Avery MacLean

Avery MacLean is the Director of Research IT and the former Director Enterprise Data Architecture at SickKids, where between 2022-2024 she built data foundations for Precision Child Health, a movement that aims to understand each child’s health by integrating all the information they share about themselves, from their genetic code to their postal code, to provide individualized care that attends their unique characteristics. Her work involved data architecture strategy, platform implementation, breaking down legacy data silos to integrate data across clinical, research, and operational domains, introducing modern data governance and stewardship capabilities and fostering collaborative partnerships within SickKids and externally with collaborators, technology vendors, and funding partners.

Avery is currently the Director of Research IT at SickKids, where she leads a diverse portfolio of services supporting the scientific endeavors of many of Canada’s top clinicians and scientists including High Performance Computing, Database Application Development, Application Support, Virtual Hosting, Help Desk and Desktop Support. Recognized for her ‘IT start up’ business acumen, Avery is frequently invited to lead SickKids transformational initiatives that intersect with technology innovation. During her tenure she has contributed to complex strategic initiatives such as establishing the multi-institutional HPC4Health architecture and governance model. Between 2015 and 2018, Avery joined the Discovery Commons, UofT Faculty of Medicine, as Associate Director, Applications, where she was recognized by the University of Toronto’s 2017-18 “Excellence Through Innovation Award” for her leadership designing and implementing custom IT solutions to support the transformation of their medical education curriculum.

In addition to her IT career, Avery is an accomplished musician and has contributed to the early music scene in Toronto as a performer, by establishing new arts organizations and supporting emerging talent. Avery is the inaugural guest on the McMaster Alumni podcast series “Unconventional”