CARA | ACAAR

Témoignages des membres

Joining the Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) was more than just a professional step for me—it was about finding a community that truly understands the complex, behind-the-scenes work of supporting research in Canada. As a new member, I’m seeking connections with peers who know what it means to navigate shifting policies, manage intricate compliance processes, and support researchers in securing funding and moving discoveries forward. CARA offers not only a variety of practical tools through conferences, webinars, and shared resources, but also a sense of belonging to a national network that values growth, collaboration, and impact. For me, it’s about investing in my development while contributing to the bigger purpose of advancing research that has the power to change lives.

Miriam Santos Dutra
Centre de recherche translationnelle sur le cancer de McGill (CRTCM)

I enjoy being a CARA member for the ongoing learning opportunities and value the discussions with other members.

Casey Harding
Saskatchewan Health Authority

I joined CARA a few months ago because I was interested in pursuing the Research Administration certificate through Mohawk College. I was pleasantly surprised by the great community CARA has. I have also taken advantage of some of the learning opportunities offered by CARA. As someone involved in clinical research for many years, it has been interesting and useful to learn about the other aspects of research administration, through my CARA membership.

Simona Meier
University of Saskatchewan

My CARA membership has been invaluable as I pursue the Research Administration Certificate at Mohawk, with financial assistance making it possible to achieve this career milestone. The free webinars and wealth of information provided have been especially helpful as I am new to the research field, supporting my growth and development as a Research Coordinator.

Heather Poechman

I have only been a member for a short time, and I am really looking forward to the conference in Fredericton. I can already see the value in being a member.

Michele Tingley
University of Calgary

Being a member of CARA has been an incredibly experience. The community is experienced and supportive, offering numerous opportunities to get engaged, build skills through professional development and connect through networking activities. I really enjoy engaging with so many of the CARA members at the CARA National Conference which has expanded my network. Having been engaged with CARA for many years, I have personally taken advantage of the resources provided by CARA, which have significantly enhanced my understanding of research administration and continue to help me stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in the field.

Mike Folinas
University of Toronto

ACAAR/CARA is unique in that it provides a focus on the Canadian research experience and the funding programs offered by Canadian granting agencies unmatched by any of the other research administration organizations, while also being open to sharing information and expertise on non-Canadian sponsors. Also, some of the webinars are offered free by CARA/ACAAR to its members and are quite timely and helpful, and even the ones that aren't free for its members are offered at a very good price point.

Edmund Gin
UBC

Last year I made a career switch from Clinical Researcher to Grants Administrator. Joining CARA and taking advantage of the vast community resources has made my transition an easier one. Attending the 2024 annual conference helped me get a grasp on the basics of research administration and also make new and valuable connections in the field (I even ran into some old friends!). I am excited to attend the 2025 conference and further expand my knowledge in this wonderful field of work. Thank you, CARA, for providing such a welcoming space for career advancement!

Maria D. Pasic
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

The best thing I did to advance my career was to join CARA. I met experts, leaders and new friends. I gained skills, nuanced my strengths and collaborated on creative solutions with peers across the country. CARA is where you belong and grow your research administration career!

Jamie McInnis
SAIT

Joining CARA has been a game changer for my career. The learning offered through webinars and the national Canadian Conference on Research Administration has been incredible, but the most valuable thing to me is the peer network. I have met so many colleagues who are doing fantastic work across Canada, and we often work in collaborative spaces that CARA facilitates. I would recommend CARA to anyone in the research community!

Gwen Thompson Hill
Royal Roads University

I joined CARA in April 2025 but this is not my first interaction with CARA. I have participated in a number of webinars with fellow colleagues to discuss and share knowledge about Horizon Europe. The spirit of sharing and giving in this network is quite evident and I look forward to my first CARA conference in May.

Michele La Vie
Simon Fraser University

I have been a CARA member since I started my research administration career in 2008. I have benefited greatly from participating in insightful webinars, and have given back, too, by delivering some webinars for CARA members. Participating in the annual conference is the most impactful benefit. The opportunity to speak directly with funding program staff is valuable. Picking up tips and templates for my own use that colleagues have generously shared has helped to make me an effective research grant facilitator and administrator.

David Bruce
St. Francis Xavier University

As an early career research administrator, joining the CARA has been invaluable. Through CARA, I’ve had access to professional development opportunities, up-to-date information on best practices, and meaningful networking experiences. The connections I’ve made have helped me build a strong resource network that I can rely on daily. I am grateful for the support and community CARA provides at this stage of my career.

