Leadership team

Our leadership

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  Gabriel Miller President and CEO
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  Gabriel Miller President and CEO

  Gabriel Miller is the President and CEO of Universities Canada. He is an experienced not-for-profit leader who has built an extensive track record in member relations, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and public policy development over his 22-year career. Previously, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

  Prior to joining the Federation, he served in a series of senior roles with the Canadian Cancer Society, culminating as Vice-President of Public Issues, Policy and Cancer Information, and at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Gabriel has extensive experience building public dialogue on complex issues such as end-of-life and palliative care, directed successful national campaigns, and been a leader in highly effective coalitions, including one that led to the federal ban on asbestos announced in 2016 and the 10-year national infrastructure plan announced in 2013. He is an experienced media spokesperson who has appeared in major national television news broadcast organizations and leading Canadian newspapers. Previously, Gabriel was the Government and Media Relations Director of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which represents big city mayors and municipal governments across the country.

  Gabriel holds a BA in Philosophy from Queen’s University and has served as a member of several not-for-profit boards as well as on the Government of Canada’s Diamond Jubilee Advisory Committee.

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  Sahra Ali Chief Financial Officer
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  Sahra Ali Chief Financial Officer

  Sahra Ali joined Universities Canada in 2013 with the Scholarships Partners Canada group contributing to scholarship administration and financial management, as well as leading various selection committees with key university personnel and other subject matter experts from across the country. She moved over to the finance group in 2017 as the Manager of Accounting. Sahra oversaw the accounting group, was the Universities Canada financial systems administrator and worked on various special projects.

  As Chief Financial Officer, Sahra manages and oversees Universities Canada’s annual financial cycle, including budgeting and year–end responsibilities, mitigates key elements of risks with compliance, monitors investment activities and continues to develop and maintain financial and operational controls. She serves as the Chair of Universities Canada retirement plan committee and as a Member of the organization’s senior management committee.

  Sahra holds a Bachelor of Commerce (option in finance) from the University of Ottawa and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

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  Kim Glithero Vice-President, People and Culture
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  Kim Glithero Vice-President, People and Culture

  Kim Glithero has over 20 years of progressive experience in the not-for-profit healthcare and education sectors and is an expert coach and facilitator and adept at business process improvement and organizational development. After serving Health Standards Organization and the Canadian Red Cross, Kim Glithero joined Universities Canada in 2018 and is now the Vice-President, People and Culture.

  She is currently responsible for developing and implementing human resources initiatives that attract, retain and develop the talent needed to drive success across all areas of Universities Canada’s business and service to members and clients. In addition, she also oversees the payroll team and the services offered to many payroll client organizations and leads the operations and translation teams. She is passionate about driving positive outcomes for employees and leading innovative HR programs to enhance employee engagement and performance.

  Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts with a specialization in Human Relations from Concordia University and a Masters in Human Systems Intervention. When she is not at work you can find her outdoors enjoying nature with her husband and four kids.

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  Julia Scott Vice-President, Member Services
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  Julia Scott Vice-President, Member Services

  Julia Scott joined Universities Canada in early 2014, first leading business development activities for the partnerships and programs group and later leading the Scholarship Partners Canada team. In these roles Julia led client stewardship, new partnerships and refined program management processes to effectively design and deliver programs that create and share knowledge, encourage access to education and uphold high-quality programming at Universities Canada on behalf of its members. As the Director, Partnerships, Programs and International Relations, Julia oversaw the organization’s international mobility programs, development programs, research collaborations, domestic scholarship programs and international relations initiatives.

  As the current Vice-President, Member Services, Julia oversees the organization’s strategy, direction and management of member services and relationships. She is also responsible for the strategic direction of University Affairs, the Partnerships and Programs and international relations teams. Julia serves as a member of the organization’s senior management committee.

  Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and English Literature from Queen’s University and a Master’s Degree in French from the University of Guelph.

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  Michelle Coates-Mather Vice-President, Public Affairs
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  Michelle Coates-Mather Vice-President, Public Affairs

  Michelle Coates-Mather is an award-winning public affairs leader with 18 years experience in political and corporate communications, policy development, government relations and advocacy. She has built a reputation for aligning organizational needs with government agendas, crafting compelling narratives, and mobilizing stakeholders to achieve shared goals. Her talent for collaboration and consensus-building has made her a key player in shaping decisions at all levels of government.

  Michelle will position Universities Canada as a national leader in higher education policy and research. She will lead comprehensive advocacy and communications strategies that strengthen our influence, align with our strategic goals and advance the priorities of Canada’s universities.

