New Leadership at ISID
The International Society for Infectious Disease’s (ISID) Executive Committee appoints a new Interim Executive Director, Martine Coutu, as of June 1, 2020. Based in Montreal, Canada, Martine will join the Boston based team virtually. She brings many years of Executive and International Conference Management and Association leadership to ISID.
“Even though these are trying days, we have such an extraordinarily dedicated and talented group of individuals to rise to the challenges.” Says ISID Executive Committee President, Alison Holmes.
Upon graduating from the Université du Québec à Montréal, Martine was recruited by what was then one of Montreal’s premier PCOs, Events International Meeting Planners, as Director of Exhibits and Social Events. Over the following eight years she amassed a vast store of experience culminating in the millennium, planning ten large international congresses from Montréal to Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. By 2001 she was ready for a change, and began operating her own company, Meeting Consultant. Over the next five years she shifted gears and explored smaller promotional and marketing projects, as well as collaboration on six major international congresses. Martine went on to work for the Société Internationale d’Urologie as the Director of Meeting Organization and Office Operations, and later became Executive Director before joining ISID in 2020.
“Looking ahead into the future, I envision myself contributing to the steadiness and development of ISID, with an extraordinary and creative team of colleagues, and actively encouraging the initiatives that the Society chooses to pursue.” Says ISID’s Interim Executive Director, Martine Coutu.
ISID’s Director of Emerging Disease Surveillance, Linda C. MacKinnon, will be taking on a central role in supporting Martine’s transition and acting as her Deputy until stepping into the role of Executive Director permanently October 1st, 2020. Linda joined ISID in 2018 and is a global health professional with extensive experience in leadership and programmatic development. In addition to being Deputy Executive Director, Linda is responsible for the day-to-day operations of ProMED and other innovative surveillance projects at ISID.
“All across the board, I am thrilled to be working side-by-side with Martine. She is an accomplished professional, industry expert, and executive leader whose knowledge will serve the Society well. I am grateful to be a part of a team of dedicated staff and members all across the globe whose love is to further ISID’s mission in the world of Infectious Disease science and community - now needed more than ever” says Linda.
The ISID team is excited to start the next chapter with new leadership. If you’d like to connect with team, or would like to get more involved with ISID’s work, please email [email protected].