Carly Byers
Nipissing University

I have been working in research administration for three years and joining CARA and attending the national conference as well as online learning sessions has been critical to my growth in my role and expanding my perspective and making me more innovative.

Leslie Cove
University of Waterloo

I joined CARA shortly after taking a role as a Research Officer at a small institution. The webinars helped me to navigate the many aspects of Research Administration and learn from other institutions. I also was able to attend the national CARA conference and made many connections with others working in small institutions. Having access to CARA from very early on in my career in research administration was an essential part in my professional development.

Jeremy Kruizinga

L’ACAAR fournit un florilège de plateformes, visant toutes l’avancement du développement professionnel des personnes administratrices de recherche. En tant que membre de l’ACAAR, depuis 2012, j’ai acquis professionnellement en perspectives, connaissances et aptitudes et continue de le faire, à ce jour. À travers ses webinaires, conférences, livres et cours, l’ACAAR nous permet une croissance professionnelle plus grande et plus rapide, que qui que ce soit, individuellement.

Pierre-Jean Alarco
Polytechnique Montréal

I have been a CARA member for many years, and it has been instrumental in my career growth! The webinars provide great subject-specific learning opportunities, and have allowed me to transition from learning to providing the information as a webinar presenter myself. It has helped to increase my confidence with public speaking. The networking opportunities are incredibly valuable as well, especially the national conference.

Lauren Gogo
Hamilton Health Sciences

CARA has been an invaluable resource for me during my 17 years in research administration. If I ever have a question during my day to day work, I can ask the listserv and usually get several responses from this supportive community. I regularly attend the ongoing and topical webinars. And the conferences are a wonderful chance to connect with colleagues from across the country engaged in the same work. All in all, it’s an indispensable membership for me.

V. Rogers

Working in research ethics, I wanted to be able to broaden my skillset to be able to expand my role and abilities to transfer into leadership roles. With that, I knew I’d need to have an understanding of many areas of research administration beyond ethics, however was not gaining this experience directly in my role. The Research Administration certificate allowed me to gain an understanding of areas of research administration I didn’t previously have, including the funding environment, contracts, and more. I have since been able to successfully leverage this knowledge to expand my role and responsibilities at work – and I get to use my knowledge each day!

Emma Markoff
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

Hier, j'ai eu l'heureux privilège d'obtenir mon diplôme avec mention du certificat en administration de la recherche soutenu par CARA au collège Mohawk, et je voulais prendre un moment pendant que l'expérience est encore fraîche et non encombrée par les innombrables préoccupations de la vie pour dire merci ! Merci à CARA pour le soutien et les conseils continus tout au long du programme que j'ai pu terminer 12 mois seulement après avoir commencé. Merci également pour l'incroyable volume de contenu et d'orientation liés à l'industrie et très pertinents que les superviseurs du cours ont réussi à intégrer dans les différents modules. Merci également pour les séminaires d'accompagnement et les livres proposés. Enfin, je vous remercie pour le soutien que vous avez pu m'offrir au cours du dernier trimestre de mon programme sous la forme de la bourse Dr Frances Chandler. J'ai hâte de construire une carrière dans l'administration de la recherche et une association continue avec CARA, et je peux honnêtement dire que CARA a ma sincère gratitude pour sa générosité et son soutien.

Étudiant/diplômé anonyme

L'ACAAR offre aux intervenants du milieu de la recherche l'occasion de s'engager auprès des administrateurs de la recherche canadienne, créant ainsi un canal bidirectionnel efficace pour les mises à jour, la diffusion de l'information et la rétroaction de cette précieuse communauté.

Shawna Sadler
Responsable de l'engagement ORCID, Amériques

Il existe de nombreux avantages tangibles associés au bénévolat au sein de CARA, comme la possibilité de recevoir un prix national, de figurer dans le Volunteer Spotlight de CARA Connections, d'obtenir un laissez-passer pour un webinaire payant. Peu d'entre eux ont parlé des avantages intangibles que nous ne connaissons pas à moins de faire partie de cette merveilleuse communauté de soutien. Parmi les avantages évidents, mentionnons l'élargissement de mon réseau professionnel (avec des administrateurs de recherche de votre région ou de partout au Canada) et la sensibilisation aux questions administratives, c'est-à-dire au fardeau administratif, qui ont une incidence sur notre profession. Mon expérience au CARA m'a appris à regarder au-delà de mon propre rôle et à mieux comprendre la situation dans son ensemble, c'est-à-dire la façon dont les institutions fonctionnent dans leur ensemble, afin d'améliorer mon rendement au travail. J'ai également apprécié les messages de soutien que les administrateurs de la recherche se sont adressés les uns aux autres pendant l'épidémie. CARA est un véritable exemple de communauté de pratique dont les outils et les services profitent à l'ensemble de ses membres.

