After many years of providing steady, values-driven leadership for ICN, our Executive Director, Don McLeod, will be stepping back from his current role and moving into well-deserved semi-retirement. He looks forward to enjoying some new adventures, including more time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and, we suspect, a little more time on the golf course.
Don has been part of Imagine Citizens Network almost since the very beginning. When ICN was little more than an idea grounded in a deep belief in the power of citizen voice, Don was there. He has walked alongside the organization as it has grown and evolved, helping to shape not only our work, but our culture.
Under Don’s leadership, ICN has grown from a single staff position to a full team of ten, guided by a shared belief that people, voices, and relationships matter. He leads with a rare combination of thoughtfulness, humility, and deep care, and with an unwavering respect for the people he works alongside. Don has a remarkable ability to create space for others, whether staff, volunteers, partners, or community members, and to ensure people feel genuinely heard, valued, and trusted.
Internally, Don has fostered a culture where staff feel supported and deeply appreciated, where collaboration is encouraged, and where care for one another is understood as essential to the work itself. His leadership has consistently affirmed that the people doing the work matter just as much as the outcomes we are working toward.
As a gifted facilitator and deeply trusted presence, Don has led ICN’s Engagement team and guided the organization’s citizen engagement work throughout its history, always grounding our approach in lived experience and thoughtful dialogue. He has also been instrumental in the launch and growth of Care Opinion, helping to create a safe, moderated space where Albertans can share their healthcare stories directly with the teams involved in their care.
Over the past decade, and particularly in the last three years, ICN has experienced significant growth. Don has stewarded this period with integrity, intention, and care, ensuring the organization is well positioned for long term sustainability and continued impact.
While Don is stepping down as Executive Director, he is not leaving ICN or our community of passionate improvers. He will continue to bring the same wisdom, generosity, and relational approach that have shaped ICN from the start.
With strong foundations in place and as ICN continues to evolve and grow, we are excited to begin a new chapter, including the search for Imagine Citizens Network’s first ever CEO. We look forward to welcoming new leadership while continuing to build on the legacy Don has helped create.
Thank you, Don, for your steadfast commitment, your respect for the people you lead, and the care you bring to ICN, our volunteers, partners, and communities every day.
