CCI Expands Communications Team with New Director of Communications

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) is pleased to welcome Lisa Brody Hoffman as Director of Communications, a senior role that will lead CCI’s external communications strategy, brand positioning, and narrative development across Canada’s innovation ecosystem.

CCI convenes founders, executives, and partners through events, policy work, and learning opportunities that help scale-ups build relationships, exchange practical knowledge, and stay connected to the conversations shaping Canada’s innovation economy. Lisa will lead how CCI communicates its policy priorities, programs, and thought leadership, build strong media relationships, and support senior leadership on gaining media profile and harnessing communications opportunities. She will also manage and grow a small communications team to amplify member value nationally.

“Clear, strategic storytelling is essential to advancing Canada’s innovation agenda,” said Patrick Searle, Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Canadian Innovators. “Lisa brings deep experience leading high-performing communications teams in public-facing, policy-driven environments. Her track record in narrative development, design-forward multimedia storytelling, and media relations will strengthen CCI’s voice as we support growing Canadian companies.”

Lisa is a seasoned communications leader with over 15 years of experience shaping compelling narratives and designing meaningful communications programs that raise profiles and advance advocacy priorities. As Director of Communications and Chief of Staff in two high‑profile municipal offices, she led media relations, issues management, and digital and editorial delivery in complex, fast‑moving environments. She has managed national, regional, and local communications and engagement initiatives for non‑profit, political, and industry clients, combining team leadership with hands‑on expertise across all areas of communications for social impact. She holds an M.A. in Communications & Culture from Toronto Metropolitan University and a B.F.A. from Concordia University.

“I’m excited to join CCI and help shape communications that elevate the stories and impact of Canada’s technology and innovation sector,” said Lisa Brody Hoffman, Director of Communications. "Canada’s scale-ups are building the products and platforms that will define Canada's economic future, and clear, engaging narratives are essential to connecting those priorities to members, policymakers, media, and the public. I look forward to working with the team to translate complex policy and program work to highlight our members’ contributions, advance Canada’s digital sovereignty, and grow a resilient, globally competitive innovation ecosystem.”

Lisa’s arrival comes as CCI expands its national convening and policy work to better serve members across the country. Her leadership will add capacity to CCI’s communications function as the organization continues to surface ideas, connect leaders, and strengthen Canada’s innovation community.

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About the Council of Canadian Innovators

The Council of Canadian Innovators is a national member-based organization reshaping how governments across Canada think about innovation policy, and supporting homegrown scale-ups to drive prosperity. Established in 2015, CCI represents and works with over 180 of Canada’s fastest-growing technology companies. Our members are the CEOs, founders, and top senior executives behind some of Canada’s most successful ‘scale-up’ companies. All our members are job and wealth creators, investors, philanthropists, and experts in their fields of health tech, cleantech, fintech, cybersecurity, AI and digital transformation. Companies in our portfolio are market leaders in their verticals, commercialize their technologies in over 190 countries, and generate between $10M-$750M in annual recurring revenue. We advocate on their behalf for government strategies that increase their access to skilled talent, strategic capital, and new customers, as well as expanded freedom to operate for their global pursuits of scale.