Meet the VPRI and Senior Leadership Team

Vice-President, Research and International (VPRI)

Dr. Charmaine B. Dean (Ph.D., University of Waterloo) is the Vice-President, Research and International (VPRI) at the University of Waterloo. In this role, she provides leadership in the areas of research and innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship, and internationalization. She is also responsible for building strategic alliances and partnerships with other academic institutions, governments, businesses, advocacy groups and industries at the domestic and international levels.

Several key portfolios are managed by her office, including Velocity, Waterloo’s flagship entrepreneurship centre, as well as several major industrial partnerships spanning various units in the university. Dr. Dean has drawn a focus to ethics and social impact related to technological developments through various initiatives and is a key driver for equity and diversity in the context of research and innovation.

Learn more about Dr. Dean on the Statistics and Actuarial Science website.

Charmaine B. Dean

Dr. Charmaine B. Dean Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Senior Leadership Team

Ian Milligan


Ian Milligan, Associate-Vice President, Research Oversight and Integrity

Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Integrity (and VPRI designate); Professor

Learn more about Ian Milligan | Email: i2milligan@uwaterloo.ca

Key accountabilities

Kirsten Müller


Kirsten Müller

Associate Vice-President, Research Grants and Infrastructure; Professor

Learn more about Kirsten Müller | Email: kirsten.muller@uwaterloo.ca

Key accountabilities

Alfred Yu


Alfred Yu, Associate Vice-President, Partnerships, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization

Interim Associate Vice-President, Partnerships, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization; Professor

Learn more about Alfred Yu | Email: alfred.yu@uwaterloo.ca

Key accountabilities

Diane Johnston


Diane Johnston, Associate Vice-President, Research Finance, and VPRI Shared Business Services

Associate Vice-President, Research Finance and VPRI Shared Business Services

Email: dejohnston@uwaterloo.ca

Key accountabilities

  • Research finance

  • Shared business services

    • Technology and project services

      • Systems, data analytics, project management

    • Operations

      • Human resources

      • Budget

      • Space

      • Risk management

      • OVPRI health and safety oversight and support

Katy Wong-Francq


Katy Wong-Francq, Executive Director, OVPRI

Executive Director, Office of the VPRI

Email: kwong@uwaterloo.ca

Key accountabilities

  • External administrative and governance meetings
  • Issues management
  • Administrative hub to provide administrative support and communications across all OVPRI leadership portfolios
    • Internal administrative meetings
    • Communications and government relations
    • Research strategic initiatives