Anita Chiu

La recherche implique une collaboration non seulement avec des collègues immédiats, mais aussi avec d'autres chercheurs au Canada et dans le monde. Pour moi, l'esprit de collaboration comprend le partage de mes connaissances avec d'autres personnes qui ont le même intérêt à promouvoir une recherche de qualité. Le certificat en administration de la recherche offre une liste complète de cours conçus pour couvrir les principaux sujets associés à la production de projets de recherche de qualité, et il mérite d'être promu et reconnu comme une ressource précieuse.

Deborah Parfett

Les gens devraient réfléchir aux membres de la communauté CARA qu'ils aimeraient mieux connaître, car cette communauté est une ressource précieuse. Les bénévoles peuvent diriger des groupes SIG afin d'engager le dialogue avec les membres sur des sujets spécifiques, les bénévoles peuvent engager le dialogue avec des leaders dans notre domaine afin de créer des réseaux de carrière, ou les bénévoles peuvent créer de nouvelles amitiés avec des personnes qui partagent des intérêts communs. De plus, une communauté fonctionne mieux lorsque chacun y contribue - chacun a une voix, une opinion, un point de vue unique. Pour que CARA soit le plus efficace possible, nous avons besoin que tous nos membres réfléchissent à la façon dont ils peuvent utiliser leurs dons et leur expérience pour aider les autres !

Erica Conte

Le volontariat m'a été si bénéfique qu'il est difficile de l'exprimer. Premièrement, j'ai rencontré des gens fantastiques dans mon domaine et j'ai créé des relations qui dureront bien plus longtemps que le temps passé à faire du bénévolat. Deuxièmement, je me suis impliquée davantage dans l'ensemble de CARA et j'ai pu établir plusieurs relations à travers le pays dont je n'avais aucune idée qu'elles me seraient utiles plus tard dans ma carrière. Troisièmement, ma connaissance générale de mon propre domaine a augmenté de façon exponentielle. J'ai pu faire des percées auprès de collègues et de commanditaires. Notre partage des connaissances, des processus et des solutions créatives m'a aidé à évoluer dans mon propre domaine. Je savais maintenant "qui" appeler lorsque j'avais besoin de réponses et j'étais capable d'être quelqu'un sur qui les autres pouvaient compter. Quatrièmement, ma confiance a augmenté. Le fait de me mettre dans la position inconfortable de faire des présentations, de saluer des gens et, de manière générale, de me forcer à sortir de ma zone de confort m'a permis de poursuivre mon développement en tant qu'administrateur de recherche et en tant qu'être humain. Cinquièmement, j'ai eu beaucoup de plaisir à danser, boire et manger. Je me suis couché tard et je suis parti à l'aventure avec de nouveaux amis dans des villes inconnues.

Tom Barber

Je voulais avoir l'occasion de rencontrer plus de gens et d'apprendre de certains des meilleurs au niveau national. Les différents comités et groupes dont j'ai fait partie m'ont permis de rencontrer tant de personnes extraordinaires et d'apprendre d'elles. Ces occasions ne se sont présentées que grâce à mon bénévolat au sein de l'ACAAR!

Jenna Millar

Le bénévolat au sein de l'ACAAR m'a offert diverses possibilités de réseautage. J'aime travailler en collaboration avec d'autres personnes pour atteindre un objectif commun (par exemple, l'évaluation du programme de certificat d'AR). Si je peux acquérir de nouvelles connaissances dans le cadre de ce processus, c'est encore mieux !

