Procurement Advisory Board member
Johanne Bélisle brings 25 years of executive leadership experience in the Canadian federal government, as well as recent international expertise. She is recognized for her knowledge of the Canadian and global innovation ecosystems, and has a broad background in public policy, program management, service delivery and business transformation.
From 2021 to 2023, Ms. Bélisle served as Senior Policy Advisor at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a United Nations agency based in Geneva. There, she provided strategic counsel to member states on their national intellectual property strategies and innovation policies. She also co-led international studies, including Models of Intellectual Property Governance and Administration, published in 2024.
In 2015, Ms. Bélisle was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), where she led transformative initiatives to modernize Canada's IP system. During her five-year mandate, she introduced programs to help innovators and entrepreneurs maximize the value of their IP assets, and successfully implemented 5 international treaties, establishing Canada as a full player in the global IP landscape.
Ms. Bélisle has also held 4 Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) positions in various federal departments: ADM, Québec, Service Canada (2013-2015); ADM, Human Resources at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (2011-2013); ADM, Acquisitions Policies, and ADM, Policy, Corporate Services and Communications, at Public Works and Government Services Canada (2007-2011).
Currently based in Montréal, Ms. Bélisle is an accredited corporate director (ICD.D.). She serves on the Advisory Board of the Centre for AI and Society at York University, and is an active member of the organizing committee of the Forum international sur la propriété intellectuelle du Québec (FORPIQ). Additionally, she mentors Québec start-ups as a volunteer with MentorConnect, an organization sponsored by Concordia University.
Ms. Bélisle holds a Master in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, a Certificate in Public Relations from Université Laval and a Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) from Carleton University.