CCI Expands Programming Team with New Manager of Programs and Events

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) is pleased to welcome Jessica Pheby as Manager of Programs and Events, a new role that will support the design and delivery of programming for Canada’s fastest-growing technology companies.

CCI convenes founders, executives, and partners through events, forums, and learning opportunities that help members build relationships, exchange practical knowledge, and stay connected to the conversations shaping Canada’s innovation economy. Jessica will play a central role in planning and executing that work, with a focus on creating strong member experiences and supporting programming that reflects the needs of companies scaling in a highly competitive environment.

“Bringing innovators together in meaningful ways is an important part of how CCI supports Canadian scale-ups,” said Patrick Searle, Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Canadian Innovators. “Jessica brings deep experience in program delivery, event leadership, and cross-country collaboration. She will be a strong addition to the team as CCI continues to grow its national platform for members.”

“Jessica brings the kind of practical experience and thoughtful approach that will strengthen how CCI delivers programming for members across the country,” said Gabriella Boulos, Vice President of Programming at the Council of Canadian Innovators. “She understands how to turn strong ideas into well-run programs and events, and she will be a valuable addition as we continue building opportunities for members to connect, learn, and lead.”

Jessica joins CCI from Innovation North, an innovation lab at Ivey Business School, where she led national programs, events, and projects that supported collaboration across Canada’s innovation ecosystem. Earlier in her career, she held roles in product development and project management, helping bring new ideas to market and building the operational experience that now informs her programming work. She holds an Honours Business Administration degree from Ivey Business School, earned a certificate in sustainability, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

“I’m excited to join CCI and help build programming that brings people together around the opportunities and challenges facing Canadian innovators,” said Jessica Pheby, Manager of Programs and Events. “My work has always centred on turning good ideas into well-executed programs and experiences. I’m looking forward to contributing to a team that is deeply committed to strengthening Canadian companies and the broader innovation economy.”

Jessica’s arrival comes as CCI continues to expand its programming and national convening work in support of members across the country. Her hiring adds further capacity to the organization as it delivers events and initiatives that connect leaders, surface ideas, and strengthen Canada’s domestic 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.