NRC restructures executive suite, adds two VPs

The National Research Council is overhauling its executive suite, expanding the number of VPs responsible for R&D from three to five. In place of VPs for life sciences, emerging technologies and engineering, the new VP titles are food and health, environment and sustainability, emerging science and technology, intelligent systems and productivity and prosperity. No changes are planned for the Industrial Research Assistance Program. A competition has been launched to fill three of the new positions in conjunction with Boyden Global Executive Search, Purchase NY.

Dr Roman Szumski, currently VP life sciences, is staying on as VP food and health while Dr Ian Potter - whose existing title is VP engineering - will remain as VP productivity and prosperity. Dr Danial Wayner, formerly VP emerging technologies, is retiring after a 32-year career with the NRC. A recent job posting to recruit the new VPs says the rationale for the changes are "to address critical national and global challenges through initiatives such as the Factory of the Future program, advanced materials, independent living, smart cities, vaccines and biologics, lasers and adaptive optics, cyber security, printable electronics and CO2 transformation". The NRC is providing no further information on the executive restructuring at this time.

The five VP positions (excluding IRAP) and their responsibilities are:

Environment and Sustainability - green technologies to position Canada as a world leader in improving the safety, efficiency, quality and environmental sustainability of resource development (energy, mining, forestry, agriculture), urban living (waste, water, sewage) and other activities impacting land, air, water and fish, flora and fauna.

Emerging Science and Technology - develop and sustain a Canadian leadership position in science and technologies through research capabilities such as TRIUMF, Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics, a new Strategic and Applied Research and Technology (START) program for creating and developing disruptive platform technologies, and the Canadian Centre for Advanced Materials (CCAM).

Food and Health - support the development and commercialization of Canadian technologies, devices and processes associated with wellness, food/nutrition and health monitoring, diagnosis and treatment leading to healthier Canadians and reduced health care costs.

Intelligent Systems - provide the capabilities that make Canada safe and secure; technologies and products that underpin a secure and effective domestic communication system and internet of things; and systems and devices that enable independent living, next generation home care, and smart cities.

Productivity and Prosperity - technology, materials, processes, products and innovation that will lead to more effective and efficient advanced manufacturing, physical infrastructure and buildings to develop international market access and strengthen globally competitive Canadian capabilities and supply chains in manufacturing, construction, transportation, northern development and defense.

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