Managing for Results in Science, Research, and Innovation
Public event
Nov 7, 2025 — 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Canada has spent decades discussing how to understand and best manage investments in science, research, and innovation to create positive impacts for Canadians.
In this session, Canadian program managers and experts will share how they have framed, measured, evaluated, and reported on science, research, and innovation initiatives in their respective contexts.
About the Event
In this session, Canadian program managers and experts will share how they have framed, measured, evaluated, and reported on science, research, and innovation initiatives in their respective contexts. Speakers from organizations such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) — as well as those involved in health, environment, and industrial development — will present concrete examples of what has worked in managing for results and telling credible and useful performance stories to funders, managers, and policymakers.
Session goals:
- Share information and insights on what has worked in framing, measuring, and evaluating science, research, and innovation support investments in Canada.
- Gauge interest in evolving a community of interest and practice in this area, similar to previous initiatives by PPX and others.
Who should attend:
Anyone interested in improving the understanding and management of investments in science, research, and innovation policies and programs
To register click here.
Speakers
Jeffrey Nerenberg, Director of Manufacturing, Communications, and Technologies, at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Jeffery is the Director of Manufacturing, Communications, and Technologies at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Jeffery co-leads NSERC’s flagship partnership program, Alliance, which supports Canada’s university researchers working in close partnership with organizations from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Jeffery’s past experience with NSERC has included leading NSERC’s national network of Regional Offices, the development and implementation of Automotive Partnership Canada, as well as delivering a range of other partnership programs. Prior to joining NSERC in 2003, Jeffery spent several years in the R&D department of a company specializing in personal protective equipment for landmine and explosive disposal. He started his career as a production engineer within the steel industry. Jeffery holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from McGill University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Edward Irving, Director of Colleges and Networks, at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Ed is the Director of Colleges and Networks in the Research Partnerships Directorate at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). With almost two decades at NSERC, he has held a range of leadership roles, including Director of the Energy, Environment and Resources Division and Deputy Director of the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program, where he has supported national research collaboration and innovation initiatives. Before joining NSERC, Ed served as a Senior Grants Advisor at McMaster University’s Office of Research Services. He holds a Master of Applied Science in Engineering Physics from McMaster University.
Élyse McCall-Thomas, PhD Candidate, University of Ottawa
Élyse is a Ph.D. candidate with the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa, supervised by Dr. Isabelle Bourgeois. Her research examines the relationship between evaluation theory, policy, and practice, with a particular focus on the implementation of evaluation policy and its influence on the capacity to do and use evaluation. Élyse is also an Evaluation Manager with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and brings over 17 years of experience in research and evaluation across sectors including research funding, education, public health, mental health and addictions, and homelessness. Her work emphasizes evaluation capacity building, evaluation policy, equity and inclusion, and the use of evaluation to support learning and evidence-informed decision making.
Mark Pederson, Performance Specialist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Mark is a performance specialist for AAFC’s Science and Technology Branch with a specialty in program performance, logic modelling, audit, evaluation, and risk management. He’s been working for 30 years in AAFC and follows the entire program cycle from MC to TB submission, creation of program documentation, program reporting and finally audit and evaluation. Mark’s goal has always been to help programs talk about Why there work is important, explain what its going to lead to and explain who might be impacted by their results.
Kathryn Graham, Professor, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Kathryn is a Professor in impact and leads the Research & Innovation Impact and Assessment Lab (RIIAL) at the University of Calgary. Her name is synonymous with advancing the science and practice of assessing impact as well as activating impact for and with our communities. She has dedicated 30 years to advising organizations on how to strategically design, implement and scale for realizing real world impact. She is an Organizational Psychologist by training, with a passion for embedding impact strategy and systems to address societal complex challenges. She recently co-authored a book on the cornerstones of impact that outlines the nuts and bolts of how to plan, implement, assess and understand factors for success. She is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and co-founder of the International School on Research Impact Assessment to train the next generation of impact professionals. In 2022, Kathryn received the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (Alberta) and in 2023, she was a co-recipient of an International Startup Ecosystem Star Award for building local innovation ecosystems. She is a bridge builder and brings international experience and innovative practices to bear when fostering a positive impact culture.
Moderated by:
Steve Montague, PPX Director, Professional Development
Steve Montague, Partner of Performance Management Network Inc. is a credentialed evaluator, a Fellow of the Canadian Evaluation Society and has over three decades of experience as a practitioner in performance measurement and program evaluation as a management consultant, an adjunct professor and as an evaluation manager in a major Canadian federal government department. Mr. Montague has managed major and minor projects analyzing a wide variety of programs for Canadian federal, provincial, United States, Scottish and Australian governments, as well as conducting work for the OECD, the World Bank, the European Union and the United Nations. He has published articles on measurement and evaluation in journals in Canada, the US and Europe and facilitated numerous presentations, panels and workshops on evaluation, performance management and information management. He was awarded the Contribution to Evaluation Award by the Canadian Evaluation Society in 2015 and the Carl Boudreault award for contribution to the Local National Capital Evaluation Society chapter in 2007. Steve is also a founding member and has been a three-time President of the Performance and Planning Exchange.
Eric Champagne, Director, Centre on Governance; President, PPX
Eric Champagne is a Full Professor of Public Administration at the School of Political Studies and Director of the Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa. He currently serves as President of the Performance and Planning Exchange (PPX), a leading Canadian organization dedicated to advancing knowledge and practice in results-based management.
Before joining academia, Dr. Champagne spent nearly a decade at the World Bank as a public sector reform specialist and worked as a senior strategic advisor to the Government of Canada on governance and public sector management. His research and teaching focus on public sector management and governance, program evaluation, public policy development, and multi-level governance, particularly in areas such as infrastructure financing, transportation, water systems, and digital transformation.
Dr. Champagne is widely recognized for his contributions to public administration education. In 2020, he received the Pierre De Celles Award for Excellence in Teaching Public Administration, presented jointly by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA). He also teaches professional development courses for practitioners through the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute and PPX.
His current research explores public sector reforms in Canada and developing countries, as well as governance challenges related to digitalization and post-pandemic transformations. Dr. Champagne holds a Ph.D. in Urban Studies from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique, along with advanced degrees in planning and organizational management.