November 3, 2025—The Educational Collaborative Network of Ontario (ECNO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anthony Fields, MBA, PMP as its incoming Executive Director, effective November 3, 2025. Fields succeeds Wayne Toms, who will retire on December 31, 2025.
Fields brings more than 15 years of executive IT leadership experience in Ontario’s public education sector, including roles as Senior Director & CIO at Loyalist College and Senior Manager of Technical Support Services at Fanshawe College. His career has been defined by strategic innovation, cybersecurity advancement, and collaborative governance — all aligned with improving outcomes for students and educators.
“The board is very excited to welcome Anthony to the ECNO ED role,” said Brian McKay, Associate Director, Corporate Services at Lambton Kent District School Board and Chair of ECNO’s Board of Directors. “He joins ECNO at an important time for our organization and the Ontario K-12 sector. As the sector faces numerous challenges and opportunities, Anthony will position and lead ECNO as a key partner for Ontario school boards. I look forward to supporting him in his leadership role that will positively impact Ontario school boards and over two million Ontario K-12 students.”
Fields’ appointment follows a strong response to ECNO’s job posting and a rigorous recruitment process led by the Board of Directors. His proven ability to align technology strategies with academic priorities, lead multi-million-dollar modernization initiatives, and foster inclusive, high-performing teams made him a standout candidate.
“I am thrilled to be joining ECNO at such an exciting and important time for Ontario’s education sector,” said Anthony Fields. “The collaboration, innovation, and commitment that ECNO brings to supporting school boards make a real difference in classrooms and communities every day, helping to shape a stronger, more connected and future-ready education system. I am excited to begin working with the team and our members to keep driving that positive change forward.”
Fields holds an MBA in Innovation Leadership, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, and multiple credentials in IT governance, cybersecurity, and change management. He has served as Chair of the Ontario College Council of CIOs and is an active volunteer with community organizations.
As ECNO enters a new strategic phase and is soon to launch a bold new 2026-2028 strategic plan, Fields will lead efforts to strengthen financial stewardship, enhance service delivery in cybersecurity and digital transformation, strengthen opportunities to support members, and ensure ECNO remains a trusted partner to Ontario’s 76 school boards.
“We encourage our members to join ECNO’s Annual General Meeting on December 4, 2025 at 9:00am to meet Anthony in-person or online,” said McKay.
Wayne Toms retiring after 40 year career in ed-tech
Fields will work closely with Wayne Toms and the Board over the next two months to connect with ECNO members and partners to ensure a seamless transition before Toms concludes his term at the end of the year.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Wayne for his outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to ECNO and Ontario’s K-12 education sector,” said McKay. “Wayne has been instrumental in guiding ECNO through a period of significant growth and transformation—always with a caring, respectful approach to working with others. We wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement and thank him for his many years of dedicated service.”