Naomi Bedek

L'ACAAR est mon professeur, car je suis toujours un étudiant. Chaque jour, j'arrive à l'école avec plus de confiance, sachant comment faire le lien entre la réussite des étudiants et l'éthique de la recherche. J'ai appris les nuances des processus de recherche en suivant les webinaires de l'ACAAR sur la façon de collaborer avec une main-d'œuvre multiculturelle et multigénérationnelle. Jusqu'à présent, la meilleure leçon que j'ai apprise est la rédaction de la proposition de subvention. Le simple fait de trouver l'organisme de financement approprié, de former une équipe, d'explorer les besoins et de rédiger la description du projet a été le voyage le plus instructif pour moi et la communauté étudiante. Lorsque l'école recevra sa subvention pour mettre en place une classe en plein air, elle remerciera également l'ACAAR d'avoir rendu ce projet possible pour ses élèves et la communauté voisine.

Sarah Musavi
Ottawa Catholic School Board

J'ai choisi CARA comme association professionnelle pour les nombreux webinaires éducatifs qu'elle offre, les possibilités de réseautage annuel aux niveaux national et régional, et la possibilité d'apprendre d'autres administrateurs de recherche à l'échelle nationale et régionale grâce aux courriels de CARA et au programme de mentorat.

Lily Liew
UBC

L'ACAAR a fait un excellent travail d'application des connaissances dans l'administration de la recherche ! Le processus de webinaire de CARA est facile à utiliser pour les conférenciers et permet d'établir un lien avec les participants. CARA fournit un modèle de diapositives et l'utilisation d'une plateforme de webinaire sans qu'il y ait de problème quant à la propriété du contenu, qui reste celle de l'orateur. La possibilité d'archiver le contenu permet à celui-ci de rester disponible et à l'orateur de choisir le moment de le mettre à jour en le présentant à nouveau (par exemple, après quelques années ou lorsque la réglementation applicable change). J'apprécie la communauté et les connaissances auxquelles j'avais accès lorsque j'étais administrateur de recherche à l'interne et j'aime pouvoir contribuer à la communauté CARA maintenant en tant qu'avocat externe dans mon propre cabinet.

Michelle Moldofsky
LL.B., LL.M. Moldofsky Professional Corporation

Le programme de mentorat, qui fait partie du programme de certificat, est un élément très important du programme. Je suis inscrite au programme de certificat de l'ACAAR et il me reste un cours à suivre. En plus du matériel de cours et de la diversité des expériences et des points de vue de mes collègues étudiants, j'ai grandement bénéficié du programme de mentorat.Le fait d'être jumelée à une personne qui joue un rôle différent du mien est devenu une autre occasion d'apprentissage.Ensemble, nous avons décidé ce que nous voulions de notre relation mentor/mentoré et comment elle fonctionnerait. Parmi les avantages que j'ai reçus, citons : des commentaires sur les travaux de cours, le partage (et l'apprentissage) de nos expériences, une oreille attentive pour les questions et les préoccupations liées au lieu de travail, et de bons conseils (sur le plan personnel et professionnel).J'attends avec impatience nos discussions, car je sais que j'apprendrai quelque chose que je ne savais pas auparavant. J'apprécie vraiment de savoir qu'il y a quelqu'un qui s'intéresse vivement à moi, à mon travail et à mon développement professionnel - et qui s'est porté volontaire pour cela. Merci ACAAR!

Murray Daku
University of Regina

As a research administrator early in my career, I benefitted from attending CARA’s (formerly CAURA’s) annual and regional meetings, sharing new administrator, networking and collaboration resources with colleagues from across Canada. In more recent years, I have had the honour of presenting at the annual conferences and delivering webinars on research ethics administration and human research accreditation and oversight. CARA is a dedicated grass roots led organization that provides advocacy, education, certification and networking opportunities to its members and continually supports research administrators and the promotion of research and protection of research participants across this country.

Alex Karabanow
University Health Network Chair, Accreditation Council
Human Research Accreditation Canada

I first became a CARA member in 2017. I have changed employers since then and now find myself surrounded by a number of engaged CARA members at the University of Saskatchewan. Most recently, I attended a webinar that another member hosted on campus and was re-introduced to the Research Administration Certificate program. I was skeptical about my ability to complete the program with my busy schedule. But, with the encouragement of other CARA members I began the program January 2020 and, I feel fully supported. Being a CARA member has given me the resources to continue my education and drive to reach my professional goals. I am excited to become more engaged and partake in more CARA events moving forward.

