Lesley Lewis

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Science Centre since 1998, Lesley Lewis has led a major evolution of the landmark cultural attraction.

Under Ms Lewis’ leadership over the past decade, the Science Centre has significantly renewed two-thirds of its public spaces, focusing on embracing new audiences, engaging visitors of all ages with science, scientists and innovation as well as incorporating current science news into daily offerings. From 2000 to 2006, Ms. Lewis spearheaded the Centre’s $47.5 million Agents of Change transformation.

As CEO, Ms. Lewis has sharpened the organization’s focus on extending its brand, audience reach and relevance. The Science Centre introduced an array of programs designed to ensure accessibility to all members of the community.

She is a respected member of the international science centre community, and has been active in global forums describing the Ontario Science Centre’s evolution into a new model for public engagement with science.

Ms Lewis is an invited member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Committee on Science and Technology Engagement with the Public. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Tourism Toronto. From 2007 to 2009, she was President of the global Association of Science-Technology Centers based in Washington D.C. She was a member of the China Association for Science and Technology’s international advisory committee for a new science and technology museum in Beijing that opened in 2009 and Chair of the Fifth Science Centre World Congress which was hosted by the Ontario Science Centre in 2008. In that capacity, she led the development of the Toronto Declaration, the science centre field’s first-ever shared global statement of beliefs and goals.

Prior to joining the Ontario Science Centre, Ms. Lewis was the Executive Director of the Ontario Heritage Foundation for six years and, for three years, Executive Director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.