About Me

Dr. Imogen R. Coe was the founding dean of the Faculty of Science at Ryerson University (2012-2018). She is a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biology, and is also an affiliate scientist in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Keenan Research Centre, at St. Michael’s Hospital, where her research group studies the biology of drug transporters which are proteins that facilitate the entry into cells of anti-cancer and anti-viral drugs. She has a lived experience as an academic research scientist, leader, reviewer and advisor. In addition to this work, Dr. Coe is internationally recognized as a Canadian thought leader in the area of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). She has advised academia, government and industry on best practices and approaches to improve EDI in STEM, particularly in the Canadian post-secondary education (PSE) sector.  She has written and spoken about these issues extensively for platforms such as the Globe and Mail, iPolitics and the CBC.  She has also given a TEDx talk on gender equity in science and is much in demand by academia, industry and government as a speaker and panelist.  She sits on several boards including Science Rendezvous and the Michael Garron Hospital and was formerly a board member of the Canadian Mining Innovation Council. She is currently the President of the Canadian Molecular Biosciences Society (2020-2022) and is an associate consultant at Shift Health (https://www.shifthealth.com/). In fall 2016 she was recognized by WXN as one of Canada's Top 100 Women, in the Trail Blazer category for her advocacy work promoting equity in STEM and in 2017, she was one of the “Canada150 Women” in the best-selling publication of the same name.  In March 2018, she received Ryerson University’s, Alan Shepard Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Employee Award, for her outstanding achievements as a senior leader in the Ryerson University community, who advances equity, diversity and inclusion at the university and beyond. In April 2019, she received the Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada (SWAAC) Angela Hildyard Award in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, for demonstrated innovative leadership in advancing EDI in academia and the Science Ambassador Award from Partners in Research Canada in 2020. She is much in demand as a consultant, expert speaker, panelist and advisor.

Dr. Imogen R. Coe on screen

This talk at the Equity in Medicine Conference in 2021 addressed gender-based violence in the workplace and in the home and how stigma about these issues continues to get in the way of building cultures of care and creating supportive inclusive environments for all genders.

Dr. Imogen Coe is interviewed by Shweta Ganapati for the Canadian Science Policy Conference in 2019 about building cultures of inclusion and integrating principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility into the scientific enterprise and research world.

This 2021 talk for Courage to Act represented the ever first national talk on gender-based violence in science in Canada. Here, Dr Imogen Coe talks about the nature and prevalence of GBV in science in the Canadian post-secondary sector. Comparisons with data and actions in US, the UK & Australia. This talk also provides tips, tools and strategies for addressing GBV in STEM, in research culture and in academia at all levels

Dr Imogen Coe was interviewed by the Canada Science and Technology Museum for their terrific MySTEMjob series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI2WoW7gdoI)

In this TEDx talk from 2015 Dr Imogen Coe addresses the lack of female representation in STEM; (science, technology, engineering and math) using humour and real life examples. She calls to action everyone in helping break barriers, challenge stereotypes and demand that all genders have the opportunity to contribute to science.

The Canadian Science Policy Centre’s 2022 Trailblazer - Policy for Science Award was presented to professor Coe for her exceptional contribution to integrating the principles of EDI into the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) research ecosystem. The award recognizes individuals who have been instrumental in transforming the Canadian science policy environment while inspiring others. Professor Coe’s advocacy has influenced the policies and practices of funding agencies, government and industry workplaces.