Magali Merkx‑Jacques is an Analyst in Planning & Policy at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). She works for the Office of the Vice‑President for Emerging Technologies – a role central to shaping Canada’s scientific and innovation agenda.
In a world of rapid change and emerging threats, her work ensures Canada’s scientific foundations remain forward-looking, resilient, and inclusive. In Magali’s words:
“When we take action… we need to make sure we’re doing things… for the greater good.”
When she first joined NRC, it was on a one-year contract. Before that, she managed a national climate-change research network at a university in Montréal. That experience sparked big questions about how national science priorities take shape.
“ You learn in books, but when you see how things work and use scientific methods, you really gain a different angle on how to deal with issues.”
In her current role, Magali helps bridge the gap between scientific expertise and strategic decision-making.
“ I often act as a bridge between the experts in my organization and the decision-makers.”
Much of Magali’s work touches technologies Canadians use every day. She collaborates with teams across the NRC, for example those who maintain Canada’s national scientific standards, the backbone of everything from telecommunications and medicine to GPS.
Without accurate timekeeping, precise measurements, and shared standards with other countries, GPS would stop being reliable, telecommunications would break down, medical technologies wouldn’t align, and international trade would be unreliable.
Magali finds deep meaning in supporting this type of continuity:
« I’ve assisted people involved in Canada’s measurement system… and this work will continue throughout my career, and perhaps even throughout my lifetime. »
For her, innovation isn’t just about major discoveries – it’s also about the everyday, often unseen systems that make life safer, fairer, and more efficient.
“Sometimes what keeps me awake… isn’t the big things, it’s the little things… everyday life is really what builds the future.”
To Magali, PIPSC is a critical partner in building fair and inclusive workplaces for federal scientists, so they can do the innovative work that builds Canada’s tomorrow.
“ Inclusion… really comes down to the small, everyday actions, in how we plan our projects and how we carry them out.”
Magali is equally committed to mentorship and inclusion. Through PIPSC’s Women in Science program, she helps early‑career scientists navigate the public service and supports women and underrepresented groups in the STEM fields.
“To me, a strong union is an organization that works not only for its members, but also to ensure a better future for the Canadian community.”
Magali is committed to building a strong, barrier-free community for public science, a mission she is happy to share with PIPSC.
“ I’ve contributed to improving our local community, our Canadian community, and our global community. ”