Science,
Technology
and Innovation
Council
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Biographical Notes
Members
Chair
Howard Alper is a respected member of the science community both internationally and domestically. He is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Ottawa where his research spans organic and inorganic chemistry, with potential applications in the pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and commodity chemical industries. Dr. Alper has served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Council of Canadian Academies and on private-sector boards. Major awards to Dr. Alper include the Alcan Award for Inorganic Chemistry (1986), the Bader Award for Organic Chemistry (1990), and the Steacie Award for Chemistry (1993). The Chemical Institute of Canada has presented Dr. Alper with the Catalysis Award (1984), the Montreal Medal (2003), and the CIC Medal (1997), its highest honour. He also received the Urgel Archambault Prize (ACFAS) in physical sciences and engineering. In 2000, the Governor General of Canada presented him with the first Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal in Science and Engineering, the most prestigious award in Canada for science and engineering. Dr. Alper is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He has 500 publications and 37 patents.
Members
Dr. Bellini is Chairman, President and CEO of BELLUS Health, a global health company engaged in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical activities. Dr. Bellini is also Chairman of Picchio International, Picchio Pharma and Prognomix — all companies involved in healthcare. Prior to this, Dr. Bellini was Chairman and CEO of BioChem Pharma an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on infectious diseases and cancer, which he co-founded in 1986. From 1968 to 1984, he had a fruitful career as a researcher at the Canadian subsidiary of a multinational pharmaceutical company. In 1984, Dr. Bellini established the Biochemicals Division of the Institut Armand-Frappier at the Université du Québec, which specializes in research, manufacturing and the commercialization of fine chemicals. Dr. Bellini is also a member of the Molson-Coors Brewery Co Board of Directors. Born in 1947 in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Dr. Bellini came to Canada in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola College (now Concordia University) in 1972 and his Doctorate in organic chemistry from University of New Brunswick in 1977. He is the author or co-author of some 25 patents and has published numerous articles and papers based on his research.
Mr. Eric Bergeron has 18 years of global international management experience in high-tech industries, including business development, sales, technology and finance. He is the Founder of Optosecurity Inc., a venture-funded company that develops breakthrough security products for the Transportation and Critical Infrastructure markets. Prior to starting Optosecurity in 2003, Mr. Bergeron worked for venture capital fund Innovatech Québec, and for US-headquartered Invertix Corporation, where he held the position of Vice President and General Manager - Europe, based in Den Haag, Netherlands. Before that, Mr. Bergeron served as General Manager at encryption software vendor ZKS Inc., and worked for three years at international wireless operator TIW Inc. Mr. Bergeron began his career at Bell Canada, spending eight years in various management positions. He has served on several private sector boards, and is currently board member of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI). He is a member of the IEEE and the Quebec Order of Professional Engineers (OIQ). Mr. Bergeron holds a B.A.Sc. in Engineering Physics from Laval University, a M.Sc. in Telecommunications from the University of Quebec, and has completed a research internship at the École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications (Paris, France).
Mr. Richard Dicerni was appointed Deputy Minister of Industry Canada in May 2006. Prior to his appointment, he was a Partner at Mercer Delta Canada (2005 to 2006) and Senior Vice President, Corporate and Environmental Affairs, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary, then Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Power Generation Inc. (1997 to 2005). Mr. Dicerni is a former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Newspaper Association (1996 to 1997). He also held several senior positions at the Government of Ontario serving as Deputy Minister, Education and Training, Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Affairs (1995 to 1996), and Deputy Minister, Environment and Energy and member of the Board of Directors of Ontario Hydro (1992 to 1995). From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Dicerni was Deputy Secretary Public Affairs, Federal-Provincial Relations Office. Prior to this, he held the posts of Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Health and Welfare Canada (1990 - 1991) and Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Policy and Assistant Deputy Minister, Citizenship (1981 to 1989). From 1969 to 1980, Mr. Dicerni held various executive positions within the Public Service. Mr. Dicerni holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Université de Montréal, and a Masters of Public Administration Degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
After completing an M.Sc. in physical oceanography at UBC in 1975, Mr. Fissel worked as a research oceanographer at the Institute of Ocean Sciences of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in Sidney B.C. In 1977, Mr. Fissel co-founded ASL Environmental Sciences, and became President in 1982. Mr. Fissel has been based in ASL's Sidney BC office except for five years (1986-1991) when he managed ASL's office in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Since starting ASL in 1977, Mr. Fissel has managed approximately 240 oceanographic projects, involving studies of ocean currents, waves, and sea-ice in various parts of all three oceans bordering Canada as well as projects in the United States, Russia, West Africa, Kazakhstan and South America. Most of these projects involved input to the design of offshore oil and gas facilities, port development, or environmental assessment and monitoring for coastal and deepwater developments. Mr. Fissel has co-authored 22 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and 40 scientific conference papers as well as many reports. He also established a successful Product Division which manufactures oceanographic instruments sold to research labs and universities in Canada, the United States and overseas. Mr. Fissel has served on the Board of several industry associations and business community groups. He is presently on the Board of Ocean Industries BC, Ocean Innovative Systems Inc. and the Canadian Ocean Glider Foundation as well as a member of DFO's National Science Advisory Council.
