Based on over 2 decades of experience in operational and strategic roles in higher education institutions, our expertise has resulted in improving student advisement, the enhancement of enrolment forecasting and revenue projections, as well as overseeing facility changes, and implementing enterprise data systems.

What we do is based on creating data insight, but how we do it begins with first understanding what you want to achieve, how you are currently working with your information, and the people behind the data. We then work to bridge the gaps with customized solutions specific to your needs, providing you with the tools and techniques you need to achieve your goals.

Ideals We Live By

Partnership

One of the driving values we have is the desire to work together and find solutions collaboratively. By working with like-minded clients and industry partners, we strive to create mutual trust and respect in our relationships, creating long-term relationships that benefit us all.

Curiosity

We believe that the desire to learn new things and explore new horizons is a fundamental part of personal and professional growth. By being curious and having an appetite for discovery we are naturally drawn to uncovering the hidden perspectives in the information you analyze.

Value

In our analysis of data, we create value for the institutions and businesses we work with. Over and above the financial and efficiency benefits our work creates, we also believe that what we do must also create inherent social value and add value to how people can live richer and more fulfilling lives.

Community

We understand that the data we analyze is a reflection of people and the community they are part of. Our respect for everyone in those communities and the diversity they represent is an important part of who we are. Our belief in equality and human rights for all is therefore innate to us, inside and outside the workplace, and we bring this lens to everything we do. We also acknowledge that the future we are all working together to create comes from a past that was not built on the same values. Our offices and the land we occupy are an example of this. Located on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Qayqayt, Stz’uminus, sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ(Tsawwassen), Kwantlen, and Stó:lō nations, we acknowledge this unceded territory and express our gratitude to all Central Coast Salish peoples.

Our Team

Andrew Drinkwater

Co-Founder and President

Andrew's 17+ years of experience in higher education spans academic program development, strategic and financial planning, and analytics and reporting. Andrew's passion is helping academic institutions leverage their data to make decisions so that they can truly focus on improving the institution rather than sorting numbers on a page. Andrew's education includes a Master of Business Administration focused on Management of Technology, a Graduate Certificate in Visual Analytics, and a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Certificate in Business Analytics and Decision Making at Simon Fraser University. His continuing education has included courses and conferences on visual analytics, assessment, and academic advising. With his Tableau expertise, Andrew is a Tableau Desktop qualified associate.

Patrick Lougheed

Co-Founder and Chief Solutions Officer

Pat has over 20 years of experience in higher education spent primarily in information technology and student services leadership roles requiring the creation and execution of strategic plans, improvement of policies and processes, and leadership in services to students, faculty, and staff. His approach includes using data and information to improve decision-making and a systematic approach. His focus has been on the improvement of the student, faculty, and staff experience. Pat holds a Bachelor of Science with a major in computing science and a minor in history along with a Master of Education in educational leadership focusing on higher education student services. His continuing education has included courses on registrarial leadership, university management, change management, and visual analytics. With his Tableau expertise, Pat is a Tableau Desktop certified professional and a Server qualified associate.

Mika Sohma

Data Analyst

Mika is a data analyst at Plaid, supporting Tableau dashboard development, automated data pipelines, and cloud technologies. Mika holds a Bachelor of Law from Kansai University and is pursuing the Applied Computer Information Systems Certificate at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Melinda Roy

Senior Analyst and Lead Writer

Melinda has over a decade of professional experience in data analysis and research across higher education and healthcare sectors. Her interests and experience include data analysis and visualization, strategic enrolment management, report writing, student satisfaction, information literacy, and survey design. Her past research analyst roles have been with the College of New Caledonia and the BC Stats Student Outcomes Project. Her recent experience includes working with human resources data and collective agreements at Island Health. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Non-Fiction from University of King's College.

Both Pat and Andrew have demonstrated a high level of expertise and knowledge around data visualization. The techniques learned from the workshop have allowed me in delivering effective presentations to audiences of all levels.

Jeff Hsiao | Associate Director Student Financial Support - University of British Columbia

Plaid Alumni

Along with helping clients develop their data management and systems, we also believe in fostering the growth of the next generation by supporting them as they grow their skills with us and take the next steps in their careers. LinkedIn’s ‘Next Play’ conveys to us the importance of this mindset by encompassing both a personal and professional component, and we hope to emulate it in our own journey.

The Plaid Alumni is our way of achieving this. Just as students graduate and move on to new careers or studies, our teammates also move forward and continue to make their mark on the world. We wish them well on their journeys and look forward to connecting with them as our alumni.

Clara Yeung

PRODUCT MANAGER, ANALYTICS

Clara was the founding Product Manager for Plaid Forecast and was previously an Analytics Architect at Plaid. Prior to Plaid, she spent the last few years in higher education focusing on project management and supporting the implementation of cloud-based enterprise resource planning software (Workday). Areas of focus included training strategy and development, creation and management of dashboards, databases and data analysis, and configuration of project management tools. Clara’s education includes a Bachelor's Degree from Simon Fraser University in Business and Interactive Arts & Technology, and a Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Her continuing education has included courses in data analytics, statistical programming and project management.

Alice Zhang

USER INTERFACE DESIGNER

Alice is a UX Designer/Developer working mainly with web design and development, with an interest in educational technology, user interface design, and web development frameworks. Alice is a graduate of the School of Interactive Arts + Technology at Simon Fraser University.

Anya Goldin

RESEARCH & POLICY ANALYST

Anya worked on a series of research projects while at Plaid, and has since moved into a role in animal welfare.

Bhavya Anand

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE CONSULTANT

Bhavya supported Plaid with a wealth of experience in business strategy, analytics, and marketing ranging across financial services, digital assets, and modern agriculture, and has a passion for helping educational institutions use data strategically. Bhavya completed a master's degree at Western University and a bachelor's degree information technology Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in India.

Dorothy Paukste

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

Dorothy is a project management consultant with over 20 years of experience managing enterprise implementation projects at organizations such as the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and Langara College.

Katrina Bailey

PROJECT & OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Katrina holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. After a year with Plaid, Katrina is now an Emergency Nurse at Vancouver General Hospital's Emergency Department.

Lynne Jamieson

CHANGE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

Lynne has 20 years of experience in administration, finance, teaching, and managing change in higher education to the Plaid team. Lynne holds a master's degree from Simon Fraser University and two bachelor's degrees from Queen's University, both in Canada. After two years with Plaid, Lynne has launched her own business, Your Organizing Partner.

Making data make sense