Feds establish CSA advisory committee

The federal government has created the Advisory Committee on the Canadian Space Agency, a new body formed to provide advice on space and the priorities and overall direction of the CSA. The committee will work with interim CSA president Guy Bujold to advise Industry minister Jim Prentice on current expenditures and the potential for future investment with the view to achieving a better alignment of CSA programs with evolving priorities. Cecil Hawkins has been appointed chair of the Committee. Hawkins is CEO of Canadian Erectors Ltd and sole owner of its corporate owner Canerector Inc, a group of companies focused on steel fabrication and erection. He is joined on the committee by three members. John Banigan is a veteran of the public service and ADM at Industry Canada from 1995 until his retirement in 2003. Since that time, Banigan served as VP of Ottawa-based TACTIX Government Consulting Inc until his recent retirement to focus on volunteer work. Dr Indira Samarasekera is president of the Univ of Alberta and a member of several organizations including the Conference Board of Canada, Public Policy Forum, Canadian Health Industries Partnership, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and Association of Canadian Universities and Colleges of Canada. Dr Dafydd (Dave) Williams is an astronaut who has two space flights and one underwater mission to his credit. Between 1998 and 2002 he was director of space and life sciences directorate at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston TX….