President & CEO

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Dr. Barb Carra is a respected leader and collaborative partner within Canada’s research, education and innovation landscape.

Barb is a champion for the digital needs of Canadians, and frequently meets with municipal, provincial and federal government leaders, raising awareness of the need to grow internet access and computational capabilities in the country.

With a PhD in applied research, spatial statistics and data modeling, Barb has over a decade of experience in data analytics and policy, which allows her to act as a bridge between research and technical domains. As a scientist, she learned early on the value of open data, and the importance of making decisions based on well-rounded research. That insight has proved vital to Cybera, which frequently acts as a steward and advocate for Alberta research and data-driven decisions.

In 2018, Barb was selected to join the Government of Alberta’s Talent Advisory Council on Technology, which provided advice and input on strategies, investments, and outcomes to grow Alberta’s tech talent. She currently sits on the boards for the Alberta Association in Higher Education for Information Technology, The Centre for Innovation Studies, Research Data Canada’s Policy Committee, the National Research and Education Network Governance Committee, Saskatchewan’s Research and Education Network (SRNET), as well as the Calgary Zoo.

Barb earned her Master's of Science at the University of Calgary and her Doctorate from Wilfrid Laurier University. She is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and the Internet Society of Canada.