In a unanimous decision taken by the Board of Directors, Dr. Philip Groff has been appointed SMARTRISK President and CEO, following the recent departure of former CEO Robert Baker to a new position in the charitable sector. Dr. Groff is widely respected and well known in Canada’s injury community, through his role as SMARTRISK’s Director of Research and Evaluation. The board has entrusted Dr. Groff with the dual role of enacting SMARTRISK’s mission and vision while continuing to pursue merger discussions with its national injury partners.

The chairman of SMARTRISK’s board, Edward (Ned) Levitt, says the board’s decision was an easy one. “Phil has been with SMARTRISK for over nine years. He has been an integral part of the organization and a key member of the management team since the beginning. He understands the field of injury intimately and the various challenges injury organizations and SMARTRISK, in particular, face. The board knows Phil very well and has great confidence in him. We’re very pleased he has agreed to take on this role.”

Dr. Groff has a PhD in psychology with a specialty in human neuropsychology and cognition. He has been with SMARTRISK for more than nine years, leading its research and evaluation department and managing the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre. He will ensure SMARTRISK continues to work towards its mission to empower youth to recognize and manage their risks of injury in the smartest ways possible. Dr. Groff will also continue to work closely with injury partners Safe Communities Canada, Safe Kids Canada and ThinkFirst Canada, as they move forward in studying how best to unify their efforts to advance the cause of injury prevention in Canada. 

“I am tremendously grateful for the confidence the board has shown me by making this offer at such a crucial time in our organization’s history,” Dr. Groff said.  “I am confident that with the ongoing support of the extremely talented staff and dedicated volunteers at SMARTRISK, we will succeed at supporting the growth and success of our core SMARTRISK programs while achieving our overriding goal of bringing the four injury prevention organizations together as, One Voice, Safer Canada.”

About SMARTRISK

SMARTRISK is a national, charitable organization whose mission is to empower youth through education, programming and policy change to recognize and manage their risks of injury in the smartest ways possible.

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Contact information:

Kathy Blair, media, SMARTRISK. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 416-596-2715. www.smartrisk.ca