TORONTO – James Downey, president of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, today announced the appointment of Elka Walsh as the Council’s director of executive services, effective immediately.
“I am delighted that Elka has accepted this position with the Higher Education Quality Council,” said Dr. Downey. “Her enthusiasm and her past experience working with Ontario’s colleges and universities advising on such matters as strategic project management, corporate policy development and academic projects make her an ideal member of our executive team.”
As director of executive services, Ms. Walsh will be responsible for providing executive support to the Council members and to the president and chief executive officer. She will also coordinate communications and stakeholder relations.
For the past two years, Ms. Walsh has been a principal consultant with Gesink Walsh Consultants, a company that provides project management services and advice to postsecondary institutions Ms. Walsh has also worked as a project manager at Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and as a policy advisor for Ontario government ministries, including the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.
Ms. Walsh is currently a senior Ph.D. candidate at McMaster University. Her research focuses on the influences of policy networks, globalization and internationalization as contributing factors to the adoption of quality assurance in higher education in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.
About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an independent Crown agency dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario. The Council’s mandate is to advise the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on improving all aspects of postsecondary education, including quality, access and accountability. The Council will undertake research and help provide enhanced transparency and accountability through regular public reports.