Impact by Design: The Power of a Systems Life Cycle Approach

Tina Assi is the Director of Global Health Innovation at Grand Challenges Canada (GCC). At GCC, Tina leads impact investments in innovations that improve the lives of underserved women, girls and children in low-resource settings. In this capacity, Tina is GCC’s lead on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for the organization’s Transition-to-Scale portfolio, and provides strategic oversight on GCC’s targeted portfolios: Saving Lives at Birth (SLAB), Saving Brains, Global Mental Health, and the Options for Pregnancy Termination Innovation Initiative (OPTions Initiative). With over 13 years of experience in epidemiology, global health, and business, Tina brings robust experience to GCC and has been central in helping the organization design its strategy and realize its objectives around advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Tina holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and an MPH and PhD in epidemiology from the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh.

David Sweeny, after gaining First Class Honors in Statistics at the University of Aberdeen, worked at two BBSRC research institutes, as a statistician consultant before developing mathematical models or plant growth. His work on the computer aspects of this led into broader applications of IT in education and research, and was Director of Information Services at Royal Holloway, University of London, before moving into university leadership as Vice-Principal (Communications, Enterprise and Research) in 2004. In this role he was responsible for research strategy and for developing Royal Holloway’s research-led commercial and consultancy activities.

He joined HEFCE in 2008 as Director (Research, Innovation and Skills) and led the development and implementation of the first Research Excellence Framework including the new impact agenda element. He was responsible for research policy and funding, knowledge exchange and university/business relations. In May 2017 he was appointed the first Executive Chair of Research England, a new council established as part of UK Research and Innovation, alongside the seven disciplinary Research Councils and the UK Innovation Agency. Research England is biggest research funder in the UK with responsibility for university block-grant funding for research and knowledge exchange. In UKRI he has responsibilities for Place (Regional Funding), Commercialisation and Open Science. David has been invited to visit many countries to advise on research assessment and funding, particularly with respect to research impact. He is also a member of the Executive Steering Group for Plan S, the international initiative on full and immediate open access to research publications. David was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Aberdeen in 2012, was Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Newcastle, NSW in 2015 and is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society.

Terry Rachwalski leads the Entrepreneurial Investments business unit of Alberta Innovates, the provinces’ largest public corporation charged with investing in diversifying the economy through growth in emerging technology and knowledge-based start-ups, companies and technologies. Entrepreneurial Investments funds early stage, high growth, high potential firms, fosters entrepreneurial culture, regional innovation and global partnerships.

Previously she was President of Front Porch Perspectives, a Canadian management consulting firm providing business development and go-to-market and action plans for technology product launches. She has worked extensively providing industry, market and competitive analyses along with digital services, social media launches and integrated marketing, advertising and public relations campaigns in Canada, the United States, Europe and Central America.

Terry has worked as an executive, founder and investor with multiple Canadian and international technology firms in progressive management, sales, marketing and operational roles. She is a mentor and facilitator at CETAC-West’s Entrepreneur to CEO week-long intensive workshop in Banff. An award-winning Certified Management Consultant, she holds an MBA from Royal Roads University where she is Associate Faculty in the MBA program running the problem-based learning, live consulting cases during the rigorous capstone project. She developed the CAPE model to assist clients determine pricing models, is co-author of Business Diagnostic, 3rd Edition and co-developed the online Five Minute Business Assessment Tool.