Two New Members Appointed to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

OTTAWA, January 31, 2008 — The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), today announced the appointment of Ms. J. Diane Hébert and Dr. Suzana Kovacic to the Council.

"By investing in university students, postdoctoral fellows and university professors, NSERC helps ensure Canada's continued capability in science and technology," said Minister Prentice. "I am pleased to welcome Ms. Hébert and Dr. Kovacic to the Council as it continues to promote and grow science and engineering in Canada."

Ms. Hébert runs a private consulting practice that provides legal and related consulting services to various organizations. She previously worked for GE Commercial Finance, Equipment Financing, Canada where she held the positions of Director, Vice President Legal Affairs and Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Ms. Hébert was also employed by BCE Inc. as Corporate Counsel and Senior Legal Counsel.

Suzana Kovacic is currently a Research Associate in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University. Prior to joining the Department of Physics, she worked as a Microscopy and Imaging Consultant with the university's Institute of Health Research and Education. She was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco from 1999 to 2003 and the recipient of an NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship from 1993 to 1995.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is a federal agency mandated to make investments in people, discoveries and innovations for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency invests in people by supporting some 23 000 university students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. It promotes discovery by funding more than 11 000 university professors every year, and it helps make innovation happen by encouraging about 1300 Canadian companies to invest in university research and training. Over the past 10 years, NSERC has invested $6 billion in basic research, university-industry projects, and the training of Canada's next generation of scientists and engineers.

For more information, please contact:

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

Michael Dwyer
Media and Public Affairs Officer
NSERC Public Affairs
613-992-9001