How to Innovate During a Crisis: The Fort McMurray Story
In this episode we talk with Conrad Sauvé.
Conrad Sauvé has been the President and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross since 2008. Under his leadership, the Canadian Red Cross has strengthened its capacity in emergency management and health programming and made significant contributions in the wake of multiple large-scale domestic and international emergencies. Mr.Sauvé has a proven track record of bringing together diverse partners in support of complex humanitarian challenges. He led the successful negotiation of a strategic partnership with the Government of Canada, and fostered innovative partnerships with health organizations, universities and other humanitarian actors.
The emergency management capacity of the Red Cross was recently showcased during the Canadian Red Cross’ largest domestic response in history – the Alberta fires. Through the power of technology and innovative digital platforms, the Red Cross was not only able to register evacuees online but made the largest and fastest cash transfer in the organization’s history. In addition to this response, Mr. Sauvé has overseen a strengthened Memorandum of Understanding with Public Safety Canada to ensure the Red Cross and all levels of government are prepared for future emergencies.
In partnership with the Government of Canada, Mr. Sauvé oversaw the development and launch of the only Red Cross field hospital in North America. Over the past six years, the field hospital has been deployed to Ecuador, the Philippines, Haiti, Nepal and parts of Africa in the wake of various emergencies and disasters. In addition, through a first of its kind Memoriam of Understanding with the British Columbia government, the hospital has the capacity to respond to a catastrophic event along the West Coast.
Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Mr. Sauvé built partnerships with Canadian health experts from St. Justine Hospital to work alongside the Red Cross and the local community in rebuilding a hospital in Jacmel, Haiti. These efforts are part of a $35 million health program that is improving access to quality health services as well as building stronger communities through community-based health and first aid.
For the past twenty years, Mr. Sauvé has been involved in several health and social service committees, associations and executive boards. He holds a BSc from the Université du Québec à Montreal and is a graduate of McGill University’s International Masters in Health Leadership.