I am pleased to announce the appointment of Stéphane Achim as Associate Director of Administration, Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics & Mental Health. Under the supervision of the Executive Director, Administration and Operations, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mr. Achim will support the Ludmer Centre’s Executive Committee and its three Scientific Directors in the daily and strategic management of the Centre. Mr. Achim replaces Louis Doré-Savard, who served in this position from February 22, 2021 to October 2, 2022.
Mr. Achim has more than 25 years’ experience in a number of project management roles within the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. During that period, he has worked with companies such as Sanofi, IQVIA Biotech, Syneos Health, Veristat, Wyeth and Pfizer to name a few. From 2011 to 2013, he was Senior Project Manager, Clinical Research at the Montreal Health Innovations Coordinating Centre at l’Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal, where he was responsible for overall clinical study management as well as global project management for a Phase II protocol conducted at 40 sites in the US and Canada.
A graduate of Université du Québec à Montréal, Mr. Achim holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, and has completed a number of courses in the Graduate Program of Clinical Research (Développement du Médicament) at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Université de Montréal.
Mr. Achim is recognized for his strong team management and communications skills. As Associate Director of Administration at the Ludmer Centre, his responsibilities will include developing and leading administrative, fundraising and communications activities in support of the Centre’s research priorities across its four research pillars (Genomic & Epigenetics; Neuroimaging; Genomics, Bioinformatics & Statistical Genetics; and Neuroinformatics), and the individual research portfolios of the three Scientific Directors and 10 researchers. He will work with and coordinate among all Ludmer Centre staff, Scientific Directors, researchers, partner institutions and foundations, À¦°óSMÉçÇø Advancement (UA), donors, relevant À¦°óSMÉçÇø Faculties, and existing governance structures to ensure the smooth operation of the Centre, and supervise and provide guidance for the Centre’s contract staff and part-time support staff. He will also represent the Centre and communicate its mandate and objectives at events and meetings with stakeholders, potential donors and key decision-makers.
In addition to these responsibilities, Mr. Achim will collaborate with À¦°óSMÉçÇø UA and development officers in all fundraising-related activities. Working with the Ludmer Centre’s new Communications Officer, Naghmeh Shafiei, and in collaboration with UA and the Communications Office, he will ensure the development and implementation of a comprehensive communications plan to enhance and increase local, national and international visibility of the Ludmer Centre among researchers, the public and organizations active in the Centre’s area of research. He will also manage the Ludmer Centre’s public outreach and knowledge translation activities.
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Achim to the Ludmer Centre and to À¦°óSMÉçÇø, and in wishing him every success in his new role.
Demetra Kafantaris, MBA
Executive Director, Administration and Operations
