President Emerita

ACADEMIA
 

Beginning her presidency in 2005, Diamond led OCAD University to retain its traditional strengths in art and design, while transforming the university to become a leader in science and technology, with capacities in digital media, design research and curriculum. She initiated and funding the Digital Futures Initiative and the Digital Media Research and Innovation Institute, supported OCAD U’s unique research in Inclusive Design and Design for Health. She collaborated with Indigenous colleagues to develop the Indigenous Visual Culture Program, with correlative prioritization of Indigenous knowledge and culture at OCAD U. Diamond founded and led the international Banff New Media Institute from 1995 – 2005, establishing research and commercialization summits of artists, designers, scientists and companies, practice based and research workshops, creative co-productions, laboratories and research in new media.

INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING
 

Diamond led three strategic plans with resulting scorecards and metrics, new vision and mission, brand development, related academic, research, capital and digital infrastructure strategies and implementation plans, multi-year forecasts. She stablished OCAD University Richmond Street Campus including three buildings, and its professional gallery. She raised funds and supported the planning for transformation of McCaul Street’s refurbished and new Creative City Campus, including the new Rosalie Sharp Pavilion at 115 McCaul Street, the George Reid refresh, and the upgrade of the Fabrication Centre. She initiated and led the successful creation of the 14,000 square foot Campus for the Connected World in the Daniels’ City of the Arts on Toronto’s waterfront. She developed the Mirvish/Great Gulf/Gehry project with 25,000 square feet of new space which will open in the future. Diamond successfully led a $60 million five-year campaign, surpassing goal with $70 million in four years. She led initiatives to increase Indigenous and racialized faculty and staff numbers, including a successful cluster hire of interdisciplinary Indigenous faculty members and second cluster hire of Black design faculty. Diamond created a strong network of partnerships for OCAD University in Toronto, nationally and internationally in the cultural sector, design industries, ICT industries, health sector and government. Diamond established OCAD U as a leader in crucial policy campaigns, including public art, design policy, new media and digital transformation, Smart City planning.

RESEARCH
 

Diamond developed international capacity in art + technology design and ArtSci research in collaboration with institutions, industry, and independent artists/designer in Canada and abroad. She has led or co-led large-scale Canadian and international research networks in data visualization, wearable technologies, mobile technology and content and collaborative systems, most recently as co-principal investigator of the iCity2.0-Urban Data Science for Future Mobility, co-chair of the Research Planning Committee Abundant Intelligences: Expanding Artificial Intelligence through Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Earlier efforts included the Mobile Digital Commons Network (MDCN), Am-I-Able, Centre for Information Visualization and Design, BRAIN (big data analytics); and iCity (Visualization theme). She has led the Visual Analytics Laboratory at OCAD University since its inception over a decade ago and holds funding from NSERC, SSHRC, the Ontario Centers of Excellence, Ontario Research Excellence Fund and MITACS. She led public policy research projects that provide advice on mobile content, access and technology; public art; and interdisciplinary pedagogy and diversity. Diamond continues to publish peer reviewed articles on media arts histories, data visualization and data-driven urban planning. 

She was a member of the GRAND National Centre of Excellence board of directors. She was an academic research reviewer for Ireland, a member of the Expert Panel on the State of Science and Technology, of the Canadian Council of the Academies; has chaired SSHRC panels, juried Digging into Data, CFI, NSERC and EU Framework grants. She served as a member of the Council of the Canadian Academies State of Science and Technology in Canada review, 2012. She was Chair of the Social Science and Humanities Research Council Impact Awards Committee and Insight Digital Economy Awards Committee. Diamond served as university research representative on Brazil-Canada Joint Committee, ICT. Diamond developed OCAD University post- doctoral research program and supervised 12 post-doctoral researchers and over 80 research assistants since 2005. 

Please see attached record of grants and publications.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND COLLABORATION
 

Diamond initiated and co-chaired (with RBC and Deloitte) the Mobile Experience Innovation Centre: an industry-academic consortium for research, commercialization, outreach, training, and incubation for the dynamic mobile field. She initiated OCAD U’s unique Imagination Catalyst, which is a design-led incubator that includes the venture- supported Imagination Catalyst Fund. She initiated the creation of OCADU.CO a commercialization entity for the university that launched in 2019. She supported the development of many Canadian digital media and ICT companies and start-ups through the activities of the Banff New Media Institute, the Banff New Media Accelerator, the Interactive Project Laboratory and OCAD U’s Imagination Catalyst. She provided a year of design training for the National Research Council. 

CREATIVE ARTS
 

Diamond’s new media art practice began in creative neural network design, information visualization, “software art”, collaborative performance and wearable art through CodeZebraOS project as early as the 1997. Before that time, she was an internationally recognized artist in experimental media, video art and interdisciplinary cultural expression, with major exhibitions such as a solo show at the Vancouver Art Gallery, a retrospective at National Gallery of Canada, Biennale of Sydney, Museum of Modern Art, NYC, etc. (1980-2005). She has curated large-scale new media exhibitions around the world. Diamond has curated significant exhibitions over many years, for example, video art and documentary at VIVO, Vancouver, new media shows at the Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff; international exhibitions at the Millennium Museum in Beijing and was elected as President of the International Jury of the Dak’Art Biennial of African Art.

INDIGENOUS
 

As a member of a settler culture, Diamond has provided long-term support for Indigenous arts, culture and rights in Canada through Video In, Vancouver; support of the initiation and creation of Aboriginal Arts, The Banff Centre; support for the Indigenous Visual Culture Program, and creation of Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Visual Culture and Curatorial Practice. OCAD University; Academic Plan supporting indigenous culture and knowledge at OCAD University and process of decolonization, including the Indigenous cluster hiring initiative; strengthening the Indigenous Educational Council and support to students. She collaborates as a participating researcher in the international Abundant Intelligences: Expanding Artificial Intelligence through Indigenous Knowledge

Systems, including  OCAD U and York U led A Dish with One Spoon A Dish with One Spoon ––Towards “Generous AI” Invention and Collaboration. 

Consulting

Diamond is a Thought Leader and consultant for Lord Cultural Resources where she provides strategic planning and foresight advice for cultural organizations including archives and higher education, and digital transformation strategies. She was a member of the Canadian Centre for the Purpose of the Corporation.