L-R: Matt Varey, Martin Thibodeau, Royal Bank of Canada Regional President, British Columbia, and Dave Prowten, former Breakthrough T1D Canada President and CEO
Matt Varey, the newly elected Vice Chair of the Breakthrough T1D International Board of Directors (IBOD), brings a global voice as the first Canadian and the first person outside of the U.S. to serve in the role.
Matt, a senior executive at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), began volunteering with Breakthrough T1D Canada in 2001. Since then, he has served on Breakthrough T1D’s International Board of Directors and as Chair of the Board of Breakthrough T1D Canada.
He resides with his wife, Dr. Andrea Jack, in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Breakthrough T1D sat down with Matt to learn more about his volunteer journey and unique global perspective.
What led you to start volunteering for Breakthrough T1D?
In 2001, I returned to Canada from professional commitments abroad and witnessed colleagues and personal friends whose lives were affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D). I couldn’t just stand by and watch; I had to do anything I could to support them—not just on a personal level but also in a broader capacity. At that time, RBC started a coast-to-coast initiative with Breakthrough T1D Canada, and I recognized I had new ways to make a difference. That started this purposeful journey I have been on with Breakthrough T1D.
What are some of the roles have you had within the organization?
My first involvement with Breakthrough T1D was as a rider in the 2001 Breakthrough T1D Toronto Ride for a Cure. That led to my joining the Toronto Ride cabinet with other business leaders and, later, my becoming Chair of the Breakthrough T1D Ride.
In 2008, I was appointed a Board Member of Breakthrough T1D Canada. From 2014 to 2016, I served as the Chair of Breakthrough T1D Canada. To this date, I remain on the Board of Breakthrough T1D Canada, having taken on different mandates, including Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and Chair of the Investment Committee.
Since 2016, I have been a Board member of Breakthrough T1D International, serving in various capacities, including member of the Breakthrough T1D International Finance Committee and Chair of the Breakthrough T1D International Audit and Risk Committee.
Do any of your experiences at Breakthrough T1D Canada stand out?
Every moment supporting this meaningful mission is special, and one of the highlights was my role as Chair of Breakthrough T1D Canada from 2014 to 2016. I was directly involved in the purposeful journey of making a difference for over 350,000 Canadians living with T1D, stewarding this cause for Breakthrough T1D Canada as a Canadian. In 2017, in conjunction with the CHIR (Canadian Health Institute Research) and our incredible team under the leadership of former President and CEO of Breakthrough T1D Canada Dave Prowten, we secured a 30-million grant from the Government of Canada to support Breakthrough T1D research and scholastic advancements in Canada.
Do you feel you will offer a unique perspective to IBOD as a person who lives in Canada?
Breakthrough T1D is a global organization on a journey of purpose. I’m excited and grateful to extend the reach of that journey. Canada is world-renowned for diabetes research and breakthroughs—the first genetically engineered human insulin was discovered and manufactured in Canada, after all! It is the responsibility of all Canadians to carry that flame of innovation and discovery, so I feel even more of an obligation as a Canadian on the Breakthrough T1D IBOD to carry that baton forward.
Why are volunteers so essential to our mission?
Grassroots volunteering is empowering and essential to the success of all nonprofit organizations. Breakthrough T1D volunteers keep us close to the cause and the people impacted by the disease—their care, passion, and dedication will help spread our purpose across the globe.
What does the future of T1D look like to you?
We have seen so much progress in recent years, and it will continue at an even faster pace. Cell therapies are an exciting focus area for Breakthrough T1D. I’m eager to see where that research takes us, particularly eliminating the need for immunosuppressant drugs.
Clinical trials show the possibilities for disease-modifying therapies to preserve beta cell function in people newly diagnosed with T1D. Today, we can delay the onset of T1D, and I’m confident tomorrow, we’ll be able to stop it! Scientists are finding ways to make insulin work smarter and work in conjunction with other drugs for better and safer disease management. There are so many ways Breakthrough T1D is improving the lives of people with T1D—treatments and therapies will continue to advance until we reach our ultimate goal: cures.
What does the future of Breakthrough T1D look like to you?
We are purposefully seeking opportunities for Breakthrough T1D to achieve more breakthrough research and facilitate diabetes education and knowledge globally. As an organization with a global reach, it is our responsibility to enable more access to research, education, and awareness in every corner of the world to help everyone understand the disease, navigate it, and support those impacted by it.
