Sandra Cascadden has over 25 years of experience in leadership roles, specializing in digital leadership, strategic thinking, and innovation. She is the Executive Director at Atlantic Canada Organization Research Networks in Nova Scotia (ACORN-NS) and consults within the healthcare industry.
She has worked in various industries, including healthcare, telecommunications, and broadcasting, and has held positions in large private companies, provincial government, federal crown corporations, and small entrepreneurial ventures. She is applying her knowledge and skills to and learning about the higher education sector.
Previously, Sandra was an Associate Deputy Minister at the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, focusing on leveraging digital solutions to enhance healthcare delivery, the patient experience, provider workflow and decision-making processes. She also held the role of Associate Deputy Minister and Chief Information Officer at the Nova Scotia Department of Internal Services, where she spearheaded the establishment of an IT Shared Service organization to deliver consistent, cost-effective, and high-quality services to thousands of clients within government, education and healthcare.
She believes in trying things out, experimenting, learning, innovating, and “just doing it.” She has led many “firsts”—the first provincial Electronic Health Record for Nova Scotians, Innovation Garage, IT/IM Shared Service, and province-wide digital solution for COVID-19 immunization in Nova Scotia, enabling a person-based digital immunization record. She has a strong track record of achieving operational excellence and is passionate about delivering high-quality, client-centred solutions.
Sandra Cascadden holds a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia(now Dalhousie University) and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science from Dalhousie University. She also has a Graduate Certificate in Workplace Innovation from Royal Roads University and a Certificate in Garden Design and Landscaping. She is a strong believer in continuous learning and, in 2023, completed her Master of Digital Innovation at Dalhousie University.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Sandra owns SLC Creative Consulting in Nova Scotia, where she resides with her husband and four-legged companion, Coel. Emphasizing a continuous learning and innovation culture, Sandra is dedicated to advancing the digital landscape and delivering high-quality services for her clients.