Vancouver, BC — Mitacs announced the appointment of Diane Gray as the chair of the organization’s board of directors. Gray replaces outgoing chair Brad Bennett, who was in the position since 2011.
Bennett served on the Mitacs board of directors and as its chair since 2011. He is the president of McIntosh Properties, a real estate and investment company. Bennett serves on a number of public and private company boards and was recently announced as the chair of the BC Hydro board of directors.
Gray is the founding president and CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc., Canada’s first tri-modal inland port and foreign trade zone that encompasses 20,000 acres in Winnipeg. She previously worked as Deputy Minister of Finance, Deputy Minister of Federal–Provincial and International Relations, and Deputy Minister of Trade — all for the Province of Manitoba.
Gray has been on Mitacs’ board of directors since 2011. She is chair of Manitoba Film and Music, and serves on the boards of the Manitoba Technology Accelerator, World Trade Centre Winnipeg, Canada West Foundation, and the Public Policy Forum of Canada.
Quotes:
Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director, Mitacs
“It’s been a privilege working with Brad Bennett over the past five years. His advice, guidance, and leadership have been essential to our mandate. Now, we are honoured to have Diane Gray take over the role as chair of Mitacs’ board of directors. Through her professional activities and board experience she demonstrates strong leadership, commitment to public service, and the ability to engage those around her.”
Diane Gray, Chair of Board of Directors, Mitacs
“I’m excited to be leading Mitacs, particularly as we release a new strategic plan that illustrates how we will continue to drive innovation in business, foster strong communities, and develop and deploy talent for Canada’s long-term health and prosperity.”
Quick facts:
- Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for 16 years.
- Working with 60 universities, thousands of companies, and both federal and provincial governments, Mitacs builds partnerships that support industrial and social innovation in Canada.
- Open to all disciplines and all industry sectors, projects can span a wide range of areas, including manufacturing, business processes, IT, social sciences, design, and more.
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Photo: Alejandro Adem with Brad Bennett and Diane Gray.
