Vanessa Lloyd Appointed Interim Leader of CSIS, Marking Historic First for the Ageny
For the first time in its 40-year history, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) will be led by a woman, albeit temporarily. Vanessa Lloyd has been appointed to lead the agency for a six-month term or until a new director is appointed, the federal government announced on Friday.
Lloyd, a CSIS veteran, joined the service as an intelligence officer in 1998. Recently, she served as the deputy director of operations, overseeing human intelligence collection, intelligence analysis, security screening, and threat reduction efforts.
“Over the last decade, Ms. Lloyd has led a number of initiatives to increase operational capacity at CSIS and promote a culture of innovation, candour, and compliance within the organization’s operational directorate,” the government’s statement noted.
Lloyd’s appointment comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for CSIS, which has faced significant challenges related to foreign interference by the Chinese and Indian governments. The agency’s responses to these threats have been questioned, with recent reports highlighting clashes between CSIS and the prime minister’s national security adviser regarding foreign interference.
David Vigneault, the outgoing CSIS director, announced his resignation earlier this month after seven years of service. During his tenure, Vigneault dealt with the fallout from allegations of rape and harassment linked to CSIS’s British Columbia office, as well as the challenges posed by new threats affecting the agency’s recruitment and budget.
Lloyd will also oversee the implementation of Bill C-70, a new federal bill aimed at combating foreign interference. The legislation, passed in June, updates how CSIS applies for warrants, changes the rules on who the agency can brief, and launches a foreign influence transparency registry.
As Lloyd steps into her interim role, she faces the daunting task of steering CSIS through a period of intense