Government of News Release

For Immediate Release May 3, 2000

"The combined list of credentials of the founding members of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Science and Engineering Research board represents an excellent balance of science, business, policy and leadership in this province. I am confident this combination of strengths and experience will help create an organization that not only supports leading edge research and innovation, but that will be well managed to ensure prosperity for future generations of Albertans." Dr. Lorne Taylor Minister of Innovation and Science

Board appointed to oversee provinces new $500 million science and engineering research foundation

EDMONTON Twelve Albertans representing science, business and industry have been appointed to serve as the founding board members of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Science and Engineering Research (AHFSER). Minister of Innovation and Science Dr. Lorne Taylor announced the appointments of the individuals who will help establish the organization that will oversee and manage the $500 million endowment fund created by the Alberta government earlier this year. The board will be chaired by Alvin Libin of , who served as the Chairman of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) until earlier this year. "Since the model for the science and engineering fund is based on the highly successful medical research fund, I believe Al is the natural choice to help establish the new fund and ensure it is equally successful," said Taylor. The AHFSER board includes six individuals nominated by and respectively representing Albertas three research universities, the Council of Board Chairs of the Public Colleges and Technical Institutes of Alberta, the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists (APPEGGA), and the Alberta Institute of Agrologists. Six other members of the board, including the chairman, are members of the public appointed by the government. A number of highly qualified individuals expressed an interest in serving on the AHFSER board, said Taylor. A private recruitment firm was used to help find and select the right mix of business leaders and people with science backgrounds to provide leadership for the organization, as well as for the research community. The members appointed to the AHFSER Board for three-year terms include: Alvin Libin (Calgary), Chair; Eric Newell (Fort McMurray), University of Alberta representative; Ted Newall (Calgary), University of Calgary representative; Jim Horsman (), University of Lethbridge representative; John Moldon (Red Cliff), Council of Board Chairs of the Public Colleges and Technical Institutes of Alberta representative; Darryl Danyluk (Calgary), APEGGA representative; Bernie Kotelko (Vegreville), Alberta Institute of Agrologists representative. Members appointed for four-year terms, include: Ron Triffo (Edmonton); Scobey Hartley (Calgary); (Debolt); Elizabeth Cannon (Calgary). Members appointed to the AHFSER Board for a two-year term include: Janice Rennie (Edmonton). Biographical information on all of the board members can be found at www.innovation.gov.ab.ca. The boards initial responsibilities will include establishing the criteria for AHFSER research grants, and hiring a president and staff to manage the new organization. The board will also establish an advisory committee of experts to review grants and make recommendations for investments of research funding. The legislation establishing the foundation and endowment fund was introduced as the flagship bill of the Spring 2000 session of the Alberta legislature, and was passed into law at the end of March. -30- For more information, contact: Val Mellesmoen - Director, Communications - (780) 415-4761 - [email protected]

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