Chapter Leadership

Simon Kennedy

M.Sc. ICD.D

Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Simon Kennedy was named Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) in September 2019. He has overseen ISED’s response to the global pandemic, working with industry to pivot towards the production of medical supplies and to build up Canadian biomanufacturing capacity, rolling out new programs to aid businesses affected by the pandemic, and partnering with Canadian companies to support innovation and industrial transformation.  

Previously, he served as Deputy Minister of Health. During his tenure, the Department assumed a national leadership role in responding to the opioids crisis; negotiated new funding with the provinces and territories for home care and mental health services; and launched major reforms to pharmaceutical pricing, nutrition labelling, vaping, and tobacco packaging. Mr. Kennedy also oversaw Health Canada’s implementation of the government’s initiative to legalize and regulate cannabis.

Mr. Kennedy has served in a variety of progressively senior roles in seven different federal organizations, including in six deputy minister-level appointments. He was the Prime Minister’s personal representative, or “Sherpa”, to the G-20 from 2012 to 2014. He has degrees from Mount Saint Vincent University and Syracuse University, and is a graduate of INSEAD’s Advanced Management Programme. Mr. Kennedy has been a member of the board of a variety of organizations, including the Canadian Tourism Commission, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Mental Health Commission of Canada, and Ottawa Community Foundation, among others. He co-chairs the Ottawa Chapter of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Peter Nadeau

ICD.D

Peter is a corporate lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience. He has a diversity of expertise and experience serving on and working with boards of directors of public, private, not-for-profit, and charitable companies.  Peter is the former General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Newbridge Networks Corporation. He chaired the Boards of the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa, Algonquin College, and Comtech Credit Union. Presently, Peter is a member of the Boards of Guaranteed Funeral Deposits of Canada and inBay Technologies. He completed the ICD Directors’ Education Programme and earned his ICD.D designation in 2009.