Mr. Peter MacKinnon is President of the University of Saskatchewan (1999 - present). He previously served the University as Dean of Law and Acting Vice-President (Academic). His academic work includes teaching, primarily in criminal law and evidence and the publication of 25 articles and commentaries in law journals in Canada and abroad. Mr. MacKinnon is also a co-editor of three books. He served a two-year term as Chair for the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and previously served as President of the Canadian Association of Law Teachers in 1981-1982, and as President of the Council of Canadian Law Deans in 1994-1995. Mr. MacKinnon is a member of several public and private sector boards, and he received the 2005 Award for Distinguished Service from the Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan Branch). Educated at the University of Saskatchewan, Queen's and Dalhousie, Mr. MacKinnon articled in Kingston and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1975 and to the Law Society of Saskatchewan in 1979. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1990. He was a bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan for ten years and twice served on its executive committee.
Dr. Terry Matthews is the non-executive Chairman of a number of technology companies including Mitel Corporation, March Networks Corporation, DragonWave Corporation, Newport Networks and Solace Systems. In 1972 Matthews co-founded his first technology company, Mitel Corporation. He is today the non-executive Chairman of the company. Prior to joining Bridgewater, he served as CEO and Chairman of Newbridge Networks Corporation, a company he founded in 1986. Matthews holds an honours degree in electronics from the University of Wales, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers and of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Matthews is also the founder of Wesley Clover, an early-stage technology venture capital firm with offices in Canada, the USA and the United Kingdom.
Marie-Lucie Morin was appointed National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet on November 17, 2008. From April 2006 to November 2008, she served as Deputy Minister of International Trade and from December 2003 to April 2006, as Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Prior to this appointment, she held the post of Assistant Deputy Minister, International Business, and Chief Trade Commissioner. She also held the position of Director General, International Business Development, Policy and Planning, from September 2001 to September 2003. Mrs. Morin has extensive experience abroad, acquired during postings to San Francisco (1981-84), Jakarta (1984-86), London (1986-90) and Moscow (1994-97). In 1997, she was appointed as Canada's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Iceland, a position she held until her return to Ottawa in September 2001. Mrs. Morin was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, in 1957. She attended the Collège de Sherbrooke and the Université de Sherbrooke, graduating with her Licentiate in Laws. In 1980, she was admitted to the Barreau du Québec.
Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum is the 16th Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University. She is a member of McGill's Faculty of Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Dr. Munroe Blum is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Specially Elected Fellow in the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada. In addition to other distinctions and awards, she has received honorary degrees from several universities. Prior to assuming the position of Principal at McGill, Dr. Munroe Blum served at the University of Toronto as a Professor, a Governor and as Vice-President, Research and International Relations (1994 to 2002). Before that, she served as the Dean of Social Work. She has also been a professor at York University and McMaster University. Dr. Munroe-Blum has served on numerous domestic and international government commissions and advisory councils, foundations and institutes addressing issues related to science, technology, research, university education and health. Active in her community, Dr. Munroe-Blum serves or has served on numerous boards, including the Medical Research Council of Canada, Genome Canada, Hydro One, the McGill University Health Center (MUHC), the Jewish General Hospital (Montreal), la Chambre de commerce de Montréal, Visible Genetics, Four Seasons Hotels, Neurosciences Canada, the Yellow Pages Group and Alcan. Dr. Munroe-Blum holds a Ph.D. with Distinction in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mr. David O'Brien is Chairman of the Board of EnCana and Chairman of the Board of the Royal Bank of Canada. He is a director of Molson Coors Brewing Company and TransCanada Corporation. Mr. O'Brien is also a director of Focus Energy Trust, the E & P Management Partnership (a private energy investment company) and Spur Resources Ltd. (a private exploration company). In the not-for-profit sector, Mr. O'Brien is a director of the C.D. Howe Institute and Chancellor of Concordia University. He was Chairman of the Board since 1990 and interim Chief Executive Officer of PanCanadian Energy Corporation from October 2001 to April 2002 when it merged with Alberta Energy Company Ltd. to form EnCana. Mr. O'Brien was the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific Limited (energy, hotels, and transportation) from May 1996 to October 2001.
Mr. J. Robert S. Prichard is the President and CEO of Metrolinx. He is also past President and Chief Executive Officer of Torstar Corporation and President Emeritus of the University of Toronto where he previously served as dean of law and as a professor specializing in law and economics. Mr. Prichard is a director of Bank of Montreal, Onex Corporation and George Weston Ltd. He also serves as Vice-Chair of Canada's Science, Technology and Innovation Council, Chairman of the Visiting Committee of Harvard Law School and a director of the Toronto Community Foundation.
Mr. Prichard studied honours economics at Swarthmore College, received his MBA from the University of Chicago and earned law degrees at the University of Toronto and Yale University. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Member of the Order of Ontario and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
Mr. Morris Rosenberg was appointed Deputy Minister of Health in December 2004. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Rosenberg served as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada from July 1998 to December 2004. Mr. Rosenberg began his public service career with the Department of Justice in 1979. From 1989 to 1993 he served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Affairs and Legislative Policy in the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. From 1993 to 1996, he served as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Economic and Regional Development Policy, at the Privy Council Office. He was appointed Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations) in 1996. As Deputy Minister of Justice he was responsible for managing a department of 5,000 people which is responsible for all legal service to the government of Canada and for the development of policy in areas including criminal justice, international law, anti-terrorism, aboriginal justice, national security and access to justice. Mr. Rosenberg holds a B.A. from McGill University, a LL.L. from the Université de Montréal and a LL.M. from Harvard University.
Dr. Guy Rouleau, MD, PhD, FRCP(C), OQ is the Canada Research Chair in Genetics of the Nervous System, and is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Université de Montréal. He is also Director of the Research Centre at Saint-Justine Hospital and the Centre for excellence in neuromics of the Université de Montréal. Over the past 18 years, his work has focused on understanding the genetic basis for diseases of the brain. Specifically, he has mapped over 20 disease loci, and significantly contributed to the identification of over 10 gene-causing diseases, as well as to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of numerous diseases.
Dr. Sam Shaw is President and CEO of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (1997-present), one of the country's leading technical institutes. The former President of Keewatin Community College and Vice-President Academic for the Michener Institute is a long-time educator including instructor at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta. Dr. Shaw was named Alberta Venture magazine 2004 Business Person of the Year and received the 2005 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VIII. The former physiology researcher makes time to write for various business and industry publications including a monthly technology column - Technology in Action - and contributes to charitable causes such as Kids with Cancer Society and STARS. Dr. Shaw holds a BA from Chaminade College of Honolulu, a M.Sc. from Dalhousie University and a M.Ed. and PhD from the University of Toronto. He recently earned his Chartered Director designation from McMaster University and the Conference Board of Canada.
Dr. Molly Shoichet holds the NSERC Canada Research Chair in Tissue Engineering and is Professor of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. She is an expert in the study of Polymers for Regeneration which are materials that promote healing in the body. Dr. Shoichet's laboratory has numerous patents (published and pending) on drug delivery and scaffold design. She has founded two spin-off companies from her laboratory. Before being recruited to the University of Toronto in 1995, Dr. Shoichet worked at CytoTherapeutics Inc. on encapsulated cell therapy. Dr. Shoichet is the recipient of such prestigious distinctions as NSERC's Steacie Fellowship, CIHR's Young Explorer's Award (to the top 20 scientists under 40 in Canada), CSChE's Syncrude Innovation Award, Canada's Top 40 under 40 and the Royal Society of Canada's Rutherford Memorial Award. Dr. Shoichet received her S.B. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Chemistry (1987) and her Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in Polymer Science and Engineering (1992). She has published over 290 papers, patents and abstracts.
