Kari Harvey

As CEO of Innovation Saskatchewan, Kari Harvey is a leader in Saskatchewan’s innovation ecosystem. With the increasingly important role that technology is playing in growing Saskatchewan’s economy, Kari is leading initiatives to encourage more public procurement of locally developed technology, support investments into early-stage and scaling companies and develop labour force talent, including increasing diversity in the tech sector.

With over 30 years of public service, Kari is a values-based leader who understands the importance of building relationships to accomplish her goals. She is a champion of technology’s impact on the economy and has travelled internationally and throughout Canada to promote Saskatchewan’s world-class innovation ecosystem. In November 2020, Kari and her team at Innovation Saskatchewan received the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Public Service. She was a key player in the launch of Co.Labs, Saskatchewan’s first technology incubator, and in 2021 was awarded the Science Technology Innovation Collaboration (STIC) Ambassador Award by Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority.

Prior to joining Innovation Saskatchewan, Kari served in the role of Assistant Deputy Minister, International Relations and Protocol, Executive Council and Office of the Premier, where she led the delivery of international trade missions for Premier Brad Wall and oversaw the province’s Honours and Awards programs.

Kari is currently a board member with the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) and the Canadian Light Source (CLS). In the fall of 2020, she was also appointed to the National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) Advisory Council. She also serves as the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel for the 38 Signal Regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves.

Kari holds the ICD.D certification through Rotman’s School of Management’s Institute of Corporate Directors and a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration, both from the University of Regina.