Vancouver, B.C., January 30, 2025 – Innovate BC is pleased to announce Elizabeth Dutton as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this role, Dutton will provide strategic leadership to the organization, focussed on operational efficiency, growth, and the development of a high performance team.
Dutton’s extensive background driving growth and impact for technology companies across Canada, coupled with over a decade of executive leadership experience in the digital media space, uniquely positions her to play a crucial role in supporting Innovate BC’s mandate of advancing innovation within British Columbia.
“We are thrilled to welcome Elizabeth to the Innovate BC team,” said Peter Cowan, President + CEO, Innovate BC. “Elizabeth is deeply rooted within Canada’s tech landscape, with a firm grasp of what start-ups need to grow and thrive here in British Columbia. I look forward to working with her to advance Innovate BC’s ambitious mandate and support our province’s innovation ecosystem.”
Prior to joining Innovate BC, Elizabeth served as Vice President, Digital Operations, at Black Press Media, the largest privately held Canadian media company, where she bolstered digital strategy efforts and grew their online classified business. Elizabeth is also a founding partner for Women’s Equity Lab, a series of international women-led venture funds across Canada and the United States representing over 400 women investors globally.
“British Columbia is home to a vibrant innovation community, and our startups are evolving industries and solving our toughest challenges on a global scale,” said Dutton. “Innovate BC plays a crucial role in advancing entrepreneurship within the province — a vital part of creating jobs and strong industries — and I am excited to join the team and support their efforts in providing B.C. companies with more opportunities, more resources, and more success locally and globally.”
Elizabeth has also held senior roles at Used.ca and Amazon.com and provided strategic planning support and leadership education to CEOs through Lawrence & Company Growth Advisors. She is actively involved in British Columbia’s innovation and entrepreneurial community, serving as a mentor, advisor and board member for startups across a variety of verticals including consumer packaged goods, green tech, healthcare and education.
A Crown Agency of British Columbia, Innovate BC works to foster innovation across the province and bolster the growth of the local economy through delivering a wide range of programs that help companies start and scale, access talent and encourage technology development, commercialization, and adoption. Innovate BC also harnesses crucial data collection and research, and works to forge strategic industry and community partnerships that create more opportunities for B.C. innovators.
Media Contact
Michael Gleboff
Communications + Community Manager
mgleboff@innovatebc.ca
604-602-5210