Meet Michelle Tice, Our New Executive Director

You’ve worked in the corporate and non-profit sectors for more than 30 years. Can you share some details about your background?

My background is very diverse, and it has allowed me to understand all aspects of business management. I have worked in the non-profit, corporate and public sectors in a variety of management and leadership roles and spent time as a sole proprietor. I love to travel and have been fortunate enough to have been able to live, work and study in many different countries, including Denmark, Germany, France, Belarus, Ukraine, the United States, as well as other parts of Canada.

I spent 15 years at Intrawest Corporation, working in many different roles, including finance, strategic planning and revenue management. After leaving Intrawest, I was a self-employed marketing and communications consultant before I ventured into the non-profit sector. My first non-profit role was leading communications and working on the first-ever capital campaign for West Point Grey Academy, an independent school in Vancouver. I then transitioned to Family Services of the North Shore to create and manage their fundraising initiatives, and eventually, I also created and led their communications and government relations strategies.

After Family Services, I moved on to viaSport BC, the provincial governing organization for amateur sport and a legacy of the 2010 Games, to lead their communications and engagement team. I worked very closely with B.C.’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport to build awareness for safe and inclusive sports programs and develop strong sports governance across the province. I left viaSport to take a corporate role with Maple Bear Global Schools as Vice President, Marketing and Communications in the international franchise education sector. I was passionate about connecting with our partners around the globe and understanding the unique cultural opportunities we had in every one of the 40 countries in which we operated.

Just over a year ago, I transitioned back into the non-profit sector with the BC Cancer Foundation. I love being part of a greater purpose, and I am so proud of the incredible scientific community we have in Canada that is leading cutting edge research for so many diseases.

What interests you about arthritis research?

I am passionate about the opportunity to contribute to Arthritis Research Canada’s strategic vision and to lead the organization in its mission to improve the lives of those affected by arthritis, a disease that I have watched my mother struggle with for most of my life.

How will your previous experiences inform your work at Arthritis Research Canada?

My diverse skills – from finance to marketing, communications, strategic planning and fundraising – across a wide variety of non-profits will help me to understand the complexities of this new and exciting role at Arthritis Research Canada.

I excel at building relationships, so I am excited to work with teams across the country to lead research aimed at preventing arthritis, facilitating early diagnosis, finding new and better treatments, and improving quality of life for people living with arthritis.

Why did you want to work at Arthritis Research Canada?

Arthritis Research Canada is a national non-profit that is the largest clinical arthritis research centre in North America. It is an honour to work with the talented team that leads this important work.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I am looking forward to meeting everyone across the country to understand where Arthritis Research Canada excels and what the research opportunities are.

What excites you most about arthritis research?

It is an incredibly exciting time for scientific research in Canada. I have seen firsthand the importance of breakthroughs being made in Type 1 Diabetes research, a disease one of my sons has struggled with since he was two years old. I have also been incredibly impressed to learn about the globally renowned cancer research happening here through my most recent role with the BC Cancer Foundation.

Now, I am very excited to learn more about how arthritis research is changing people’s lives for the better. Arthritis impacts an estimated six million Canadians, making it one of the most prevalent long-term health conditions in the country.

Can you tell us a unique fact about yourself?

One fun fact about me is that I love to travel and learn about other cultures and languages. As a result, I have lived, studied, and worked in seven different countries and other parts of Canada.

I am also a single mom to twin boys who have just begun their university careers. It has been a privilege to be a part of their lives.