We are thrilled to share that Susan MacDougall and Joanne Bath will be joining the Pier Labs Board of Directors for the 2021-22 term. We also would like to share a special thanks to Sandra McKenzie who has wrapped up her time on the board, during which she provided strategic direction and support. Sandra was one of the founding Board members and was a driving force behind creating the organization and positioning its success.
“I know we would not have achieved so much in a short period of time without Sandra’s advice and guidance. She was critical to us figuring out how to get Pier Labs established,” said Mike Davis, Chair of Pier Labs and CEO of Davis Pier.
Pier Labs works with partners in government, healthcare, academia, and the not-for-profit sector to help solve some of the toughest problems our country is facing. From poverty and healthcare to education and public safety, our approach is to use all forms of evidence to develop policy and program improvements that we then rigorously test through experimentation.
“We are dedicated to driving impact by solving complex problems via research and innovation to support the development of evidence-based policy” commented Mike Davis, “and we’re excited to welcome both Joanne and Sue to our board knowing they are dedicated to this mission as well. “
“I am delighted to join the board of Pier Labs. Their mission, vision, and values align closely with mine, making this an ideal venture for me both personally and professionally,” says Ms. Bath. “I have, and continue to, dedicate my life to the pursuit of social innovation with aspirations to improve the lives of people in our community. As the leader of a social profit organization, I’ve witnessed the power of quality research, fueled by philanthropy, to improve health outcomes. Pier Labs uses sound knowledge generation and evidenced-based research to advocate for social change which I believe is critical to advancing the health, wellness, and prosperity of our communities.”
About our new board members:
Susan MacDougall is the CEO of The Windsor Elms Village, Falmouth, supporting 108 residents and their families. Sue is committed to advancing the understanding of and innovation in long-term care in Nova Scotia, building upon the experience, dedication, and best practices that exist in the sector currently. Her other passion is governance. Currently, Sue is Vice President of the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Boards of The Valley Regional Enterprise Network, Acadia University Board of Governors. She is also on the Steering Committee of the NS Health and Safety Leadership Charter. Sue also serves as Board Chair, Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association.
A life-long learner, Susan has a Bachelor of Recreation Management from Acadia, a Diploma in Nursing, as well as a Master of Science in Business from Husson University and is currently enrolled in the Institute of Corporate Directors Education Program through ICD and Rotman’s School of Business, University of Toronto.
Joanne Bath is the CEO of the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation (DMRF), leading a team committed to advancing life-changing health research and care in the Maritimes and beyond. With more than 16 years of experience in the philanthropic field, Bath’s knowledge and expertise has been instrumental to the success of several major organizations over the years, including DMRF and the IWK Foundation. Over the past decade, Bath has worked diligently to build and lead high-performing teams, and has raised millions of dollars through entrepreneurial thinking, meticulous vision, fundraising acumen, and thoughtful leadership.
A strong example of her relationship-building expertise was demonstrated in the spring of 2020, when Bath played an instrumental role in the creation of the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition, which unlocked $1.5 million for critical COVID-19 research, from eight partnering organizations. This coalition has since gone on to support forty outstanding local COVID-19 health research projects.
More about Pier Labs:
Pier Labs is a federally incorporated non-profit organization. Its purpose is to work with government, community organizations, post-secondary institutions, charities, foundations, and private sector organizations to conduct research and innovation on complex societal issues impacting the wellbeing of Canadians.
Pier Labs receives core operating funding from Davis Pier Consulting to ensure the resources provided by partner organizations are 100% used for project work. It is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the Directors of Davis Pier Consulting and external members, ensuring transparency and mission-driven decision making.
