Executive Team
Chad Gaffield, President
Carmen Charette, Executive Vice-President
Brent Herbert-Copley, Vice-President, Grants and Fellowships
Jamie Pitfield, Vice-President, Common Administrative Services
Gisèle Yasmeen, Vice-President, Partnerships
Carmen Charette, Executive Vice-President
Carmen has been involved in supporting research, research training and innovation in Canada for more than 20 years. She joined the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) when it was first created in 1997, building on her experience at NSERC, where she had managed various research funding programs between 1983 and 1997. Before 1983, she worked as a researcher, at the Canadian Conservation Institute.
As CFI’s senior vice-president until September 2006, Carmen designed and implemented strategies, policies and programs for a $3.65-billion investment in research infrastructure in institutions across the country. Carmen also did a brief stint as executive director of external relations and innovation for the Science and Innovation Sector at Industry Canada before coming to SSHRC.
Carmen holds degrees in biochemistry and business administration from the University of Ottawa.
Brent Herbert-Copley, Vice-President, Grants and Fellowships
Brent comes to SSHRC from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), where he held a variety of positions, including, most recently, that of Director for Social and Economic Policy programs. Before joining IDRC, Brent worked at the North-South Institute, a leading Canadian think-tank on development issues.
Brent’s own research has focused on understanding the process of innovation, and the way that government polices—including environmental regulation—affect that process. He has also focused on the links between research and public policy, and the role of scholarly research in helping to inform public debate on policy options. Brent brings to SSHRC a range of contacts, internationally and within Canada, as well as experience working with government agencies, foundations and the university community to build support for research and scholarship.
Brent holds a PhD in political science and a master’s degree in international affairs from Carleton University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in political science from The University of Western Ontario.
Gisèle Yasmeen, Vice-President, Partnerships
Gisèle's career has spanned everything from research, teaching and international development to journalism and communications. It has taken her from Montreal to Vancouver, from Ottawa to Bangkok.
As a consultant, she worked for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the Canadian International Development Agency and the International Development Research Centre. From 2000 to 2003 she was a radio columnist for Radio-Canada and CBC in Vancouver. She was also the founding regional director of the Canadian Unity Council’s Centre for Research and Information on Canada for BC and the Yukon.
Before coming to SSHRC in 2007, Gisèle worked for Elections Canada as senior director for outreach, communications and research.
Gisèle has a PhD from UBC, an MA from McGill and a B.A. Honours from the University of Ottawa.