Bioscience Education Canada Announces Major Organization Changes
October 27, 2009 by admin
Bioscience Education Canada (BEC), formerly the Canadian Biotechnology Education Resource Centre (CBERC), has announced several major organizational changes including the appointment of Dr. Alison Symington as Executive Director, a new Patrons’ Council composed of prominent members of Canada’s scientific community and three new members to its Board of Directors.
The BEC Patrons’ Council includes:
Dr. Alan Bernstein, PhD, OC – New York
Executive Director, Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise and former president, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Dr. William Cochrane, MD, OC, DSc (hon), LLD (hon) – Calgary
Director for several Canadian and American companies including Pheromone Sciences Inc., Toronto (Chair); University Technologies International Inc. and (Chair), Resverlogix Inc. (Chair) and former CEO of Connaught Laboratories
Dr. John Dirks, MD, OC – Toronto
President and Scientific Director, the Gairdner Foundation and Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Toronto
Dr. John R. Evans, MD, COC, LLD (hon) – Toronto
Chair Emeritus, MaRS Discover District and former president of the University of Toronto and chair the board of directors of Torstar Corporation and Alcan Inc.
Dr. Peter Hackett, PhD – Edmonton
Special Advisor to the Vice-president Research, University of Alberta and former Vice President of Research, National Research Council of Canada
Dr. James E. Till, PhD, OC, DSc (hon) – Toronto
Senior Scientist Emeritus at the Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital and University Professor Emeritus in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto.
“It is truly encouraging to receive the support of such respected and influential scientists in our efforts to encourage young Canadians to pursue studies and careers in Canada’s growing bioeconomy.” said Jeff Graham, Chair of BEC’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Alison Symington holds a PhD. in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Toronto. As Executive Director Dr. Symington will be responsible for all aspects of the organization’s operations. She formerly served as the Director of Programs. Prior to joining BEC, Dr. Symington taught for 10 years at Seneca College’s School of Biological Sciences and Applied Chemistry where she continues to teach on a part-time basis. Previously, she was a consultant to the biotechnology industry and a research scientist at sanofi pasteur.
The three new members of the BEC Board of Directors to be announced are:
Patrick Beaudin, Directeur General, Societe pour la promotion de la science et de la technologie (SPST) – Montreal
Susan Brooks, Senior Consultant, Eclecthink International – Saskatoon
Bob Malyk, biology teacher, Ridley College – St. Catherines
Jeff Graham expressed the BEC board’s appreciation for the contribution of former director Norm Lee, the coordinator of Manitoba’s Mindset education program. The other directors of BEC include:
John Goudey, Partner, Ernst & Young, (Treasurer) – Toronto
Dr. David Logan, Professor Emeritus, York University – Tottenham
Don McKibbin, former Director of Public Affairs, sanofi pasteur – Toronto
William Mills, Executive Director, Main Street Dartmouth & Area Business Improvement Association and former Executive Director of BioNova – Halifax
Bioscience Education Canada supports the expansion of Canada’s bioeconomy by educating students, teachers and the public about the socio-economic benefits of using biotechnology to create new drugs, novel foods, new fuels and solutions to environmental problems.
BEC delivers its programs through partnerships with such national organizations as the National Research Council, BIOTECanada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and BioTalent Canada. BEC also collaborates with regional bioscience and science outreach organizations such as the Ontario Genomics Institute, BioNova and Genome Prairie. Among the private sector organizations that have supported BEC’s programs are sanofi pasteur, Merck Frosst Canada, Monsanto and Bayer Canada.
For more information, please contact
Dr. Alison Symington
416-640-0206
alison.symington@bioscienceeducation.ca