2. Biography
Dr. Catherine Aczel Boivie is the current CEO and Chair for Canadian Women in
Technology (CanWIT) and Executive-in-Residence at the Beedie School of
Business at Simon Fraser University
Catherine has over 20 years of experience in the business leadership of
information technology, including:
- Senior Vice President of Information Technology and Facility Management for
Vancity Credit Union
- Senior Vice President of IT and CIO at Pacific Blue Cross and CAA British
Columbia
- Founding President of the Chief Information Officer’s Association of Canada
(CIOCAN)
- University of Waterloo Mathematics Alumni Achievement Medal
- Awarded Canada’s top 100 most powerful women by the Women’s Executive
Network in the “Trailblazers and Trendsetters” category
- Has served on several boards such as the Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC),
Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, Burnaby Board of Trade, and
the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC).
3. CanWIT – a National volunteer organization to support the attraction and
advancement of women in technology and technology related careers.
The facts are in our favour:
• More women in leadership position makes a measurable and positive
difference to companies
• Companies with female leadership are more likely to succeed
The stats are against us:
• Women make-up only 21% of Canada’s technology sector workforce
• Barely 1 in every 5 workers that work in an ICT occupation is a woman
(ICTC, 2012)
• 52% of highly qualified females working in science, engineering and
technology companies will quit their jobs within the first 10 years of their career
(ICTC, 2005)
4. - Encourage women to consider a career in a technology field through
mentorship, networking, and professional development
- Help accelerate, retain, and support the careers of women already in the field
- Offer a platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to meet and
build great women-led technology-based businesses through
- Become a strong voice for Canadian women in technology who face barriers in
advancing their careers
- Provide professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities
for women in technology and technology-related roles
5. CanWIT is comprised of a network of over 1,000 women across the country who
work together to break the glass ceiling in our sector.
The CanWIT Advisory Council is guided by a group of 17 talented women,
including:
• Fawn Annan – CEO, IT World Canada
• Victoria Lennox – Co-Founder, Startup Canada
• Sarah Prevette – Founder and CEO, Sprouter/BETAKit
• Sage Baker – CEO, Q5 Innovations
• Mary Ann Yule – VP and General Manager, CDW Canada
The New Economy offers new opportunities through innovative programs
(eMentorship Program) for more women to join leadership ranks within the
technology sector.
6. CIOCAN represents the CIO Profession in Canada
• Members are all senior IT leaders
• Senior faculty from Canada’s top university business schools join us
as academic members
• Self managed, not for profit, vendor neutral
7. Networking
• Exclusive IT Leader membership ensures open exchange of ideas and
best practices
• Cross-industry membership provides diverse perspectives
Advocacy
• Speaks for CIOs on IT leadership issues (IT talent gap, privacy &
security)
• Promoting the CIO role as central to creating and executing effective
business strategy
• Research on business trends for CIOs, internal and with external
partners
8. Professional Development
• C-level communication
• Decision points on emerging trends
Growing the Next Generation of IT Leaders
• Partnering in University-based leadership programs
• Partnering in Mentoring programs
