Call for Applications for CANARIE Board of Directors

OTTAWA, June 3, 2016 /CNW/ - CANARIE, a vital component of Canada's digital infrastructure supporting research, education and innovation, today launched an open call for applications for a volunteer position on CANARIE's Board of Directors. Serving on the CANARIE Board is an opportunity to direct the evolution of a component of digital infrastructure that is critical to Canada's future in the global digital economy.

CANARIE is seeking a candidate who currently serves as a Vice President, Research at a higher education institution in Canada. This individual will provide insight and context to Board discussions regarding the changing needs of Canadian researchers, guidance that will serve to ensure alignment between CANARIE programs and the needs of the academic research community.

CANARIE is governed by an independent Board of Directors that meets four times per year. CANARIE's Board is comprised of an equal number of individuals from industry and academia, and is tasked with strategic direction, financial oversight, and policy oversight for the organization. These volunteer Directors bring a variety of skills and experience to the Board, and their backgrounds in the academic, institutional and private and public sectors ensure CANARIE's programs and services anticipate and effectively address the evolving requirements of these communities. Directors are elected for one-year renewable terms, and all Directors serve on at least one standing committee of the Board. Terms may renew for up to six years.

Candidates should be willing to represent CANARIE in the community and to use their influence to help achieve CANARIE's long-term goals.

Candidates for the Board position must be available to attend quarterly Board meetings held in different locations across Canada, attend quarterly committee teleconference calls, and dedicate a few hours per quarter to meeting preparation.

Current Vice Presidents of Research at Canadian higher education institutions who are considering the opportunity to serve on the Board should possess the following qualifications:

• senior executive and/or administrator skills;
• experience with research and development, business development and strategic planning;
• experience working with researchers, educators, governments, agencies and funders;
• interest in, or knowledge of, digital infrastructure;
• experience in organizational governance;

The specific qualifications noted above ensure that the new Director's skills complement those of current Directors, and that members of CANARIE's Board reflect our core stakeholders and the varied personal and demographic characteristics of Canadian society.

Interested individuals may apply for election as a Director by visiting the Board of Directors page on the CANARIE website and submitting the required information. Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2016.

The final candidate will be reviewed and approved by the CANARIE Board before being submitted for election by the CANARIE Members at the Annual General Meeting in September 2016.

All individuals who submit an application will be notified of the outcome of the process after the final slate of Directors has been approved by the Board and before the slate is presented to Members for election.

About CANARIE

CANARIE designs and delivers digital infrastructure, and drives its adoption for Canada's research, education and innovation communities. CANARIE keeps Canada at the forefront of digital research and innovation, fundamental to a vibrant digital economy.

CANARIE evolves the national ultra-high-speed backbone network that enables data-intensive, leading-edge research and big science across Canada and around the world. One million researchers, scientists and students at almost 2,000 Canadian institutions, including universities, colleges, research institutes, hospitals, and government laboratories have access to the CANARIE Network.

CANARIE also leads the development of research software tools that enable researchers to more quickly and easily access research data, tools, and peers. In support of Canada's ICT sector, CANARIE offers cloud computing resources to startups to accelerate product development, and links a powerful network of public and private sector partners in a Centre of Excellence for Next Generation Networks (CENGN).

Twelve provincial and territorial network partners, together with CANARIE, collectively form Canada's National Research and Education Network (NREN). This powerful digital infrastructure connects Canadians to national and global data, tools, colleagues, and classrooms that fuel the engine of innovation in today's digital economy.

Established in 1993, CANARIE is a non-profit corporation, with major investment in its programs and activities provided by the Government of Canada.

For more information, please visit: www.canarie.ca.

SOURCE CANARIE Inc.

Ela Ienzi, Communications Manager, CANARIE, [phone], [email protected]