Acting Vice-President,
Industry and Innovation Division and
Industrial Research Assistance Program
Laural Porth-Jones is the acting Vice-President of the Industry and Innovation Division—which includes the Business and International Innovation branch and the National Program Office—and Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). Prior to that assignment, she had been serving as Associate Vice-President for the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) since April 2025.
Laural brings a breadth and depth of knowledge to her role, underpinned by extensive experience in both public and private sectors. Starting her NRC IRAP career as an ITA allowed her to build a strong background in understanding the Program from all sides, especially that of the small and medium-sized businesses that form NRC IRAP's client base. Prior to joining the NRC, Laural worked as a consultant specializing in creating value through management advisory services, and held international roles at Microsoft Corporation and several other technology enterprises. Her strong background in strategy, operations and finance is a valuable asset in her current role as Associate Vice-President.
Laural holds a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba.