Genome Alberta welcomes Jay Cross, Donald Nkrumah, and Gordon Giles to our Board of Directors
Genome Alberta is pleased to welcome three new members to the Board of Directors. These inspirational leaders bring a range of expertise in animal and human health and forestry as well as their perspectives from private, not-for-profit and academic sectors.
Genome Alberta’s Board provides governance oversight, guidance for strategic direction and ensures the organization is advancing its mission to promote and support genomics solutions for end-users’ needs to create value and investment opportunities through excellent science, technology and application development, collaborations and partnerships.
The new Directors are appointed for a three-year term beginning on June 27, 2023.
“Alberta is still in the early days of realizing the power of genomics technologies to drive economic and societal benefits. As we set our course to expand this potential in Alberta we are delighted to welcome Jay, Gordon, and Donald and the new insights they bring that will help to shape our strategic direction for the future.”
Oryssia Lennie, Board Chair, Genome Alberta
“Genome Alberta has been an integral partner in Alberta’s innovation ecosystem for close to 20 years. Through the direction and sound advice of our Board of Directors, we have made a big impact for the province already, by advancing technology, creating jobs and opening new doors for key sectors of our economy. I look forward to building on these achievements and extend a warm welcome to Jay, Donald and Gordon.”
David Bailey, President & CEO, Genome Alberta
Meet Genome Alberta’s new Board members
Jay is a scientist, veterinarian, and rancher in the foothills of Alberta. He is internationally recognized for his work in the areas of developmental genetics and reproductive biology in animal and human health. He is a professor of molecular genetics at the University of Calgary and currently serves as Past-President for the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Over his career Jay has received a number of honours including Research Scientist of the Research Scientist of the Year, Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Canada) and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Jay also brings experience from a number of advisory boards and committees such as the Alberta Prion Research Institute and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
As a registered professional forester, Gordon is a passionate advocate for sustainable forestry and the role of innovation in shaping the future of the industry. He currently leads the business development portfolio at Alberta Pacific Forest Industries (Al-Pac) and sits as the current President of the Alberta Chamber of Resources. He has extensive experience with forest sector innovation and has led programs at Alberta Innovates to diversify use of forest and biomass materials for economic development in traditional and non-traditional markets. Gordon has also represented Alberta forest sector interests nationally and internationally in various capacities including as expert witness and coordinator of Alberta’s legal defense in the long-running Softwood Lumber Dispute between Canada and the United States.
Donald brings over 20 years of public and private sector research and leadership experience in livestock technology development and commercialization in the agricultural biotechnology sector. He has extensive background in animal genetics and nutrition and currently has responsibility for the Animal Nutrition Solutions portfolio as Senior Program Officer with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Donald also has a long history and experience in developing and bringing new livestock genetic solutions to market and in the commercial scaling up of technology delivery. He earned his PhD in Animal Science from the University of Alberta and has an MBA in Integrated Management from Michigan State University.
We would also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Board member Lisa Crossley for her leadership and advice. Lisa completed her term in June.
Meet our full Board of Directors
About Genome Alberta
Genome Alberta is a publicly funded not-for profit corporation which invests primarily in large-scale genome sciences research projects and technology platforms focused on areas of strategic importance to the province (human health, forestry, plant and animal agriculture, energy, and environment). By working collaboratively with all levels of government, universities, and industry, Genome Alberta is a catalyst for a strong life sciences sector with social and economic benefits for Alberta and for Canada.
