WatSPEED appoints Aaron Pereira as executive director

The University of Waterloo is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Pereira as executive director of WatSPEED, the University’s professional, executive and corporate education arm. 

Pereira assumes the role following a successful tenure as managing director, client partnerships at WatSPEED, where he led the development of high-impact collaborations with industry, government and university partners. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding WatSPEED’s engagement with both Canadian and international organizations and deepening its involvement in national skills development efforts.   

“WatSPEED is uniquely positioned to help shape Canada’s future workforce by connecting academic excellence with real-world skills development,” Pereira says. “It’s a privilege to lead this next chapter alongside a talented team, as we continue to build transformative learning experiences that support professionals and organizations through rapid technological change.” 

With more than 15 years of experience at Waterloo, Pereira brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and cross-sector expertise to this role. His career has spanned research administration, corporate partnerships, and advanced education, with past roles including client manager, corporate research partnerships manager and manager of institutional research in the Office of Research. From managing multi-million-dollar strategic initiatives to facilitating research collaborations in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data science, Pereira’s contributions have connected cutting-edge research with real-world impact.  

Pereira’s appointment comes at a time of accelerating momentum for WatSPEED, as the unit continues to scale its offerings in emerging areas such as AI, cybersecurity and health technologies. Positioned at the intersection of technology, talent and industry, WatSPEED plays a critical role in advancing Waterloo’s mission to drive innovation and societal impact. 

A Message from Aaron Pereira

Leadership for WatSPEED’s next chapter 

Joining Pereira in shaping this next phase is Karina Graf, who has been appointed managing director, marketing, brand and growth. Graf brings a strong track record in strategic marketing, digital engagement and program innovation. In her expanded role, she will lead efforts to amplify learner impact, strengthen the WatSPEED brand and drive institutional growth through high-performance marketing. 

To further strengthen WatSPEED’s engagement with global and corporate partners, Jean-Paul Mouton has assumed the role of associate director, strategic partnerships and global growth. In this expanded role, he will lead efforts to deepen existing relationships, forge new global partnerships, and identify opportunities for international expansion.  

These new appointments complement the continued leadership of Dean Perkins, associate director, systems, finance and operations, whose work ensures the infrastructure, resourcing and operational rigor that support WatSPEED’s mission. 

Together, the team will continue to strengthen WatSPEED’s role in delivering impactful, future-focused learning experiences that support professionals, executives and organizations navigating technological change. 

For more information about WatSPEED and its programs, visit watspeed.uwaterloo.ca.