The Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Asma-na-hi Antoine as Director, Indigenous Research. This new role aims to help strengthen research governance, ethics, protocols and training in support of the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan.
Dr. Antoine is from the Toquaht Nation of Nuu-chah-nulth lands and the Saik’uz First Nation of Carrier Sekani Lands. She holds a doctoral degree in Educational Theory & Practice from Simon Fraser University.
As director, Dr. Antoine will provide strategic leadership in the VPRI portfolio for Indigenous research at UBC Vancouver by establishing and leading a framework that supports respectful, reciprocal partnerships between Indigenous communities, collectives, organizations and UBC researchers. She will develop the vision and operating model and provide strategic and operational leadership across the research lifecycle, including support for Indigenous-engaged research projects.
The role will strengthen linkages across existing UBC support units and services, serve as VPRI’s lead advisor on Indigenous research practices, Indigenous data governance and Indigenous research enablement, and lead the transformation of the Indigenous Research Support Initiative. The director will work closely with units across UBC Vancouver — aligning with the VP Academic & Provost’s Office, Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives, First Nations House of Learning, the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, Office of Research Ethics, and faculty Indigenous initiatives— and with the Office of the Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation at UBC Okanagan.
Dr. Antoine brings more than 20 years of experience advancing Indigenous-focused and Indigenous-engaged research in post-secondary institutions. She currently serves as Indigenous Research Project Officer at UBC, where she has led initiatives to strengthen Indigenous research ethics processes, and previously served as Director, Indigenous Engagement at Royal Roads University, providing executive leadership on Indigenization and Indigenous research governance.
Her appointment reinforces UBC’s commitment to research excellence grounded in Indigenous partnership, respect, and shared knowledge creation.