Dr. Ulieru holds the NSERC Canada Research Chair in Adaptive Information Infrastructures for the e-Society at the University of New Brunswick where she founded and directs the Adaptive Risk Management Lab - an international leading centre for research and innovation in the design of holistic security ecosystems and resilient information infrastructures that link critical infrastructures. A frequent keynote speaker and distinguished visiting professor internationally, Dr. Ulieru is founder and leads and liaises among several national and international initiatives and has appointments on science and technology executive boards, advisory panels, technical committees, working groups and professional organizations. Dr. Ulieru founded the international Industrial Informatics (INDIN) research community, which she established as member of the governing board of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society. In1998 she was awarded the Junior Nortel Chair at the University of Calgary where she founded the Emergent Information Systems Laboratory as well as the Canadian GAIN (Global Agents Integration Network) that joined the research efforts of 19 Universities and Research Institutes working together with the industry to develop information technologies supporting inter-organizational coordination. She led the Canadian Team on the international IMS Project PABADIS (2002-2005), founded the Industrial Agents Committee within IEEE (2002) and has appointments on the Science and Engineering Research Council of Singapore, Scientific Council of the European Union Network of Excellence, the Center for Digital Ecosystems Australia and as Industry Track Co-Chair for the novel 'BIONETICS' community aiming to deploy into useful products the latest advances in communications networks research to solve critical problems faced by mankind today. She was member of the NSERC International Strategy Advisory Panel and Strategic Projects Review Panel on Safety and Security, the Washington Council of Competitiveness and the NSF Cyber-Systems Review Panel.
Dr. Harvey Weingarten is seventh President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary. He has introduced major initiatives to enhance the student experience, to accelerate research momentum, and to launch the University into a $1.5-billion capital expansion program. A distinguished scholar and researcher in the fields of psychology and medicine, Dr. Weingarten came to the University of Calgary from McMaster University, where he served as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) from 1996 to 2001. He joined McMaster University as a member of the faculty in 1979, and went on to become Chair of that university's Department of Psychology in 1989, full professor in 1990, and Dean of McMaster University's Faculty of Science in 1995. He was the Honorary President of the Canadian Psychological Association for 2002-2003. He currently serves on numerous boards including Alberta Ingenuity, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). A native of Montreal, Dr. Weingarten holds a BSc from McGill University, and an MSc, MPhil, and PhD from Yale University.
Mr. Rob Wildeboer, 47, resides in Milton, Ontario. He is the Executive Chairman and co-founder of Martinrea International Inc., a leading Canadian auto parts supplier, specializing in automotive fluid systems and metal forming products, with leading edge expertise in hydroforming, hot stamping, stamping, laser trimming and welding. Prior to joining Martinrea as a full-time executive, Mr. Wildeboer was a partner of Wildeboer Dellece LLP, a law firm that practices corporate, securities and tax law that he co-founded in 1993. The law firm has been involved in a wide variety of technology based transactions, and Mr. Wildeboer has represented or has been involved in financing many innovative and technology based companies including; Research in Motion, Open Text, Descartes Systems, MKS, Royal Laser Tech and others. Prior to that, Mr. Wildeboer had been a lawyer with Stikeman, Elliott; an associate professor of law at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he taught corporate law and corporate finance; and a regulator with the Ontario Securities Commission. For part of 2000, Mr. Wildeboer was Executive Vice-President and Special Counsel to the Chairman of Magna International Inc. He has also been Vice-Chairman of Aecon Group Inc., now Canada's largest public infrastructure company, since 1993; is a director and Vice-Chairman of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA); is a director of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Counsel (CAPC); and is and has been a director of numerous private corporations and charitable organizations. Mr. Wildeboer holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph, a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, an MBA from York University and an LLM from Harvard University.