Britney Duncan
Research Coordinator, University of Saskatchewan

I greatly enjoyed my time enrolled in the CRA through CARA and Mohawk College. The instructors were leading experts in their field and the course materials were relevant to my professional development. Being matched with a mentor was the most enriching aspect of the program, my personal and professional development benefited greatly with the mentorship. The CRA provided me with the tools and resources to further my career and professional development.

Lukie Yuan
University Health Network

Last summer, I successfully graduated from the first cohort of the online Certificate in Research Administration program in partnership with Mohawk College. During my time in the program, many positive opportunities for discussion and networking emerged. I learned a wealth of information from my peers in Research Administration, and from others who were new to the field through weekly online discussions and course assignments. This continual stream of new knowledge has helped me grow in my career. In my opinion, these course discussions are the "goldmine" we need to tap as research administrators in a field that is constantly faced with change. The program also inspired me to take on a mentorship role at CARA; I'm very proud and happy to serve in the role of a CARA mentor and provide guidance and knowledge to the next generation of CRA students. Thank you for providing this valuable professional development opportunity!

Elizabeth Russell-Minda
Research Development Officer, Western University

We at Pisces Research Project Management Inc, appreciate how CARA creates a collaborative community for information sharing. Through their webinars, extensive library and informative conference presentations, our company has learned many valuable skills to help us continue to grow.

Dr. Kes Morton
Pisces PRM, Executive Director of Casrai

As a long standing member of CARA, I have been astounded by the transformation of the association from a small professional development cohort to a dynamic professional community, with an expanded scope to include hospitals, funding agencies and colleges, engaging the full spectrum of Research Administrators across Canada. CARA’s partnership with Mohawk College has elevated and exposed the profession of Research Administration as a satisfying career path, filled with rich opportunities. Through CARA, I have expanded not only my professional network, but my opportunities to grow and learn alongside my fellow Research Administrators.

Katie Porter
Hamilton Health Sciences

Being a member, and past board member of CARA, has contributed to my success and overall understanding of the research administration realm. My employer was also pleased to see me engaged with CARA because it made me a more informed employee and ultimately a better support to the researchers in my faculty. It also allowed me to learn what was happening all across Canada, and to forge some really great friendships.

Frances Chandler

Having a poster competition is a great and hopefully growing aspect of the CARA national conference. I believe that sometimes topics/projects are better suited to a poster presentation style vs a concurrent session, so having that option is wonderful. I like doing poster presentations because you get an opportunity to chat in depth and network with like-minded individuals. Often in concurrent sessions the Q&A is cut short due to the length of the presentations, so you plan to find those people later to ask them questions, but at a busy conference that often doesn’t end up happening. As well, one often has to miss some sessions they would like to attend due to competing times, and with posters, people can view at their own leisure in addition to the set poster time. Finally, people have different preferences and comfort levels for presenting, so having a few different options make the opportunities accessible to more people.Having the opportunity to present information on the research program planning activities I’d been involved in with new researchers was not only fun, but the interest in the poster during and after the conference validated what I think is an important planning aspect for researcher success. Due to the interest, I adapted it into a webinar presentation this past spring for CARA, which also added to my skills. Winning the poster competition was an achievement I could add to my resume, and the cash prize covered the cost of the poster printing and helped with some of the travel costs, which are often beyond institutional PD funding. I look forward to doing more poster presentations at future conferences.

Patricia Tait

I have enrolled in two courses from the Research Administration Program offered by CARA. The quality of teaching, the course material and the discussions have been invaluable. I highly recommend this program for anyone interested in this field as well as for people already working in Research Administration. Receiving a bursary really made it possible for me to enrol in the 2nd course and I am really grateful to CARA for this opportunity. I look forward to advancing my career through this certification.

Crystal Noronha
MSc Research Assistant McGill University

I enrolled in the Developing Funding Proposals course with Mohawk in order to learn more about how to be a successful grant writer. As a recent graduate and new hire at UBC, I knew that this knowledge would be an asset to me in my unfolding career.What impressed me most was the focus on applied and collaborative learning as I was required to develop, critique, and submit a grant proposal to a funder and engage in on-line and face to face engagement with others across Canada. The guidance and support that we received from each other, and Dr. Chandler, provided all of us with the opportunity to meet, learn, and apply new skills and techniques in our own work settings. These connections and new skills have proven invaluable to me as I am delighted to say that I submitted my proposal and it was funded!I would highly recommend this course, and the entire program, to anyone involved in this field particularly since it is delivered by leading industry experts in the field of research administration in Canada.

