About› Leadership› Board of Directors› Board of Directors Election: Meet the Candidates› Samantha Liscio

I have worked for over 15 years as a technology leader with an impressive record of delivering digital services, supporting innovation and transformation.

I have been a CIO in Canada and the UK, a global professional services managing director and the Corporate Chief Strategist for the province of Ontario. As a CIO I implemented digital services in health care, government and insurance. I have developed and implemented strategy and target operating models receiving national accolades and innovation awards including Canadian Public Sector CIO of the year (2020).

In health care in the UK, I delivered large scale timebound projects including the NIHR Research Targeting Tool, the first national dashboard to target health inequalities matching research to health needs using large data sets. In Ontario as the Senior Vice President, Enterprise Reporting & Planning, eHealth Ontario (now Ontario Health), I engaged key stakeholders, agencies and practitioners in the rollout of digital access to the provincial health record for approx. 350,000 clinicians.

As a Non Executive Director in the largest NHS Trust in the UK, I contribute to good governance and oversight, develop strategic plans and seek assurance on the operation and management of ten hospitals, providing healthcare to over 1.3 million people, employing over 28,000 staff with an annual budget > £2 billion and contributing significantly to medical research and innovation.

Samantha is in her first year of Digital Health Canada membership.

Why do you want to join the Digital Health Canada Board of Directors at this point in your career?

I am passionate about the ability of digital technology to transform healthcare into a citizen and patient centric service, one that addresses health inequities and enables efficient and affordable provision of care.

Through my executive career in government and healthcare and in my board work, I actively seek to make connections, brings ideas from multiple segments and advocate for the opportunities that digital health provides.

I have a direct experience in the interoperability challenges of digital health in Canada and can bring perspectives and lessons from the UK, together with significant board experience in Canada and the UK.

How does your experience align with the Digital Health Canada strategic plan and mandate?

I understand the goals of a professional association, having been a previous board director for the CIO Association of Canada. In that capacity, I have worked to ensure that valuable member content is developed and accessible and that there are opportunities to develop diverse and inclusive networks, using collective knowledge to advance and transform the industry.

I currently split my time between Canada and the UK. In England, I am a Non-Executive Director on the board at the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (the largest NHS Trust in the UK) and Chair the Digital and Estates Committee of the board. In Canada, I have been a board member and Events Director for the Toronto Chapter Board of CIOCAN, a not-for-profit community of CIOs and IT leaders.

What unique skills, perspectives and contributions would you bring to the Digital Health Canada Board?

As an executive and CIO, I have developed and delivered digital health care solutions and services and understand the demands associated with delivery and operations.
As a member of the board of directors of a large health care provider, I understand the governance, legislative and budgetary challenges within the health care system and the often opposing and unintended consequences of policy and regulation.
As a member (and board director) of professional associations, I understand the value of professional designations, networks and advocacy and the power of establishing a ‘coalition of the willing’ in the advancement of the industry.

I am well networked in the UK and in Canada and bring skills and expertise in healthcare solutions delivery, strategy and governance. But more importantly, I have a passion for digital technology and its ability to transform services and a deep and vested interest in the provision of robust health care services, for patients, clinicians and researchers in Canada and the UK.

Do you or have or have you ever had any direct patient care experience (clinical)?

