Leadership change coming to Dietitians of Canada

Date: January 27, 2021

A message from Nathalie Savoie, CEO of DC 



It is with great confidence in Dietitians of Canada’s future that I would like to share with you the news of my resignation as Dietitians of Canada’s CEO, effective April 18, 2021. I am very proud of the work I have led over the past three and a half years, in particular renewing DC’s focus on its members. It was a difficult and deeply personal decision to leave DC and to pass the role of CEO to a new leader, someone who can continue to build on the association’s mission and sustainability in the years to come.
 
Dietitians of Canada has seen tremendous change over the past year with the move to a national association, the release of new organizational priorities from the Board of Directors and a recently launched 2020-24 Strategic Plan. The swift impact has been successful in key areas, including a steady growth in membership. The future of DC is strong as it continues to fulfill its purpose as an organization dedicated to ensuring that dietitians have the best opportunities to experience professional success throughout their careers.
 
I will continue in my role as CEO until mid-April, and work to ensure that the transition to an interim leadership is smooth and efficient. The Board of Directors will now be tasked with looking for someone else to take on this rewarding and challenging leadership role. In the coming days and weeks that process will be shared with members by the Board of Directors.
 
Finally, I would like to thank all of you who made my time as DC’s CEO the highlight of my career as a dietitian. From all the Board members I’ve worked with since 2017, to the DC staff – the newcomers, as well as those who retired in recent years, and most importantly, to all of you, the DC members whom I’ve met in person or virtually. I am forever grateful for the challenging discussions, the words of wisdom and the encouragement that you have shared with me over this time. Take care. Stay healthy and stay safe.
 
Sincerely,
 
Nathalie Savoie
Email: ceo@dietitians.ca
 
 
Message from Carol Donovan, Chair of the Board of Directors of Dietitians of Canada
 
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Dietitians of Canada I would like to inform members that we have accepted Nathalie’s resignation for April 18,2021. The Board was surprised with her decision; however, we are confident in the future of the association and support Nathalie as she closes this chapter of her career.
 
In her time as CEO, Nathalie has left behind a legacy of positive change at Dietitians of Canada and for that we thank her. Her strength as a welcoming and transparent communicator supported DC’s renewed focus on members. She listened, consulted and welcomed opposing views as she worked tirelessly to build the organization for the future. This work led to a number of important successes, including making it possible for the Board to take the necessary action to reduce the membership fees and increase accessibility to the association for Canadian dietitians.
 
The Board of Directors will now look at what skills, characteristics and leadership qualities Dietitians of Canada needs to continue to thrive. This will be done with the support of a recruitment firm and more details will be shared in the weeks to come.
 
We have some very big and special shoes to fill!  Nathalie will be truly missed by DC members, the Board of Directors and all the other associations that we collaborate with including CFDR, ICDA and other dietitian associations across the world.  She has helped the Board transition through many changes and set us up to move forward as the "new" DC.  She has laid a strong foundation that we will be able to build on in the years to come. From the entire Board of Directors of Dietitians of Canada, we wish her continued success in all her future endeavours.
 
If you have any questions or feedback to share with the Board, please email them to: board@dietitians.ca. As always, we remain just an email away.
 
Sincerely and with great respect,

 

Carol Donovan
Chair, Dietitians of Canada Board of Directors