The Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) has named Kim Furlong its new CEO, replacing Mike Woollatt, now the director of strategic partnerships at OMERS Platform Investments. Furlong brings a combined background in business and politics. She spent the last decade leading external affairs for Amgen Canada. Previously, she was Vice President Federal Government Relations for the Retail Council of Canada from 2006 to 2008, and prior to that, she spent four years in the Department of Foreign Affairs, where she held various communication roles. Furlong is a member of the multi-partisan action committee Equal Voice, which seeks to promote the election of women to every level of government. She also sits on the advisory board for Canada2020, a progressive think tank. Furlong joins CVCA during a period when venture capital investments in Canada are rising, and when ICT companies and later-stage companies are taking a greater share of the investments.