in the Development of a Novel Field
Speaker:
Professor Paige Clayton, School of City & Regional Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology
Facilitator:
Judith Chadwick, Assistant Vice-President, Research Services, University of Toronto
2PM-3:30PM
Breakout Sessions
- Session 1 | University Room
Industry Partnerships – Navigating a New World Facilitator:
Padraic Foley, Director, Strategy & Partnerships, Acceleration Consortium, University of Toronto
— - Session 2 | Terrace East
Distinguishing and Advancing Indigenous Engagement (in Research Processes and Across Research Teams) Facilitators:
Michael Hart, Vice-Provost (Indigenous Engagement), University of Calgary
Malcolm King, Professor Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan
Jennifer Gunning, Senior Director, Brain-Heart Interconnectome (BHI), University of Ottawa
Joanne Weninger, Executive Director, One Child Every Child, University of Calgary
— - Session 3 | Terrace West
Connecting, Engaging and Training Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) Facilitator:
Valerie Miller, Outreach and Engagement Lead, University of Alberta
3:30PM-3:45PM | Third Floor Foyer
Break
3:45PM-5PM | University Room
CFREF Legacy – Don't Let Your Initiative's "Apogée" Be Now; Design It to Last
Speakers:
Christian Sarra-Bournet, Director, Quantum Strategy, Université de Sherbrooke
Terry Fonstad, Associate Vice-President Research, University of Saskatchewan
Martha Munezhi, Executive Director, Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides, Toronto Metropolitan University
Keith Lévesque, Executive Director, Sentinel North, Université Laval
Facilitator:
Patricia Fournier (Moderatior), Assistant VP, Research Development, Université de Sherbrooke
5PM-7PM | Terrace
Reception with Light Refreshments
Tuesday, May 27
8:00AM-9:20AM | Third Floor Foyer
Registration & Warm Breakfast Buffet
9:20AM-9:30AM | University Room
Welcome
9:30AM-10:45AM | University Room
Hearing From Round 1 & 2 Initiatives: Lessons Learned
Speakers:
Caitlin Mullin, Program Director, Connected Minds, York University
Virginie Portes, Director Research Support, IVADO, Université de Montréal
Keith Lévesque, Executive Director, Sentinel North, Université Laval
Facilitators:
Judith Chadwick, Assistant Vice-President, Research Services, University of Toronto
Kristina Ohrvall (Moderator), Assistant Vice-President, Research Development, McGill University
Brian Moore, Directeur des Projets Structurants / Director, Strategic Initiatives and Institutional Programs, Université de Montréal
10:45AM-11:15AM | University Room
Break
11:15AM-12:30PM
Breakout Sessions
- Session 1 | University Room
No Stories Without Numbers and No Numbers Without Stories When Reporting On Knowledge Mobilization Facilitator:
David Phipps, Assistant Vice-President, Research Strategy & Impact, York University
— - Session 2 | Terrace East
Strategizing in Collaboration to Implement Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Initiatives Facilitator:
Andrew Castillo, EDI & Community Outreach Specialist, Connected Minds, York University
Andrea Gill, Manager, Inclusive Excellence & Research Development, University of Toronto
Krystle Van Hoof, Managing Director & CEO, Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives, McGill University
Caitlin Mullin, Program Director, Connected Minds, York University
— - Session 3 | Terrace West
Budget & Finance: Challenges & Solutions Facilitators:
Michelle MacArthur, Director of Finance, Ocean Frontier Institute, Dalhousie University
Jaclyn Pitman, Manager of Operations, Ocean Frontier Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland
12:30PM-1:15PM | University Room
Lunch
1:15PM-2PM | University Room
Research Meets World: Communicating Impact Effectively
Facilitators:
Stephannie Roy, Executive Director, Strategy & Office of the Vice-President, Division of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, University of Toronto
Simona Chiose, Divisional Lead, Public Affairs, Government Affairs Office
Daniel Harney, Manager, Projects and Engagement, Division of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, University of Toronto
2PM-3:30PM
Breakout Sessions
- Session 1 | University Room
Executive Director / Senior Leadership Networking Community Facilitators:
Giovanna Sebastiani, Director of Administration, DNA to RNA, McGill University
Martha Munezhi, Executive Director, Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides, Toronto Metropolitan University
Maggie Perzyna, Research Operations Manager, Bridging Divides, Toronto Metropolitan University
— - Session 2 | Terrace East
Understanding Canadian Research Security Facilitator:
Justin Nankivell, Director, Research Security, University of Waterloo
Paul Jarrett, Director, Research Security, University of Toronto
An Chi Lee, Director, Research Security, Toronto Metropolitan University
— - Session 3 | Terrace West
Why Data Management Matters in a CFREF Facilitators:
Samir Das, Associate Director, Research Software Development, McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, McGill University
Jennifer Gunning, Senior Director, Brain Heart Interconnectome, University of Ottawa
Krystel Van Hoof, Managing Director & CEO, Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives, McGill University
3:30PM-3:45PM | University Room
Break & Refreshments
3:45PM-4:30PM | University Room
Report Back: Key Themes
Facilitator:
Judith Chadwick, Assistant Vice-President, Research Services, University of Toronto
4:30PM-5PM | University Room
Closing Remarks
Speakers:
Alán Aspuru-Guzik, Scientific Director, Acceleration Consortium, University of Toronto
Valérie Laflamme, Associate Vice-President, TIPS
Judith Chadwick, Assistant Vice-President, Research Services, University of Toronto
For full session descriptions and materials, please visit the detailed symposium program.
Visitor Information
Learn about the Chestnut Conference Centre, accommodation from our hotel partners, getting around, our commitment to accessibility and things to do in Toronto.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following for their support in the planning and execution of the 2025 CFREF Symposium:
- 2025 CFREF Symposium Planning Committee
- Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS)
Contact Us
Have questions?
Please contact us at CFREF2025.Symposium@utoronto.ca if you have any questions about the 2025 CFREF Symposium.
The 2025 CFREF Symposium is hosted by U of T, with input and support from TIPS.
