Independent Review Panel for Defence Acquisition member biographies

From Independent Review Panel for Defence Acquisition

Chair

Mr. Larry Murray CM, CMM, CD

Mr. Larry Murray has held a number of senior positions in the Canadian Armed Forces and Public Service. During his career with the Canadian Armed Forces, he served at sea in a variety of ships and held several senior positions, including as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, Commander of Maritime Command, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and, finally, Acting Chief of the Defence Staff from October 1996 until September 1997. Mr. Murray retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1997 and joined the Public Service as Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada in 1999 and Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in 2003. He retired from the Public Service of Canada in 2007.

Since retiring from the Public Service, Mr. Murray has served on Task Forces, Advisory and Audit Committees. He is also a former Chair of the Board of the Public Policy Forum, a former President of the Nova Scotia Mainland Division of the Navy League of Canada and honourary Grand President of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Mr. Murray has received many prestigious awards in recognition of his leadership in the Canadian Armed Forces, Public Service of Canada, national voluntary commitments, as well as his support to Canadian Armed Forces personnel, Veterans and their families. He was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2013.

Members

Mr. Martin Gagné

Mr. Martin Gagné spent 17 years at CAE before retiring as Group President for Military Simulation and Training in 2012. During his career with CAE, he served in various roles such as: Vice-President of Visual Systems, Vice-President of Military Marketing and Sales, and Executive Vice-President of Civil Simulation and Training.

Prior to joining CAE, Mr. Gagné acquired extensive management and leadership experience during his 23 years as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. As a senior aerospace engineering officer he was involved in the acquisition and maintenance activities of various aircraft fleets including the CF-18 and Maritime Helicopter Project. He has a Master’s degree in computer engineering.

Mr. Gagné serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) and is on CCC’s Board of Directors as the Chair of the Operations Committee.

Ms. Christine Tovee

Ms. Christine Tovee is a technology and engineering consultant with over 15 years leadership in aerospace development programs. She was Vice President of Research and Technology and Chief Technology Officer for Airbus Group Inc., in the United States (formerly known as EADS North America) and has worked on defence projects from early concept and requirements through detailed design, test and validation.

At BAE Systems and EADS, Ms. Tovee held positions in Germany, France and the United Kingdom, contributing to national and European space programs. She has led and collaborated on defence projects in all domains: land, air, sea and space, focusing on joint operations and C4ISTAR systems including Skynet V military satellite communications, medium-lift helicopters, Ground Based Air Defence and Type 45 Destroyer Combat Systems.

Ms. Tovee was seconded to the UK Ministry of Defence from the Skynet V programme to lead the technical aspects of the Joint Network Integration Body (JNIB). This programme combined the efforts of MoD and multiple defence contractors to identify and solve the integration challenges in providing a seamless information and communications system.

She is currently a member of the Government of Canada’s Space Advisory Board, advising the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development on a long-term national strategy for space. She is also a start-up mentor for the University of Toronto in the School of Engineering’s Hatchery Student Entrepreneurship program and at the Rotman School of Business as an Associate in the Creative Destruction Lab.

Ms. Tovee holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Ms. Linda Lizotte-MacPherson

Linda Lizotte-MacPherson is an experienced Director, Executive Chair and accomplished CEO and deputy minister with a unique blend of experience in government and the private sector. Expert in strategy development, IT, including cyber security, operations, risk management and public administration. Proven track record with large scale complex projects and transformation and change initiatives.

International experience as Director, Chair, CEO, COO, CIO and Deputy Minister. Completed Board of Directors Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Ms. Lizotte-MacPherson held a number of deputy minister positions in the federal government from 2005 to 2016. These included President of the Canada Border Services Agency, President of the Canada School of Public Service, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Revenue Agency, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and COO Service Canada and Associate Secretary, Treasury Board Secretariat.

In the private sector, Ms. Lizotte-MacPherson was President of two Canadian subsidiaries, Sapient Canada Inc. and AMS Management Systems Canada Inc., and she held a number of senior executive positions with Digital Equipment of Canada (DEC). She was also the first Chief Executive Officer of Canada Health Infoway, where she successfully launched the corporation.

Dr. Elinor Sloan

Elinor Sloan is Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at Carleton University, Ottawa, where she specializes in Canadian and United States security and defence policy and military capabilities. A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, she holds a PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and an MA from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.

Prior to joining academia, Dr. Sloan was a strategic analyst in Canada’s National Defence Headquarters where she researched the policy implications of US-led advancements in military technologies, and prior to that a logistics officer in the Canadian Armed Forces regular force. Dr. Sloan teaches in the areas of International Security Studies, Transatlantic Security Issues, and North American Security and Defence Policy. She is author of seven books on security, defence and military strategy, including two second editions, as well as many journal articles.