CIPS Connections  – April 4th 2008

Many in the Information Technology (IT) community are saddened to learn that Gaylen Duncan, a former CIPS President (1987-1988) passed away on March 26, 2008. Gaylen was a visionary and he was also a mentor and friend to many people in CIPS. Prior to moving to Toronto, he was very active in CIPS Ottawa serving in many positions including CIPS Ottawa President. For several years, he was the editor of CIPS Review, the association’s national magazine. Gaylen also served as a CIPS representative to the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) and recently as a member of the CIPS Advocacy Committee.

Gaylen was CEO and President of ITAC from 1995 to 2003 and he was instrumental in bringing CIPS and ITAC together on a number of initiatives including the relocation of the CIPS national office to ITAC’s head office.

Gaylen was a skilled lobbyist with ready access to the top-most levels in government and corporate decision makers. He had over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sector. He held senior management positions with Central Guaranty Trust, Canada Mortgage & Housing, and the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. He sat on numerous boards and committees including: The Broadband Task Force, Advisory Committee to the Minister of National Revenue on Electronic Commerce, Roundtable on E-business Opportunities, the Advisory Board for the NRC Institute for Information Technology, and was Co-Chairman of the Conference Board Advisory Council on Canadian Connectedness. He consulted on IT policy development working with both government and industry in many developing countries including Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

Gaylen had a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, an LL.B from Dalhousie University and a B. A. from McGill University.

CIPS extends its most sincere condolences to his wife Arlene and their four children.