Kristin Smart

The courses that I have taken so far in the Research Administration Certificate program have been very interesting and exceedingly useful. Through discussions with my peers in the program, I have learned so much about the topic areas as well as how common issues are handled at other institutions. The instructors have been really well organized, engaged, and responsive to suggestions. I have also very much appreciated the involvement of international students in the program. They have brought a different and interesting perspective to the discussion topics. Overall, I am very happy with the way the program is organized, the course content and relevant assignments, the instructors, and the Mohawk College elearn platform.

Jacqueline Dockray

Research Administration Certificate program is an excellent match to my interest, as I am interested in a career in research development. The course contents are highly valuable in terms of building upon my expertise. Furthermore, this program provides a platform to communicate and share knowledge andexperience with the professionals in diverse institutions in Canada, a fantastic opportunity to learn from each other. This program is doing wonders to me - I commit to contribute to the CARA community and wish success of the program.

Sanjukta Choudhury
Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Saskatchewan

These weekly classes are highly relevant to my work interests. I can tailor the assignment topics to my own professional development needs and source from my work experiences, knowledge, and current projects.For me, the best part of these courses has been the hundreds of insightful discussions about research development and administration issues my peers and I share. Learning how these are dealt with at other institutions has been invaluable, as are the connections I’ve made with colleagues from a range of research institutions, across the country and abroad.

Gen Clark
Research Facilitator

Certification in the Research Administration program provided me a great opportunity to learn about various facets of research administration (pre- and post-grant) that are useful in my daily work setting. It has empowered my knowledge about the field in general. I may not have got a chance to explore those topics in-depth on my own if I was not taking this course. It was especially a very valuable experience for someone like me who transitioned form the other side of the table (research) to the research administration world. It has allowed me to connect with expert CARA colleagues and mentors who facilitated my journey to the finish line. Overall, it was an absolute fantastic experience!

Anita Sharma
Research Grants Development Officer, Thompson Rivers University

Excellent course, practical content and instructors are quick to respond to any questions.

Toni Tidy about the Contracts & Reporting Course
Research Administration Certificate

The Research Administration program offered through CARA/Mohawk College is a wonderful learning opportunity for both new and existing administrators in the profession.Research is unique, complex and always evolving. This program offers administrators the knowledge needed to understand all aspects of research administration from both the pre award and post award side. The online aspects of this course has been beneficial in providing flexibility in time management. As a working mom, I found this valuable to be able to listen to lectures and read the material when it best suited my schedule. In the short time frame I have been enrolled in the program, I already have gained a greater understanding of the challenges and complexities institutions face in the research environment. I look forward to learning more throughout the duration of the courses.

Simonette Wood
Research Administration Certificate

I have been fortunate to enroll in the Research Administration College Certificate sponsored through the Canadian Association of Research Administrators - at first out of curiosity to what my employees might gain from the experience. But to my delight, there are nuggets of wisdom and shared experience that are of benefit to all. Many of us get narrow in scope with one or two functions within the project cycle, and in regards to funding sources and opportunities while this opportunity broadens one's understanding of the project life-cycle and opportunities while learning through other's shared success and failures. I would highly recommend active participation in this professional development opportunity for researchadministrators at all levels.

Dr. Greg Anderson, PhD
Research Administration Certificate

Taking part in the Certificate in Research Administration has already been a great help in my current role. The applied nature of the assignments allow me to use them in my daily work, and relate my work to the course material. In addition, the course work provides the opportunity to explore all areas of research and aspects of research administration, which I hope will be a resource for future career opportunities.

Theodore Konya
Certificate in Research Administration

Truth be told, I bought the CARA publication because I contributed to the particular e-book,Career Journeys: Leaders Share Different Career Journeys in Research Administration, the third in this CARA initiative, so perhaps the purchase was fuelled by a bit of narcissism on my part. After reading through it, though, I was honoured to be included in this group of “leaders,” which I don’t think truly applies to me and is probably a detail I missed when I sent my contribution, and to be among a grouping that pretty much all have PhDs, something in which I am also lacking. But what impressed me about this publication is the diversity of people’s backgrounds and the variety of career paths that led them to their current post, something that I personally find fascinating. The recurring thread for those featured was that, for the most part, none had intentionally pursued a career in research administration, but all the various paths led them to this common ground. I also like that each entry had the writer’s distinct voice and personal story. I would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in learning about others’ career paths, and who might want to find inspiration for how the amalgamation of various past experiences contributes to an individual’s overall evolution in employment.

