Natalie E. Dakers Appointed to Board of Directors of Canada Foundation for Innovation

OTTAWA, June 24, 2008 — The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), today appointed Ms. Natalie E. Dakers to the Board of the Foundation.

"I am very pleased to welcome Ms. Dakers to the CFI, and we look forward to her contribution to the Board," said Minister Prentice. "There is no doubt that her insights and experience will be very valuable in helping to guide the CFI in the years ahead."

Ms. Dakers is a leading figure in the life sciences industry, with extensive experience in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

In 2005, she co-founded the Centre for Drug Research and Development, where she currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. She is also an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia.

Ms. Dakers currently serves on a number of boards and councils, including the Council of Canadian Academies' Expert Panel on Private Sector Innovation, Genome Canada, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and Genome BC.

Ms. Dakers holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Guelph.

The CFI is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and not-for-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Deirdra McCracken
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502