Universities CANADA: reflections on a united sector

On October 28, 2025, I was honoured to be installed as Board Chair of Universities Canada during our Annual Membership Meeting.

I am grateful to Universities Canada for their ongoing leadership and to the Board for putting their trust in me. During this busy and exciting time, I have been reflecting on the state of our sector in recent years and wanted to share some thoughts.

A changing world

I acknowledge that I am taking this leadership position at a difficult time for the post-secondary sector. We are navigating a significant shift in how universities are regarded, funded and expected to function, all at the same time. Students, faculty, staff, government, industry and partners all have diverging expectations about what our priorities should be. We are being pulled in many different directions at a time when we have fewer resources than ever before. And while our sector has long been a driver of prosperity, innovation and social progress, our financial foundations have become increasingly precarious and our systems disrupted.

At the same time, there is skepticism in the public discourse about the value of a university education. Some question our role. Others cast doubt on our relevance. This is not a PR problem, but rather a societal and cultural one. Society is continuing to change and evolve, and the question is clear: in order to remain relevant, are universities willing to change too?

All across the sector, I am hearing that people are tired. Some days, it feels like we are paddling upstream. But at our annual membership meeting, I was heartened to meet with so many colleagues who, like me, are determined not to mistake disruption for decline. Who truly believe that alongside these challenges come exciting opportunities, and an invitation to reimagine how we teach, research and serve society. Who are ready to shape a more bold and responsive future and ask fundamental questions of ourselves: who are we, as a sector? Who do we serve? What are our priorities? What do we care about, and why?

I know these are not easy questions to answer. But we must answer them. Our sector’s future—and the country’s future—hang in the balance, because the university system is one of Canada’s greatest assets during this unique time of evolution and ambition.

Universities in Canada

We all know the challenges facing our nation, from threats to our sovereignty to a stagnating economy to a talent shortage. And universities play a critical role in addressing these concerns.

We educate students who will become leaders, engaged citizens and fill critical skills gaps in a wide variety of industries. We prepare students not just for jobs, but for lives of meaning, contribution and resilience in a world we cannot fully predict. Our faculty members and researchers are hard at work boosting Canada’s innovation ecosystem, commercializing their ideas, founding spin-off companies and creating jobs in their communities. And of course, we partner with government, industries and communities to offer our expertise and resources for the benefit of all Canadians. Our campuses are not just places of learning: they are laboratories of innovation, equity and global citizenship.

The best way to best illustrate this is perhaps not through generalizations, but through specific examples—like my own. I was set on a career in nursing from a very young age, following in my mother’s footsteps. But during my master’s degree in nursing, I was drawn into the world of research, excited by the opportunity to enact positive change in a subject I was passionate about. I saw first-hand the impact of my research, teaching and work, and decided to pursue a career in academia and see where it took me. I’m so glad that I did.

I am in my role today because my younger self found her life’s calling at university.

I am in my role because of every young person that I shake hands with during our Convocation ceremonies, all those who cross the stage with the skills they need to pursue their dreams and build a more inclusive and sustainable future for all Canadians.

I am in my role because Canada needs incredible researchers who are solving critical global challenges, supporting the economy and improving everyday life for people and communities through their innovations and discoveries.

I am in my role because I believe that, in a world grappling with complexity and uncertainty, the university remains one of the most powerful engines of hope, discovery and human progress.

From coast to coast, our institutions—members of Universities CANADA—are economic, innovation and social engines for communities. We represent institutions large and small, urban and rural, anglophone and francophone, and Indigenous-led. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, but these come together to form a sector that is ready to help Canada lead on the global stage. 

As we look at the challenges and opportunities ahead of us, I know we are ready to meet the moment. For hundreds of years, our sector has changed and evolved to meet the needs of our country and communities, and we will do so again—in partnership with government, industry, communities and civil society—to build a strong and united post-secondary system that benefits all Canadians. I look forward to this work alongside each of you in the months and years ahead.