Vanessa Sung joins Evidence for Democracy as Interim Executive Director, bringing a wealth of experience from the research, government, and non-profit sectors. After completing her PhD in Biochemistry at McGill University, she joined the Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada as a policy advisor, where much of her efforts were focused on strengthening connections between the science, policy, and political communities. Over her time there, her work has included the Chief Science Advisor’s Expert Panel on COVID-19, the inaugural Chief Science Advisor’s Youth Council, and the Science Meets Parliament program in collaboration with the Canadian Science Policy Centre. As a graduate student, Vanessa was Co-President and member of the Board of Directors at Science & Policy Exchange, a student-led non-profit that facilitates multisectoral dialogue and empowers the student voice in diverse science policy issues. She was also previously part of the leadership team at Communitas, a community-based restorative justice organization in Montreal. Vanessa is an enthusiastic advocate for increased community and civic engagement from scientists, and is dedicated to creating positive impact at the intersection of science, public policy, and social justice.