Emma Irvin

Director of Research Operations

BA, University of Toronto

Emma Irvin entered the field of occupational health and safety through an area close to any researcher’s heart: the library. She was one of the Institute’s first employees, joining in 1991 to help set up what is now a healthy research library. “I wanted to start something from scratch,” she says.

With a background in the humanities at the University of Toronto, Irvin had an interest in research. Before joining the Institute, she worked as a librarian for Morgan Stanley, an experience that gave her exposure to a corporate environment. She also had an interest in epidemiology. Together, these factors pushed her toward a career in health and safety research.

Today, Irvin is the Director of Research Operations for the Institute. A full member of the executive team, she oversees research planning and operational aspects of the Institute’s business. She also oversees the internal library, systems, and a key program area, systematic reviews.

“Systematic reviews focus on one research question, and they do the work of selecting and summarizing existing literature that relates to that question,” she explains. “They’re incredibly important for our stakeholders and they encourage evidence-based practice.”

Currently, Irvin is working with executive and research staff to develop a strategic research plan that will guide the Institute’s operations over the coming years.

“I’d like to see the systematic review program through the next five year review,” she says. “In addition, I hope to continue research methods for conducting systematic reviews and maintain the high quality of our research operations.”