  As Head of Policy and Public Affairs for the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP), she introduced innovative policy and advocacy services that strengthened member engagement and expanded the sector’s influence.
  She also held leadership roles at the Canadian Transportation Alliance, the Canadian Energy Marketers Association, Syntax Strategic, NATIONAL Public Relations as well as within the federal government, where she served as Communications Advisor to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Press Secretary for the Minister of International Cooperation, and Public Relations Advisor for the former federal Crown corporation PPP Canada. She has also worked as a political strategist on municipal, provincial, and national campaigns and is a former small business owner of an independent Public Affairs consulting practice, Presence + Influence.

  Michelle holds a BA in Political Science from Dalhousie University and is a passionate advocate for civic engagement. Outside of work, she can often be found at a hockey rink or soccer field cheering on one of her three young children.

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  Annie Barrette Director, Policy and External Relations
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  Annie Barrette Director, Policy and External Relations

  Annie Barrette joined Universities Canada in September 2023 and leads the development and implementation of a multi-year strategic plan to guide the association’s research, policy development, communications and advocacy on a range of priority issues. Annie serves as a Member of the organization’s senior management committee.

  Prior to joining Universities Canada, Annie worked for the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) and Canadian Blood Services in public affairs and marketing roles. Notably, she orchestrated government relations and communications campaigns that elevated Canada’s faculties of medicine and illuminated the compelling stories of recipients, bolstering blood, stem cell and cord blood donation drives.

  With a consistent approach to fostering relationships with media, stakeholders and partners, Annie is dedicated to achieving goals. Annie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies from Laurentian University, a post-graduate diploma in Public Relations from Cambrian College and a Master’s in Political Management from Carleton University.

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  Koko Bate Agborsangaya Director of Partnerships & Programs
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  Koko Bate Agborsangaya Director of Partnerships & Programs

  Koko Bate Agborsangaya is the Director of Partnerships & Programs at Universities Canada. With over 15 years experience in strategic science management across private and public sectors, Koko is recognized for leading multimillion-dollar initiatives, building strategic partnerships and managing multidisciplinary teams. Previously, she served as Director of Strategic Programs at Genome Canada. 

  In her current role, Koko develops and oversees innovative programs that enhance Canada’s academic and research ecosystem, fostering collaborations between academia, government and industry. Her leadership in projects like the $40 million Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) and the $300 million Genomics Application Partnership Program (GAPP) has shaped impactful policies and strengthened academic-industry partnerships. 

  Koko holds a Master’s in Immunology from the University of Manitoba, blending her scientific expertise with strategic leadership. In addition to her professional achievements, she co-founded Black Girls Do Bike—National Capital Region, advocating for equitable outdoor access for Black women. She also serves as Board Director for The Black Women’s Institute of Health and Board Chair for Parents for Diversity, promoting inclusivity in healthcare and education. 

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  Deborah Morrison Publisher
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  Deborah Morrison Publisher

  Deborah Morrison joined Universities Canada in March 2023. Previously, she was the President and CEO of Experiences Canada, a national charity that supports youth development through experiential learning, youth travel and exchanges. Much of her career has been devoted to media production and educational programming: she was Publisher and CEO of Canada’s History and Kayak magazines, Director of Operations for Historica Canada and Director of Marketing and Development and Production Coordinator for the CRB Foundation, creators of the Heritage Minutes.

  In her role as Publisher, she oversees business development for Universities Canada’s national award-winning magazine, University Affairs, which delivers timely, independent news and information to the broader community of Canadian university faculty, administrators, post-graduates and others engaged in policymaking affecting the higher education sector. University Affairs is also the leading source for university career postings and advice through its website and daily job alerts. Deborah is also responsible for special publications that are occasionally produced by Universities Canada and for UniversityStudy.ca, a free, bilingual website that offers domestic and international students with one-stop access to program information and enrollment requirements for all of Universities Canada’s member institutions. Deborah serves as a Member of the organization’s senior management committee.

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  Ahmed Tawakol Director, Information Management and Information Technology
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  Ahmed Tawakol Director, Information Management and Information Technology

  Ahmed Tawakol joined Universities Canada in July 2024 as Director, Information Management and Information Technology. He is responsible for the leadership, strategic orientation, development and continuous improvement of Universities Canada’s information management and information technology systems, processes and policies.

  Ahmed has over 20 years of experience in the management of information systems, business intelligence and IT security with Fortune 500 companies including IBM and Manpower.

  As an active member of senior leadership teams, Ahmed defined strategic priorities and continuously aligned information systems initiatives with business objectives. He was entrusted with ensuring seamless IT operations, security and applications delivery. Known for his strategic thinking, he is passionate about bridging the gap between technology and business and leveraging existing and emerging technologies to improve client experience. He successfully oversaw complex system implementations, migrations and IT mergers and acquisitions.

  Ahmed holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University with a specialization in Strategic Information Systems. Outside the office, he spends time with his family and pursues his passion for photography, often found capturing the beauty of wildlife and landscapes.