Carla DeMarco
University of Toronto

I have enjoyed my volunteer service to CARA. During the past two years, I have presented seven webinars for CARA. They provided an opportunity to learn the nuances of Canadian research administration and, importantly, to meet interesting colleagues through the online medium.I hope to continue my relationship with CARA by preparing further webinars on topics of interest to a broad CARA audience.

Dean Smith, Author, Managing the Research University, University Finances and How University Budgets Work

The Certificate Research Administration looks like a really exciting course. It looks quite intensive. The units look very interesting and very applicable to my position. The system is so easily laid out for students and the requirements are clearly stated. I really appreciate that the course is so well organized.

Karen Mosier
University of Saskatchewan

Being part of CARA has been a very positive experience for me - I’ve learned, loved and grown in research administration a lot since I’ve become a member. Conferences are wonderful platforms for networking, sharing experiences, identifying pain points, discussions of various topics from ethics to metrics and getting first-hand information on TriCouncil changes/updates.

Nur Eisma
UBC / C&W Coordinator, Pre & Post Awards | Office of Research Services (ORS) & Child & Family Research Institute (CFRI)

I have been a member of CARA since 2003 and I have been involved as a presenter, session organizer, on the executive, as a CARA representative at tech transfer and export control conferences and even as a talent show host! I have attended INORMS and brought the experience of CARA to our research admin colleagues at ARMA in the UK and ARMS in Australia. Participating in CARA has always provided me with a sense of community. I have put questions up on the list serve, responded to questions when I felt I had anything relevant to say and I have folks I know I can call when I have questions that I am not yet ready to write down publicly. CARA helps me and my colleagues maximize the impact if our services for our researchers and our institution.

David J. Phipps, Ph.D., MBA
Executive Director, Research & Innovation Services | Division of Vice-President Research & Innovation Office of Research Services YORK UNIVERSITY

Through CARA I have met several Colleagues who I can also count as friends. The best part of CARA is networking with counterparts at other Institutions and sharing common issues and solutions. Networking through CARA greatly enhanced my knowledge from day 1.

Angela Zeno, BA, CPA, CGA
Manager, Research | Accounting York University

Through CARA, I can access highly educational webinars on very relevant topics. I am connected to an online community of research administrators, funders, and consultants from across Canada. It has been a very effective platform to pose questions and find solutions.

Deepak S. Gupta, D. Sc., P. Eng. (AB)

Long before there was any formal professional development available for research administrators in Canada there was CARA. CARA was, and is, a network of people who are generous with their time and expertise. When we are all pressured by time, and challenged with new and difficult situations, having this group of peer experts has been invaluable. Truly we have much to learn from each other and CARA as it is evolving continues to provide a forum of this to happen.

Sandra Crocker
Associate Vice-President | Carleton University

J'aimerais remercier l’ensemble du personnel de l’ACAAR pour sa planification exceptionnelle et son professionnalisme, ainsi que pour la façon chaleureuse dont vous communiquez avec vos membres. Non seulement je trouve les activités et les opportunités offertes par l’ACAAR utiles à l’approfondissement de ma compréhension de l'écosystème de l'administration de la recherche, mais j'apprécie énormément les riches opportunités de croissance personnelle et professionnelle dans le domaine, tout en me donnant l’impression que je fais partie d'une communauté. Cela est tout autant dû à la conception de vos programmes qu’à votre temps de réponse exceptionnel et qu’à la gentillesse de chaque membre de l'équipe de l’ACAAR. En outre, la conduite et le civisme d'une organisation donnent le ton à ses participants. La collégialité et l'esprit d'équipe qui caractérisent les interactions entre les membres de l’ACAAR sont un sous-produit de vos bons services. Je suis reconnaissante à l’ACAAR et à vous tous et toutes.

Guita Lamsechi, PhD MI
Queen's University

As a long-time member of CARA (and previously of CAURA), I can attest to the advantages of CARA membership. Over the years I have gained valuable knowledge and skills, shared best-practices, made connections with research administrators and sponsor personnel, received the latest updates from various sponsors, and made friends and had fun with colleagues along the way. In particular, the CARA national conference provides great learning and networking opportunities.

Leslie Copp

L'Association canadienne des administratrices et administrateurs de recherche

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