Tanya Chute Nagy, as of July 1, 2025, becomes the new  President and Chief Executive Officer of CanPKU+. During this period of internal transition, she will also continue her role as Vice President and COO while the organization reviews and reorganizes certain operational structures, a position she has led with distinction since 2017.

Tanya’s dedication to CanPKU+ and the rare metabolic disorder community spans more than a decade. Her connection to PKU became personal in May 2010 with the birth of her son, Jacob. Born more than three months premature, Jacob’s diagnosis with PKU added another layer of complexity to an already fragile start. This life-changing experience inspired Tanya to become deeply involved in supporting families like hers.

She began volunteering with CanPKU+ soon after, first serving as Secretary before joining the executive team. Over the years, Tanya has taken on countless roles—newsletter editor, camp director, event coordinator, website designer, and membership coordinator—demonstrating unwavering dedication and versatility.

As Vice President and COO, Tanya helped lead a number of transformative initiatives that continue to shape the organization’s identity today. She safeguarded and modernized legacy programs like the Starter Kits and educational events, reimagined the annual Walkathon into the vibrant Spare for Rare campaign, launched the Drive to Thrive program, and was the driving force behind the creation of CanPKU+’s beloved summer camp.

Her leadership also helped turn a quiet promise into meaningful action. While attending rare disease and metabolic conferences representing CanPKU+ and the PKU community, Tanya noticed a glaring absence of support groups for other similarly treated disorders—such as HCU, MSUD, and UCDs—within Canada. In conversations with the board and through her thoughtful leadership, she helped move the organization from extending a welcome mat to opening the door wide. What had once been symbolic—“and Allied Disorders”—became substantive. With the support of the board, the mission of CanPKU+ expanded to include these conditions more prominently, and Tanya continues to prioritize this area as one deserving of deeper engagement and stronger representation.

Most recently, Tanya has led the planning and execution of Building Bridges, the organization’s first-ever national conference. Taking place in August 2025 in Calgary, Alberta, this gathering will bring together patients, clinicians, researchers, and industry professionals—fostering much-needed connection, knowledge exchange, and collaboration across the rare metabolic landscape.

Tanya’s leadership is characterized by compassion, vision, and a deep commitment to inclusion. Her lived experience and innovative thinking have helped shape CanPKU+ into a thriving, community-focused organization—one that truly puts the “plus” in its name.