Ottawa, September 28, 2023 — The Information and Communications Technology Council, a national centre of expertise for strengthening Canada’s digital advantage in the global economy, announced today the appointment of three new Board Members to its Board of Directors: 
 

  • Jim Hinton, Founder, Lawyer, IP Strategist, Patent & Trademark Agent
  • Janet Lin, Vice President, Lending and Payments Technology, Equitable Bank
  • Natiea Vinson, Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Technology Council

“We are thrilled to have you join our Board of Directors. You bring the vibrant threads of expertise and innovation to drive ICTC’s vision, create a shared future, and bolster our mandate of advancing Canada’s digital advantage in a global context.” —Namir Anani, ICTC President & CEO

Jim Hinton is the founder of Own Innovation and a proud supporter of Canadian technology companies. In addition to being an IP lawyer, he is both a patent and trademark agent before the Canadian IP Office and works directly for Canadian companies with the US Patent and Trademark Office. He is also a fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, where he studies IP and innovation policy. Jim also has a background in mechanical engineering and worked in heavy truck manufacturing and fibreglass project management before law school. Additionally, he has a Bachelor of Engineering from McMaster University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto. Jim is an assistant professor at Western University, teaching innovation commercialization. He’s also an advocate of pro bono legal services and works with entrepreneurs locally and nationally at incubators and accelerators on IP and IP strategy. Finally, he works closely with the Council of Canadian Innovators on Canada’s Innovation initiatives and Canada’s national IP strategy.

Janet Lin has a background in Computer Science and 20 years of experience in digital transformation. She has made significant contributions to the Canadian Retail, Health Care, Banking and Payments industry. Her passion lies in leveraging technology to enhance the lives of Canadians. She has an impressive track record of launching groundbreaking initiatives, including a Global Innovation Award-Winning Product. Janet’s achievements have earned her recognition as the Forbes Global 100 Outstanding Chinese and Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. She is now transforming Retail and Commercial Lending and Payments Technology at Equitable Bank. Janet Lin is not only a trailblazer in her field but also a dedicated community builder. At Loblaw, Janet founded Loblaw’s Women in Technology committee, which has grown from five to 500 women, fostering diversity, flexibility, and inclusivity for women across all levels. At Equitable Bank, Janet supports the Newcomers Employee Resource Group, assisting newcomers to Canada. Janet has mentored hundreds of women from the Scala Mentorship Network. She also serves on multiple judging panels, such as the WIT Award Canada Edition and Women in AI Award North America. She is the recipient of numerous distinctions, including 2022 Forbes Global 100 Outstanding Chinese; 2021 Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women; Judge, Women in Technology Award Canada; Judge, Women in AI Award North America.

Natiea Vinson is a Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc member with mixed European ancestry and is currently the CEO of the First Nations Technology Council. For over a decade, Natiea has worked across academia, social enterprise organizations and the public and private sectors to advocate for institutional innovation, reconciliation and Indigenous renewal. She recently led the creation of a province-wide digital education strategy for BC Children’s Hospital and is a Visiting Lecturer at the Beedie Graduate School of Business. Previously, Natiea was a director at the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, where she led the world’s preeminent Indigenous corporate social responsibility program and was the founder of Makook and Cedar. She has an MBA from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University.

“Digital technology is the foundation of Canada’s economic growth, and I am excited to join the Board of Directors to support ICTC’s world-leading research and workforce development programs.” —Jim Hinton, Founder, Lawyer, IP Strategist, Patent & Trademark Agent

“I am proud to have been a part of the ICTC Ambassador Program since 2021, where I served as an Ambassador and Advisor. Together with ICTC, we have had a meaningful impact in supporting Canadian women affected by COVID-19 to rebuild their careers in the digital and technology sectors. This experience reaffirmed my belief in the power of community and technology to drive positive impacts in difficult times. —Janet Lin, Vice President, Lending and Payments Technology, Equitable Bank

“ICTC is a valued partner of the First Nations Technology Council, and I am honoured to join the board. Together, we can work to empower Indigenous communities through digital technology and ensure Indigenous people play a role in leading and shaping the future of the technology sector.” —Natiea Vinson, Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Technology Council

The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is a neutral, not-for-profit national center of expertise with the mission of strengthening Canada’s digital advantage in the global economy. For over 30 years, and with a team of 110 experts, we have delivered forward-looking research, practical policy advice, and capacity-building solutions for individuals and businesses. The organization’s goal is to ensure that technology is utilized to drive economic growth and innovation and that Canada’s workforce remains competitive on a global scale.

To learn more about these appointments, please get in touch with Paul Stastny at @email or 403.351.0138 Ext. 823.