No

What segments within the Digital Health Canada community do you feel you will best represent?
  • Executives/CIOs
  • Healthcare Institutions
  • National eHealth Organizations
With which Digital Health Canada committees, task groups or activities have you volunteered in past five years?
I have been a prior member of CHIEF (2015-2017) in my capacity as SVP in eHealth Ontario. At that time I worked with what was then COACH, with Canada Health Infoway and with eHealth colleagues to drive the connection of clinicians in Ontario to the provincial health record. Most recently, I have encouraged Kainos to become a new vendor member of Digital Health Canada and CHIEF, illustrating for them the value that membership brings, in connecting, inspiring and empowering digital health professionals.
As a recent member (returning member) I have attended various webinars and the recent ON25 conference in Toronto and through this nomination, I am seeking to continue to find ways to volunteer to become more involved.Given my prior CIO roles in Ontario: CIO in the OPS (2008-2013), SVP at eHealth Ontario (2015-2017) and CIO as WSIB (2017-2021), I am connected with a large network of government and health care professionals within Canada. I have also established a network within healthcare and clinical research in the UK, having been the CIO at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 2021-2024. Across these networks and within these roles, I have worked to develop and deliver digital health care solutions, influenced policy and governance and directly connected, empowered and inspired those enabling digital health care in Canada. I am excited to be able to share this knowledge and to collaborate with and amongst other healthcare professionals who are creating the future of healthcare in Canada.

What other board appointments or relevant leadership experiences have you had in the past five years?
  • Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) – Non-Executive Director (NED), Chair of the Digital and Estates Committee, 2024- Present
    Member of the Board and of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee, Audit Committee, Finance and Risk Committee, People and Quality Safety and Performance Committee in the largest NHS trust in the country – managing ten hospitals, providing healthcare to over 1.3 million people, employing over 28,000 staff with an annual budget > £2 billion and contributing significantly to medical research and innovation.
  • Vation Ventures Innovation Advisory Council (UK&I) – Member 2019 – Present
    A global network of technology executives who meet to share insights and build partnerships, while gaining exposure to and advising early-stage companies.
  • Evanta UK&I CIO Community – Governing Body, 2021 – 2023
    Member of the governing body and advisor on content to this network of Chief Information Officers, driving innovative ideas, sharing best practices, forward-looking perspectives and discussing critical issues at the forefront of technology today.
  • UK Health Data Research Alliance Board – Member, 2021- 2023
    Board member representing National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) for this national independent alliance of leading healthcare and research organisations united to establish best practice for the ethical use of UK health data for research at scale.
  • CIO Association of Canada – Toronto Chapter Board of Directors, 2008-2021
    Board member and Events Director for the Toronto Chapter Board, 2019-2021 of CIOCAN, a not-for-profit community of CIOs and IT leaders.
  • Toronto Metropolitan University Program Advisory Council – Board of Directors, 2018-2021
    Council member for the IT Management Program, providing insight to strengthen the program structure and develop curriculum content to advance the vision of shaping diverse global leaders through experiential education.
Why do you feel Digital Health Canada members should vote for you?

I am an experienced executive with deep technology expertise in health, government and insurance and a Non-Executive Director in the biggest NHS Trust in the UK, meaning that I can understand and empathise with operational delivery as well as governance challenges in healthcare.
I have UK and Canadian board experience in industry governing bodies and not for profit organisations and international experience delivering digital services. I was awarded Canada’s CIO of the Year 2020, I have a strong network and I am a skilled communicator.
I would like Digital Health Canada members to know that I am passionate about the opportunity to be able to influence policy and governance and to help connect, empower and inspire those enabling digital health care in Canada. I am excited to share knowledge and to collaborate with and amongst other healthcare professionals who are creating the future of healthcare in Canada.

Do you currently hold the CPHIMS-CA credential?
No
Educational background

QUALIFICATIONS and AWARDS

  • 2020 Canada’s Public Sector CIO of the Year Award, 2020
  • 2016 Institute of Corporate Directors, Member
  • 2013 Women’s Executive Network, Top 100 Women, nominee
  • 2013 Accenture Managing Director Strategy College graduate, USA
  • 2012 Access by Design Ambassador, Information & Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
  • 2006 Ontario Public Sector Executive Lead graduate, Centre for Leadership, Toronto
  • 2005 Advanced IT Leadership graduate, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto
  • 2003 Project Management Professional (renewed to 2010), Project Management Institute, USA
  • 1995 PhD, Queens University, Belfast, U.K.
  • 1992 BSc (HONS), Queens University, Belfast, U.K.