Introducing PPF’s new CEO, Inez Jabalpurwala

The Public Policy Forum named its next president and CEO, Inez Jabalpurwala, following an extensive national search. Ms. Jabalpurwala, who is currently the Global Director of VINEx, a brain health research organization, is a distinguished leader in public policy and non-profit management. She starts her new role on Jan. 6, 2025.

“As one of Canada’s sharpest policy minds and most creative, inspiring leaders, Inez Jabalpurwala will help this organization scale new heights. We are thrilled she has agreed to lend her considerable talents to this important work,” said André Beaulieu, chairman of PPF’s Board of Directors.

Ms. Jabalpurwala takes over from outgoing President and CEO Edward Greenspon, who over the past nine years helped build PPF’s reputation as one of Canada’s most respected and established think tanks, with research work currently underway across a range of topics, including life sciences and health security, health care, democracy, the energy transition, Canada-U.S. relations and economic growth in Atlantic Canada.

“A life-long learner and entrepreneur at heart, I am delighted to have this opportunity to take PPF through its next phase of growth while ensuring that its core values of quality and independence are honoured,” Ms. Jabalpurwala said. “PPF’s contributions to ‘good policy for a better Canada’ are critical at a time when civic spaces are shrinking and truth is harder to discern. I look forward to working with a dynamic, diverse board and team — and with a range of thought leaders, engaged citizens, partners and members — to expand PPF’s reach and impact.”

Ms. Jabalpurwala built VINEx during the pandemic to explore how SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses impact brain health, including Long COVID. After co-leading the development of a pan-Canadian action plan to address Long COVID, Ms. Jabalpurwala broadened VINEx’s focus to better understand how the environment impacts our health. She is also co-leader of the Brain Health Nexus, a multidisciplinary effort to unleash science and technology to optimize brain health and prevent brain disease.

Prior to these roles, Ms. Jabalpurwala was Founding President and CEO of the Brain Canada Foundation from 2001 to 2020, building a globally recognized health charity that brought together fragmented research and policy communities, and accelerated Canada’s excellent research on the brain. Under her leadership, Brain Canada raised more than $130 million, initiated and executed more than 100 partnerships across sectors and disbursed more than $250 million in grants.

“Experience working at the intersection of a range of disciplines and across sectors fueled my appreciation of the importance of policy interconnections,” Ms. Jabalpurwala said. “My work on brain health was an entry point to a deeper understanding of the environment, climate change, AI, data science, economic growth and increased productivity — many of the same issues of concern to PPF.

“I’m also passionate about raising awareness of the consequences of socio-economic inequities and biases in the evidence we gather. Most important, I am an advocate for a human-centred approach: If you want to serve people, you have to care about them, value their voices — and find solutions that lift everyone.”

Ms. Jabalpurwala has been named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network on three occasions — in 2007, 2016 and again in 2022 for “women in STEM roles who are challenging the status quo for knowledge and female empowerment.”

She holds a BA and MA in English literature and an MBA from McGill University and has completed the Master of Management program for voluntary sector leaders.

Edward Greenspon will remain a PPF Fellow and will work as a Senior Advisor to the CEO through the transition.