TECHNATION Appoints New Board Leadership and Welcomes Industry Leaders to National Board

TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2026 /CNW/ -- TECHNATION, Canada's national technology industry association, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sylvie Ouellette as Chair and Colin McIsaac as Vice Chair of its National Board of Directors.

Sylvie Ouellette is President and Co-Founder of Versatil BPI Inc., a Canadian-owned, women-led technology SME based in the National Capital Region, specializing in data, artificial intelligence, and security intelligence. She has more than 30 years of industry experience, including senior executive roles at Electronic Data Systems and Hewlett-Packard. As Chair, she brings both multinational leadership, including representing TECHNATION at the last two G7/TECH7 summits, and firsthand experience building a Canadian technology company.

Colin McIsaac is the Vice-President, North America Commercial Sales at Lenovo, responsible for strategy and performance across the NA VLB Segment and Canada's Public Sector business. A prominent voice on the North America Senior Leadership Team, he oversees sales, operations, culture, and P&L execution to ensure Lenovo consistently delivers industry‑leading value for customers. Under his leadership, the team brings Lenovo's complete portfolio of hardware, software, and services to market, fueling growth through innovation, customer partnership, and operational excellence.

Sylvie and Colin have been active members of TECHNATION's Board of Directors for several years, serving on the Executive Committee and Governance Committee, respectively.

"We are pleased to welcome Sylvie as Chair and Colin as Vice Chair to TECHNATION's National Board of Directors," said Kevin d'Entremont, President and CEO of TECHNATION. "As seasoned members of our National Board, they have been engaged in shaping the focus of TECHNATION in supporting the full technology ecosystem in Canada. Their combined expertise, leadership, and commitment to advancing Canada's technology ecosystem will be invaluable as we continue to advance the priorities that matter most to the sector and to Canada's digital future."

In addition to these appointments, TECHNATION is pleased to welcome four industry leaders to its Board of Directors:

• Heather Black, Regional Vice-President, Canadian Public Sector Leader, Palo Alto
• Peter Kelcey, General Manager, Customer Success Lead, Microsoft Canada
• Erin O'Halloran, Vice President & General Manager, Oracle Health Canada
• Raj Thuppal, Chief Digital Officer - Public Sector, ServiceNow Canada

These appointments come at a pivotal moment for Canada, as governments and businesses accelerate the adoption of digital technologies that are transforming how the economy operates and grows.

"I am honoured by the trust my fellow Board members have placed in me to lead TECHNATION at such a defining moment for Canada," said Ouellette. "As technology reshapes our economy, national security, and global competitiveness, we must strengthen Canada's capacity to innovate, advance responsible AI, and ensure Canadian businesses across the full ecosystem help shape our digital future. I look forward to working with our members and government partners to turn collaboration into action that delivers meaningful value for Canadians."

Together, these appointments strengthen TECHNATION's commitment to bring industry expertise to inform public policy, champion member priorities, and advance initiatives that support Canada's digital and economic growth. Their leadership will help drive key priorities including digital transformation, procurement reform, workforce development, and Canada's long-term competitiveness.

TECHNATION also extends its sincere thanks to outgoing Board Chair, Lloyd Switzer, retired Chief Procurement Officer at TELUS, for his leadership and dedication to the board. "Lloyd has been an invaluable leader at TECHNATION, guiding the association through a period of executive transition, while bringing a strong industry perspective through his role as Chief Procurement Officer at TELUS," said d'Entremont. "While his retirement marks the end of an exceptional chapter, he has ensured a smooth transition and a bright future for our association and Canada's tech sector."

TECHNATION's National Board is comprised of senior executives from across Canada's technology landscape, representing both Canadian tech firms and global enterprises with significant operations and investments in Canada. A full list of TECHNATION's National Board of Directors can be found at www.technationcanada.ca.

About TECHNATION

TECHNATION is Canada's authoritative technology industry association, representing the full spectrum of Canada's tech ecosystem, from agile innovators to domestic and global tech companies. Trusted by both industry and government, TECHNATION is the neutral connector, convener and catalyst powering a digital future and positioning Canada as a global tech leader. Together with our members, we shape tech policy and insights, deliver forums to drive public-private collaboration, foster inclusive workforce development, and support global expansion. Learn more at www.technationcanada.ca.

SOURCE TECHNATION Canada

For more information: Justine Kintanar, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing, [email protected]