Executive team

Normand Labrie, interim SSHRC president

Normand Labrie has distinguished himself with his work on linguistic pluralism, a field he has studied from several angles, ranging from language practices and linguistic policies to identity-building and access to education for francophones living in French-language minority communities.

As a guest lecturer, he has taught sociolinguistics and Canadian studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle–Paris 3, and the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.

After leading the Centre de recherches en éducation franco-ontarienne for 10 years, Labrie was associate dean of Research and Graduate Studies from 2004 to 2012 at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, which ranks among the world’s best institutions in the field of education. He was also scientific director from 2012 to 2015 of the Fonds de recherche du Québec–Société et culture.

For several years, Labrie acted as an international expert on linguistic minorities for the European Commission. He also chaired the Réseau international des observatoires du français et des langues nationales at the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie. From 2013 to 2017, he represented Canada on the Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations program, where he was elected rapporteur.

Labrie was named a chevalier of the Order of La Pléiade in 2007, in recognition of his contributions to the Francophonie in Ontario, and was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2016.

Sylvie A. Lamoureux, chief operating officer and vice-president, Research

Sylvie A. Lamoureux (Order of Ontario), joined SSHRC as vice-president, Research, in January 2023. In this role, she provides strategic leadership for the development, implementation and promotion of the vision and direction of social sciences and humanities and tri-agency federal research funding programming. During SSHRC’s interim leadership phase, Sylvie also serves as chief operating officer, supporting the continuity of day-to-day operations.

Sylvie served as associate vice-provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, at the University of Ottawa, and held various vice-dean portfolios in the Faculty of Arts there. She also served on the university’s senate and board of governors. An accomplished scholar and educator, she was named to the second cohort of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2015, the same year she was elected to the Order of Ontario. Her consulting work with governments, commissions and school boards has also informed language policy and planning throughout Canada. Her current research focuses on students’ transition to and through university, at all levels, and on academic literacy and student experience.

A SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (2008), she holds a PhD in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, and a master’s of education from the same institution. She holds a bachelor of education (intermediate/senior, history and chemistry) from the University of Ottawa, as well as an honours BA and a BSc (lib) from Laurentian University.

Tara Lapointe, vice-president, Strategy, Communications and Performance

Tara Lapointe heads SSHRC’s Strategy, Communications and Performance Directorate. She is responsible for corporate policy and strategy, communications, performance, evaluation and audit functions. She also leads stakeholder engagement activities at both the national and international levels. Tara first joined SSHRC as vice-president, Stakeholder Engagement and Advancement of Society, in March 2024.

Previously, Tara was executive director of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation. She has held senior roles at the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Arts Centre, among other organizations, and taught in Algonquin College’s Museum Studies program. She was recognized for her leadership with Ottawa’s 40 Under 40 Award and the International Association of Business Communicators Distinguished Service Award.

Tara is a strong advocate for social issues, including those related to identity, community and social justice, and for using community-engaged and data and research-based approaches to address complex issues. She has extensive experience in strategic communications and in fostering innovation and building partnerships. Tara holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Ottawa.

Dominique Osterrath, chief financial officer and vice-president, Common Administrative Services Directorate

Dominique Osterrath joined SSHRC’s Common Administrative Services Directorate (CASD) in July 2021, where she leads a team of professionals who work to support both SSHRC and NSERC in delivering human resources, finance and awards administration, security, and information and innovation solutions. As the lead CASD executive, Dominique supports the accountability of the agency presidents by ensuring CASD’s effectiveness as a strategic partner, business enabler, steward and service provider.

Prior to her appointment, Dominique was chief financial officer, chief security officer, and vice-president, Corporate Management Branch, at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). In previous appointments, she was deputy chief financial officer and executive director, Financial Services, at CFIA; deputy chief financial officer and director general, Finance and Awards Administration, for SSHRC and NSERC; and director, Financial Planning, Budgeting and Advisory Services, at the National Research Council Canada.

Dominique is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA). She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Université du Québec en Outaouais, and is a graduate of the Public Sector Leadership and Governance executive program at the University of Ottawa.