Following an extensive international search, a librarian and information management expert with experience in the private, public and academic sectors will join Brandon University as Chief Information Officer.
Melanie Sucha comes to BU from Calgary, where her career at Suncor Energy led her through multiple IT management positions before moving to the provincial Alberta Energy Regulator. From Calgary she has also taught distance courses in Library and Information Science for almost a decade in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western University.
“I am extremely pleased to welcome Melanie to Brandon University,” said Steve Robinson, BU’s Vice-President (Academic & Provost). “Her extensive experience at leading organizations through digital transformations, combined with her advanced education in library and information science, fits precisely with BU’s unique needs.”
The position of Chief Information Officer (CIO) is new at BU, replacing what were previously three separate positions: University Librarian, Director of IT Services, and the Director of Institutional Data and Analysis.
“This will be a strategic leadership role that will guide BU through the extremely important work of enhancing information services for our diverse community of users in a time of rapid technological change. The CIO will be the main advisor at all levels on matters of data governance, security, and institutional best practices,” Robinson said. “The world is changing and there is tremendous opportunity for BU. We are all enthusiastic about the new perspectives that Melanie will bring.”
Sucha will oversee a portfolio that extends from archival records and physical collections to cloud-based databases and technology services. Bringing it all under one umbrella reflects the understanding that information holds its value across multiple formats and media; there is potential here to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
“Data and information are assets to any organization, a university especially so. We’re in a unique position, stewarding our history, supporting our broader community, and nurturing tomorrow’s leaders.” Sucha said. “Working with the talented Library, Archives, and IT Services teams at BU, I look forward to the challenge of safeguarding the integrity of our information while also finding new ways to share knowledge and collaborate with our academic community.”
Sucha has a Master of Library and Information Studies from McGill University in Montreal, and worked in Ottawa for several years, consulting on technology projects for clients like the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, and the House of Commons.
More recently, she has been based in Calgary, leading Suncor through a series of digital and content management transformations before moving to the Alberta Energy Regulator to develop policies and standards for data governance and information management.
“I’m proud to have lived and worked in different parts of Canada, and I am excited to explore the city of Brandon and the Westman area, including Riding Mountain National Park,” Sucha said.
Sucha will take up her role as CIO at Brandon University on May 1, 2020.
Contact
- Brandon University
- communications@brandonu.ca
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