Mitacs Announces Dr. Stephen Lucas as Chief Executive Officer

Vancouver, BC — Mitacs, Canada’s innovation organization, is pleased to announce Dr. Stephen Lucas as its new Chief Executive Officer. He is an accomplished leader with extensive public sector experience in economic, innovation, energy, environment and climate change, health and social policy as well as federal-provincial-territorial relations.

Dr. Lucas brings nearly four decades of experience within the Government of Canada with him to Mitacs having held key roles including Deputy Secretary of Plans, Consultations and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Privy Council Office, Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and from 2019 to 2024, Deputy Minister of Health Canada.

At Health Canada, he led the federal government’s comprehensive health response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners, scientific experts, local health and community organizations and industry, including the largest vaccination campaign in Canada’s history. His proven track record in fostering cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary partnerships across industries, academia and governments is well-aligned with Mitacs’s mission to drive innovation through collaboration between research talent, businesses and academia.

Quotes

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Stephen Lucas to the Mitacs team. Stephen’s exceptional leadership and vision make him the ideal choice to guide Mitacs as we continue to strengthen Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem.”

Bruce MacDougall, Chair, Mitacs Board of Directors

“I am excited to join Mitacs at such a pivotal moment. I look forward to working with the talented Mitacs team and our exceptional research and industry partners and emerging talent to continue building a prosperous future for Canada.”

Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs

About Mitacs

As Canada’s innovation organization, Mitacs connects businesses and researchers with unrivalled access to talent, financial support, and the partnerships needed to turn ideas into impactful innovations. Through unique collaborations, Mitacs is driving productivity and positioning Canada as a global innovation leader.

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.

For further information, please contact:

Jacqueline Mason

Director, Communications

jmason@mitacs.ca | 514.247.0542