Letter from the Chair

As Chair of the Board, it is my privilege to reflect on the transformative work we have accomplished together over the nearly 15 years of our journey as an innovation platform.

From the beginning, we have been driven by the belief that bold ideas have the power to save and improve lives—especially for those who might otherwise be left behind. This foundational principle continues to guide our governance approach and strategic vision at Grand Challenges Canada.

To date, we have reached an astounding 80 million people in over 100 countries, through portfolios spanning global health, humanitarian and Indigenous-led innovation. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent real lives transformed through innovation.

From a governance perspective, the Board has focused on creating the conditions for innovation to flourish. Our central challenge has been striking the right balance between rigorous accountability for public funds and the flexibility innovators need to take calculated risks. We've developed governance approaches that provide appropriate oversight while encouraging experimentation, expanded diverse voices in our decision-making, and worked to refine how we measure meaningful impact.

Meeting with innovators firsthand at the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting in Senegal reinforced what makes our approach distinctive. They are tackling complex problems with ingenious, locally rooted solutions—a powerful reminder that proximity to challenges often yields the most effective responses.

None of this would have been possible without the trust and partnership of our funders and collaborators. I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all of our partners, particularly our anchor funder, the Government of Canada, whose steadfast support has been instrumental in driving our mission forward.

As we develop our next strategic plan, we're engaging deeply with innovators, partners, and communities to understand what truly enables bold ideas to achieve meaningful scale and sustainability. Our ambition is to remove the barriers that too often prevent promising solutions from reaching those who need them most while ensuring that breakthrough ideas can emerge from anywhere. This approach – grounded in listening and learning – will shape how we invest in innovation for even greater impact in the years ahead.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

With gratitude,

Guylaine Saucier Board Chair, Grand Challenges Canada