College of the North Atlantic (CNA) has found a gem in Janelle Skeard, who recently accepted the position of Director of Industry Innovation.
“I am currently working to build relationships with various industry partners and initiate applied research projects that are of interest and value to industry stakeholders, the college, and the province,” she said.
Skeard is based out of the College’s Office of Applied Research and Innovation (OARI) at the Topsail Road Campus.
“We’re usually the industry-facing side of things,” she said. “We’re always trying to understand what the gaps or challenges are for our partners and then we want to see how we can solve those challenges using our complement of expertise, equipment, and resources.”
Skeard joined CNA in January 2023 as the Mining Network Development Officer. In April 2024, she started her current position.
“I really like the flexibility and focus on work-life balance that the organization emphasizes,” she said. “A lot of employers claim to promote work-life balance, but CNA is the first I’ve seen that truly adheres to it.”
She explains that teamwork plays a crucial role in her achievements.
“What I think I love the most about CNA is the true, collaborative, team environment. My office has so much expertise and everyone is willing to step in and step up when needed,” she said. “Even beyond my office, I’ve always found that everyone at CNA is willing to share their knowledge and help wherever they can.”
She is also the CNA representative on the Interdisciplinary Committee on Ethics in Human Research (ICEHR) at Memorial University.
“I frequently review ethics applications for various studies engaging human participants. Prior to this, as the Mining Network Development Officer I worked largely with mining and technology companies to understand their pain points and see how we could solve operational challenges,” she said. “In a way, my current role builds on what I did previously, but within the scope of multiple industries instead of the primarily mining focus. I’m excited to see what kinds of projects we can conceptualize with various industry partners.”
Expanding on her previous work experience, Skeard has spent the past 15 years leading and managing research projects in mining, oil and gas, and healthcare.
“In 2015, I began working with the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University as a Grants Facilitation Officer. There, I helped write numerous research proposals and manage multi-disciplinary projects pertaining to healthcare. I spent eight years handling those types of portfolios before joining CNA and getting back into the natural resource and mining side of things.” Before her time at MUN, however, Skeard worked with Women in Resource Development Corporation where she undertook research on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) involvement for girls and women within the scope of educational programming. In November 2023, while working as the Mining Network Development Officer for CNA, she helped create a pilot what she dubbed the “Future Miners Initiative” in which she partnered with non-profit and industry stakeholders to engage school students in mining innovation. She describes it as a “full circle” moment being able to work with the next generation of innovators.
CNA Welcomes Janelle Skeard
Skeard brings an impressive academic and professional background to her new role.
“I hold a bachelor’s degree in economic geography and two master’s degrees: geography (economic geography with a specialization in socioeconomic aspects of the mining industry), and a second in medical ethics (focusing largely on issues in genetics),” she said. “I am currently completing my PhD, focusing on innovative methods for enhancing genetic resource development in Newfoundland and Labrador. I also hold certification in advanced project management.”
Originally from Millertown, she says that mining is in her blood.
“I come from a multi-generational mining family, and my hometown is informally known as the ‘Wildlife Capital of Newfoundland’. Because of this, I’ve always been passionate about natural resources and the environment, which lends itself nicely to the work CNA does in the mining industry and sustainable development.”
Skeard emphasizes the profound influence of community and mentorship on personal and professional development, particularly in the distinctive context of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“I think it’s important to recognize the value of our communities and mentors. Newfoundland and Labrador is so unique in its geography and demography – we have close-knit communities and social circles, and those relationships no doubt shape us and help emphasize the things we become passionate about,” she said. “It also gives us an opportunity to engage with people whose knowledge and skills help us grow and become experts in our own fields.”
Skeard highlights the importance of following your dreams.
“It’s never too late to change career paths or follow your passions. I never envisioned finding a job where I could actually utilize the various components of my background in a meaningful way,” she said. “I think if you’d asked me 10 years ago what my dream job was, I didn’t know that a Director of Industry Innovation position existed, but what I would have described would have aligned perfectly with what my current job entails.”
