CCI elevates key team members to drive strategic initiatives and executive development programs for Canadian tech sector growth

TORONTO, CANADA — The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) is pleased to announce expanded roles for two longtime members of our team, reflecting the ongoing growth and expanding scope of our services to Canadian scale-up technology companies and the national innovation ecosystem. 

Abu Kamat becomes Director of Strategic Initiatives and Gabriella Boulos becomes Director of Programs and Events. 

Abu originally joined CCI as a policy analyst after completing a Master of Global Affairs Degree at the Munk School of Public Policy & Global Affairs. Over the past five years he has played an integral role in expanding CCI’s policy development capacity, supporting our advocacy work at the national and provincial levels. In this new role he will be working to breathe life into our innovation policy proposals, and support our government relations efforts to turn good ideas into government policy.

“As CCI has grown over the years, we’ve been able to engage more deeply with the policy issues and challenges facing the Canadian tech sector. In 2024, we’re expecting to take on our biggest projects yet, and Abu has the ideal professional history and knowledge to drive strategic success,” said Dana O’Born, CCI’s Vice-President of Strategy and Advocacy.

Gabriella Boulos has been responsible for building CCI’s Innovation Governance Program, which equips technology leaders with the skills and knowledge to serve in board governance roles at high-growth Canadian companies. She will continue this work, as iGP is on track to hit important milestones this year and we are working towards the second annual Innovation Governance Summit for program alumni. In addition, Gabriella will expand her remit to coordinate a range of events and new professional development opportunities for CCI members and the broader Canadian innovation community, including Canada’s CEO Summit and CCI’s Capital Markets Summit.

“We’ve been consistently hearing from our members and from our Canadian innovation friends that they are craving opportunities to connect and deepen their network through conversation and knowledge-sharing,” said Patrick Searle, CCI Vice-President of Corporate Affairs. “Working closely with Gabriella for the past two years, I’ve seen a remarkable professional with a unique ability to bring people together. I’m thrilled that we are empowering her to deliver more for Canadian innovators.”

Abu and Gabriella take on expanded roles within CCI’s national team of policy, government affairs and business professionals, dedicated to championing a stronger and more resilient Canadian economy, led by thriving scale-up technology companies.

ABOUT THE COUNCIL

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) represents more than 150 domestic high-growth technology-intensive companies. Founded in 2015 by Canada’s most successful technology CEOs, CCI aims to amplify their voices in the public policy development process around innovation, countering the dominance of foreign multinationals and other entities not focused on Canadian economic growth. CCI’s CEOs lead Canadian-based innovation firms in sectors such as Healthtech, Cleantech, Fintech, Cyber, and ICT, driving commercialization of intellectual property, generating jobs and wealth, making investments, and engaging in philanthropy. Learn more about Canada’s 21st century business council at www.canadianinnovators.org.