Denise Amyot

Denise has worked for over ten years as CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and over 25 years in various ministries and central agencies in the economic, cultural, social, and scientific sectors at the federal level, including as Assistant Deputy Minister three times and as CEO of a federal Crown corporation. She has taught in Quebec, Ontario, and Yellowknife and worked at the Ministry of Education of the Northwest Territories. 

Denise holds three governance designations: Institute of Corporate Directors, ESG, and climate change and biodiversity. She has served on several boards, including Algonquin College in Ottawa and the University of Ottawa. She now serves on the boards of CUSO International, the Forum for International Trade Training, and LCI Education, which has 22 colleges in nine countries, and the Qatar Foundation, which includes the multi-university with several internationally recognized schools (Cornell, HEC Paris, UCL, etc.) and a preparatory college and several innovative schools. She currently serves on the board of Montfort Hospital. 

Denise founded her consulting firm and offers leadership and coaching training in Canada and abroad for managers of public institutions, career advisors, and women entrepreneurs, as well as personalized coaching support. 

Denise has received several leadership awards throughout her career, including the 2023 Francophone College Pillar Award from the Network of Francophone CEGEPs and Colleges of Canada, the 2023 Distinguished Service Award presented by the member presidents of Colleges Institutes Canada, the 2022 Gold Career Award, and an award for CICan's work on sustainable development goals from the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics. She has recently received an honorary doctorate from Kwantlen Polytechnic University in recognition of her work in public service and post-secondary education.