Person: Ben Bergen

Ben Bergen, executive director, Council of Canadian Innovators

Building a 21st Century business council
By Ben Bergen

The origin of the Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) mirrors that of a tech startup in many ways. The organization started with a serendipitous mix of faith, good luck, and a dose of chutzpah that embody so many of Canada’s prominent tech figures.

Dr John Hepburn

Dr John Hepburn has been appointed VP research at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), replacing interim VP Dr Denis Therien and Dr Pecca Sinervo who left the position last October. Hepburn begins his new duties in June once he steps down as VP research and international at the Univ of British Columbia, a…

Dr Kim Matheson

Dr Kim Matheson has been selected to head up the new Canadian Health Adaptations, Innovations & Mobilization (CHAIM) Centre at Carleton Univ. As director, Matheson will guide the multidisciplinary centre’s research into the health of Canadians in a political, cultural, social, and environmental context, along with the health legislation, policies, regulations, and health funding structures.…

Ben Bergen

Ben Bergen has been appointed executive director of the Council of Canadian Innovators, a new advocacy group dedicated to representing the interests of mid-sized tech firms and their ability to successfully scale up. Bergen was previously executive assistant to Chrystia Freeland, minister of International Trade. Prior to that, he an advisor to then Transportation minister…

Frederic Ors

Frederic Ors has been appointed CEO of Immunovaccine Inc, a Halifax-based developer of cancer immunotherapies and infectious diseases vaccines. Bergen was Immunovaccine’s chief business officer and was acting CEO for the past month. He heads the firm as it transitions from an R&D-centric firm to one focused on commercialization. Prior to joining the firm, Ors…

Stefan Leslie

Stefan Leslie has been appointed executive director of the Marine Environmental Prediction and Response (MEOPAR), replacing Neil Gall who died last January. Leslie has private and public sector experience and was previously regional director of fisheries management (Maritimes region) at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He assumes his duties April 18……..