BENAY, Mr. Alex

Alex Benay

Chief Information Officer

Tuesday, September 12th
11:30 - 13:00 | Session III: Government Update | Session Speaker

Alex Benay was named Chief Information Officer of the Government of Canada in April 2017 with the mandate to help shift government towards digital. The Chief Information Officer Branch provides strategic direction and leadership in the pursuit of excellence in information management, information technology, security, privacy an access to information across the Government of Canada.

Prior to this position, Mr Benay was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation, which operates three national museums: Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, as well as the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Before joining the Corporation, Mr Benay had been Vice-President at Open Text, Canada's largest software company, since 2011. Over the years, he has played a leadership role in Canada's digital industry as well as promoting global digitalism in organisations and groups such as the G20, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Olympics, etc. Prior to his time at OpenText, Mr. Benay managed various teams and programs at the Canadian International Development Agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Natural Resources Canada, as well as Library and Archives Canada.

A native of Quebec City, Mr Benay grew up in Ottawa and attended the University of Ottawa, where he studied history. Currently, Mr. Benay is completing his PhD in Digital Studies with the University of Leicester. Furthermore, he is a community volunteer and an active hockey coach for close to 20 years. Mr Benay lives in Ottawa with his wife and two children.