Gayleen Gray
Category
As the Assistant Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at McMaster University, Gayleen leads the institution’s enterprise IT strategy, systems, and service operations, and works closely with the university’s leadership and the McMaster IT community to ensure that McMaster’s research, teaching, and learning initiatives are supported and enabled by campus systems and infrastructure.
With over two decades of higher education IT experience, Gayleen has been an active leader in Canada through her involvement in CUCCIO (Canadian University Council of Chief Information Officers), including being a founder and ongoing leader for the organization’s Canadian Higher Ed IT Leadership Professional Development program, its new Higher Ed IT Security Leadership Professional Development program, Chair of the CUCCIO Cybersecurity Standing Committee, and more recently a member of the CUCCIO Board. Gayleen also serves on the CANARIE’s Cybersecurity Advisory Committee.
Gayleen has been equally active in her service to EDUCAUSE, where she is now a member of the EDUCAUSE Board, and in past has been on the Faculty for the EDUCAUSE Senior Director Institute (2022), Management Institute (2020), and New IT Managers Institute (2018, 2019). In addition, she is a Fellow of the 2016 Leading Change Institute, and a graduate of the EDUCAUSE Institute Management Program.
Gayleen’s previous Board positions include the CANARIE Board of Directors, the ORION (Ontario) Board, a founding member of CanSSOC (now part of CANARIE) and a member of the CanSSOC Steering Committee and Sponsorship Committee, the Hospice-Wellington Board, a past elected member of the University of Guelph Board of Governors and the University of Guelph Senate.
Gayleen has been a frequent presenter at national and regional professional conferences in both Canada and the United States, including the Canadian Higher Education IT Conference (CanHEIT), the Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO), the Ontario Higher Education Information Technology Conference (OHEIT), multiple EDUCAUSE conferences, NERCOMP, the Atlantic Regional EDUCAUSE conference, and multiple SIGUCCS symposiums. She is also a past Steering Committee member and Program Chair with the ResNet Symposium (now Student Technology Conference); a Program Chair and Logistics Committee Chair for the 2006 Ontario University Computing Conference (OUCC), and past co-leader of the EDUCAUSE Strategic Planning Constituency Group.
Gayleen was a recipient of the 2013 Guelph Women of Distinction Award for Information Technology, and the 2019 CUCCIO Community Award.
View website: cto.mcmaster.ca/cto/
Session: EMERGE Leadership Panel
Join us for an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion with four accomplished professionals who are leaders in their respective fields. Moderated by Saphia Khambalia, this tell-all conversation will offer a behind-the-scenes look into the personal playbooks, success secrets, and real challenges that have shaped their leadership journeys.
From navigating organizational politics to overcoming personal obstacles, our panelists will share the experiences and insights that have propelled them to the top of their fields. And, in keeping with the tradition of our leadership panels, this will be a no-holds-barred conversation, featuring provocative questions and candid responses that are sure to challenge conventional wisdom.
Whether you’re a seasoned executive looking to take your leadership to the next level or a young professional just starting out, this panel is a must-attend session. So mark your calendars, bring your toughest questions, and get ready to be inspired by the EMERGE Leadership Panel!
My advice for Summit attendees
Never be afraid to take a leap of faith into the unknown. Stepping out of your comfort zone, embracing your vulnerabilities, and trusting in yourself is the best way to unleash your true potential. Be bold, and never let fear hold you back.