News Release

2007-125
September 21, 2007
For immediate release

Canada's New Government announces Appointments to Board of Directors for Assisted Human Reproduction Canada

OTTAWA - The Honourable Minister of Health Tony Clement is pleased to announce the appointment of Irene Ryll to the Board of Directors for Assisted Human Reproduction Canada for a three year term. The Minister also reappointed Dr. Joseph Ayoub, Dr. Francoise Baylis and Theresa Kennedy to the Board of Directors of the Agency for three year terms.

"This impressive group of individuals represents a wide range of experience and perspectives that will be of great benefit to the Agency," said Minister Clement. “I am confident that each will make significant contributions toward understanding the many complex issues associated with assisted human reproduction in order to help meet our responsibilities under the legislation, " said Minister Clement.

Irene Ryll has extensive personal and professional experience in the field of reproductive technologies. She received her diploma in nursing from the University of Alberta Hospitals (Edmonton) in 1983 where she also practiced as a Registered Nurse for over 10 years.
Ms. Ryll is actively involved in various related non-profit organizations, including as Coordinator and Founder of Infertility Connection Edmonton and as a board member for both the Infertility Network Canada and the Coalition for an Open Model in Assisted Reproduction.

Dr. Joseph Ayoub is a seasoned medical professional with over 40 years of experience in the field of oncology. Educated at the University of Alexandria in Egypt, Dr. Ayoub subsequently obtained his post doctorate at McGill University (Montreal). At present, he is a Hemato-Oncologist, as well as Teaching Director, at the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). He is also a full professor in the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and adjunct professor in the Department of Oncology, McGill University. Dr. Ayoub holds positions on over 20 associations and committees, including President of the Association of Medical Oncologists of Canada. He has also received many distinctions, most recently the Prix d'excellence de la Fondation du CHUM.

Dr. Francoise Baylis is a professor and ethics policy consultant in the Department of Bioethics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University (Halifax). She received her Ph.D. in Philosophy (specialization in bioethics) from the University of Western Ontario in 1989, and since then has used her knowledge of assisted human reproduction to participate as a member of the Governing Council, and co-chair of the Standing Committee on Ethics of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Dr. Baylis has published extensively and has written for, and presented to, UNESCO, the Parliament of Canada and the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies.

Theresa Kennedy is currently Vice president, Corporate Communications for ResVerlogix, a biotechnology firm in British Columbia. She was National Communications Manager for the Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network, helped launch two biotech companies and was Executive Director of the British Columbia Biotechnology Alliance. In addition, she has been engaged by a variety of national governments to provide strategic counsel on key issues including stem cell technology. Ms. Kennedy received her Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Communications from the University of Calgary in 1990.

Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (AHRC) was established in Vancouver on January 12, 2006, to administer and enforce the Assisted Human Reproduction Act which became law in March 2004. Its mandate is to protect and promote the health and safety, human dignity and human rights of Canadians who use or are born of assisted human reproduction technologies, and to foster ethical principles in relation to assisted human reproduction and other related matters under the Act.

The Board is responsible for the overall management of the Agency, including licensing of activities controlled under the Act, advising the Minister on matters relating to assisted human reproduction, and approving the Agency's goals, operational policies and budget.

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Media Enquiries:
Erik Waddell
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

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