Leadership
Experienced Leadership Across Research, Technology and Public Service
Computing for Humanity, the Canadian registered charity that operates myresearchcloud.ca, is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by experienced technical, legal and academic advisors.
Together, our leadership brings decades of experience in Advanced Research Computing, High Performance Computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, life sciences, public-sector technology, governance, commercialization and nonprofit leadership.
That breadth of experience helps ensure that myresearchcloud.ca is developed and operated with a clear research mission, sound governance, technical discipline and long-term sustainability.
Board of Directors
Our volunteer Board of Directors provides strategic direction, governance and oversight for Computing for Humanity and myresearchcloud.ca.
Board members bring experience from research institutions, government, industry and the nonprofit sector, helping ensure that the organization remains focused on accessible, affordable and Canadian-hosted research computing.
Advisors
Our advisors provide specialized expertise in areas including High Performance Computing, artificial intelligence, research partnerships, legal affairs, infrastructure strategy and international research computing.
Their guidance strengthens both the technical development of the platform and our ability to support researchers, institutions and partners across Canada.
Why Leadership & Governance Matter
Research infrastructure must be trusted.
That requires more than technology.
It requires experienced oversight, responsible decision-making, clear accountability and a long-term commitment to the researchers and institutions that depend on the platform.
Computing for Humanity’s leadership structure is designed to provide that foundation while keeping myresearchcloud.ca aligned with its charitable mission.
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Founder & Interim Executive Director
Founder of Computing for Humanity (formerly the Supercomputer for Cancer Research), Roy Chartier has more than 30 years of experience in government, industry, and non-profits managing e-infrastructure at national and international levels. Formerly Director of Architecture at the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, he continues to advise on HPC strategy and serves on multiple advisory boards. His vision to repurpose supercomputing for the public good established the foundation for CFH’s mission. As Interim Executive Director, he oversees strategy, operations, and partnerships.
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Chair of the Board
A national-scale infrastructure and cybersecurity leader, Brock Kahanyshyn has shaped some of Canada’s most critical digital systems. As former VP Operations and CISO at the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, and previously CIO roles with the University of Calgary and the Edmonton Police Service, he led national HPC, AI, and secure data platforms serving over 20,000 researchers. His earlier leadership at Bell and TELUS further grounds his experience in large-scale, high-availability environments. At CFH, Brock drives strategy around AI infrastructure, resilience, and trusted compute at scale.
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Board Member
Dr. Shiva Amiri is Vice President, Head of AI and Data Intelligence at Pivotal Life Sciences. She has led data science and AI initiatives at 23andMe, Zymergen, and as CEO of BioSymetrics. She holds a DPhil in Computational Biophysics from the University of Oxford. With extensive expertise at the intersection of AI, life sciences, and health, she provides CFH with guidance on harnessing technology for medical and scientific breakthroughs.
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Board Member
Shane Brauner is Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Schrödinger, a leader in computational chemistry. His career spans academia, startups, and Fortune 50 companies, with deep expertise in Linux and High Performance Computing. Shane is committed to using technology to bridge social and economic divides. At CFH, he champions the repurposing of computing infrastructure to advance science and global equity.
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Board Member
A seasoned digital executive and advisor, Philippe Johnston brings deep experience from senior leadership roles across Canada’s public sector. He has served as CIO at the National Research Council Canada (NRC), NSERC, and in leadership roles at Transport Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat, driving large-scale digital and security transformations. Today, as a TEC Canada Chair, he advises CEOs on growth, governance, and leadership. At CFH, Philippe reinforces strong governance, executive discipline, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
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Advisor
A growth-focused technology executive, Marc Mondesir brings over 25 years of experience scaling organizations and building high-performing teams. As Managing Director of Equinix Canada, and formerly a senior leader at Microsoft and Dell Technologies, he has led national go-to-market strategies, digital transformation programs, and ecosystem development across enterprise and public sector markets. Known for combining strategy with execution, Marc focuses on unlocking growth through people, partnerships, and platform thinking. At CFH, he supports expansion, partnerships, and sustainable growth.
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Board MemberA DeepTech builder at the intersection of science and commercialization, Kama Szereszewski brings experience from both academia and early-stage biotech ventures. At Carleton University, where she serves as Director of the Master of Biotechnology program, and through her own incubator initiatives, she develops the talent and ventures shaping the next generation of life sciences innovation. Previously, she led R&D programs at a medical device startup, taking products from concept through regulated development environments. At CFH, Kama strengthens the bridge between research, commercialization, and real-world impact.
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Board Member
Dr. Michael Binder is the former President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, with a distinguished career in federal public service including senior roles at Industry Canada and the Department of Communications. He has long championed access to computing resources, beginning with early national programs. At CFH, he helps advance equitable access to High Performance Computing for research communities.
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Legal Advisor
Elisabeth Sheppard is an accomplished lawyer who transitioned into the non-profit sector to align her expertise with her passion for positive social impact. As Executive Director of Computing for Humanity, she guided the organization through a critical phase of growth, strengthening partnerships, governance, and organizational capacity. Her leadership helped position CFH to deliver greater impact for researchers and communities worldwide. Today, she continues to support the mission as a valued past executive.
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Academic Partnerships Advisor
Domenic Lam earned his PhD in Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Toronto. He spent 14 years at IBM’s advanced computing division, progressing from a technical role into business development. Through extensive client engagement, he gained the trust and credibility to advise senior leaders across both public and private sector organizations.Over the past decade, Dr. Lam has shifted his focus from high-performance computing and data analytics to Artificial Intelligence. As a visiting scientist supporting researchers at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, he developed a deep understanding of the unique operational demands of AI in scientific environments. He later served as Business Development Director at the AI software start-up Datadex Inc., and subsequently as a Senior AI Consultant at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where he worked directly with business executives to identify and address challenges in their AI initiatives.
Dr. Lam is currently the Business Development Director at LumiNet Bio and teaches AI courses at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute.
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Technical Advisor
John Towns is Deputy Director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and Principal Investigator of the U.S. ACCESS program. With decades of leadership in cyberinfrastructure, HPC strategy, and community engagement, he provides CFH with strategic technical advice and international perspective, strengthening the organization’s role within Canada’s and North America’s advanced computing ecosystems.