Tony Gaffney is a globally respected CEO, corporate director and strategic advisor, whose international career spans large-scale enterprise leadership across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. He is one of the few leaders worldwide to have combined CEO roles in both an advanced-technology research institution (Vector AI Institute) and multi-billion-dollar enterprises, supported by deep expertise across emerging technologies and extensive governance experience in complex, regulated industries.
Most recently, Tony served as CEO of the Vector Institute, one of the world’s foremost AI institutes and a pillar of Canada’s national AI strategy. Under his leadership, Vector advanced its global research stature, deepened industry partnerships, expanded AI talent development, and accelerated responsible AI adoption across financial services, health care, telecommunications, technology, and other critical sectors. He has engaged as an advisor with Canadian and International governments; global AI safety institutes; WEF; OECD; and international research organizations to strengthen Canada’s position as a trusted and innovative AI nation.
Tony played a key role in the development and acceptance of the economic and business case to justify Canada’s AI compute (Budget 2024, $2.4Bn) and sovereign health data (AI Strategy 2026, $300m+) investments.
In his career as a CEO and Corporate Director, he has developed deep leadership expertise with globally diverse, multi-industry businesses in various stages of their organizational life cycle. He has had the privilege of working at the CEO or Board levels within some of Canada’s most respected organizations including BCE, Loblaw, AON, Altus Group, Toronto Regional Board of Trade, and the United Way Cabinet. Tony has also served internationally, in executive leadership roles at Accenture, MCI Telecommunications and SHL Systemhouse.