Andrew and Pat founded Plaid Analytics to give institutions the ability and knowledge to transform their data into usable information to improve planning and decision-making and generate more accurate and insightful reports quickly and easily. Plaid has helped more than twenty-five colleges, universities, and polytechnics across North America turn complexity into clarity through analytics strategy, enrolment forecasting, and forward-thinking data integration and analytics solutions.
Plaid Analytics began as a simple idea: that higher education leaders deserve better data, better tools, to achieve better outcomes. After years working inside universities—and running into the same barriers again and again—co-founders Andrew Drinkwater and Patrick Lougheed took a leap to build a consulting firm focused on creating tools to empower decision-makers and data users across the sector. In 2023, Plaid Analytics launched Plaid Forecast, a leading platform for enrolment planning.
The Plaid Story
Plaid Analytics began not in a boardroom, but through years of friendship, shared curiosity, and hard-won experience inside higher education. Co-founders Andrew Drinkwater and Patrick (Pat) Lougheed first connected over a student hockey team at Simon Fraser University and later bonded over their shared passion for data, problem-solving, and building better systems.
After years working in post-secondary institutions—implementing Tableau, solving enrolment challenges, and constantly running into institutional limits—they found themselves asking: What do institutions really need from their information systems? If we had the time and resources, what we would change or build anew?
Their first idea of reimagining student information systems soon evolved—through honest feedback and tough love from mentors—into something more sustainable: a consulting firm focused on helping institutions harness the full potential of their data. With little more than six months of runway and a vision grounded in real-world experience, they launched Plaid Analytics.
Nearly a decade later, Plaid is still driven by that same mission: to bring efficiency, clarity, insight and possibility to the complex world of higher education data through modern tools and future-focused approaches.
Our Ideals
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.
Curiousity
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.
Who We Are
Co-founders
Andrew Drinkwater, President
Andrew is the Co-Founder and President of Plaid Analytics, specializing in strategic enrolment management, predictive analytics, and cloud and AI technologies for higher education, Andrew helps universities and colleges across North America harness data for smarter decision-making. He is also a frequent speaker and writer on AI’s impact on enrollment planning and data-driven strategy. In addition to his work at Plaid Analytics, Andrew is an adjunct professor in the Master of Engineering Leadership program at the University of British Columbia, a frequent mentor of students, and an advisor to several institutions.
Patrick Lougheed, Chief Solutions Officer
Pat has over 25 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.
Teammates
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 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, a Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies from Providence College, and a Library and Information Technology diploma from the University of the Fraser Valley.
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.
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.
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 and 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.
Partnerships
To ensure we provide our clients with the latest technology advancements and have the tools they need to work with data effectively, we work with world-leading product partners who provide platforms for those interested in improving how higher education uses data.