Sue Dando (pictured), the executive in charge of production for The Nature of Things, will be retiring from CBC after 38 years next month.

Dando, who has been the executive in charge of production on the pubcaster’s science and nature series since 2012, joined CBC in 1987 as a current affairs writer, producer and director before moving to long-form storytelling. From 2001 to 2011 she was the executive producer of CBC’s documentary unit. Her last day at CBC is March 31.

Dando executive produced many documentaries for CBC, including the 2011 International Emmy-winning Haiti’s Orphans: One Year After the Earthquake, the 1995 Hot Docs Award-winning Through These Eyes and the Gemini-winning doc series 2006’s China Rises and 2011’s Africa on the Move.

As part of Dando’s retirement, other members of CBC’s documentary team are seeing their responsibilities shifted. Lesley Birchard has been appointed the executive in charge of production for The Nature of Things. Lucius Dechausay is taking Birchard’s previous role of executive in charge of production for CBC Docs, in which he will oversee the Short Docs program and other special projects. Dechausay’s previous role was senior producer, unscripted video team, overseeing video production for Q, Commotion, CBC Arts and CBC Life.

According to a CBC spokesperson, Birchard’s focus on The Nature of Things has been increasing over the past three years, overseeing several films for The Nature of Things and supporting its digital transition. Meanwhile, Dechausay has been transitioning to the CBC Docs program since November 2024. As the pair are taking on new roles in CBC’s unscripted programming team, the broadcaster will be posting a new role in the coming weeks.

Image courtesy of CBC; photo by George Pimentel Photography