At its October Board of Directors meeting, The University of Western Ontario Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Campus, named a new President and moved one step closer to finalizing the Park’s strategic plan.
Carolyn Jamieson, Deputy Mayor of Lambton Shores and Lambton County Councillor, will now fulfill the role of President, vacated by Dr. Nils Petersen, Vice-President (Research) UWO, who will be moving to Alberta to accept the position of Director General of the National Institute for Nanotechnology. Councillor Jamieson joined the Board earlier this summer, replacing Cam Ivey, Mayor of Lambton Shores and Lambton County Councillor. In November, the Board will welcome Dr. Ted Hewitt, Acting Vice-President (Research) UWO to the team.
“We will certainly miss Nil’s expertise and insight,” said Councillor Jamieson, “But we wish him much success in Alberta and eagerly await the arrival of Dr. Hewitt to our Board.”
The Board meeting focused in great detail on the upcoming release of the Research Park’s Strategic Plan. A draft plan was prepared early this summer by the staff advisory group and was presented to local business and community leaders to garner feedback.
“We held a series of consultations with key stakeholders during September and October,” said Ker Ferguson, Director UWO Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Campus. “Our draft plan was well received and we received excellent input from a broad cross section of the local leadership.”
The staff advisory group reported that the business and community leaders identified how a Research and Development Park could better help them by acting as a facilitator, networker and manager within the field of research and development, with the emphasis on the development end of the spectrum. The feedback received from these leaders will be incorporated into the strategic plan, which will be presented to the Board of Directors at their November meeting for final approval.
“We think that the plan is better now and more specific to area needs following the input from the community,” said Ferguson. “We look forward to establishing a strong communication link between the Park and the community which will help build an understanding of the work we do.”
The UWO Research Park Sarnia-Lambton Campus was created in November 2003 with the inception of the Community Development Corporation, owned by the County of Lambton. The Research Park manages and operates the property owned by the CDC. The CDC is itself governed by a Board of Directors with representation from The University of Western Ontario, the County of Lambton and the City of Sarnia.
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Contacts:
Carolyn Jamieson
Deputy Mayor Lambton Shores/Lambton County Councillor
Telephone: (519) 296-5810
Email: cjscookies@execulink.com
Ker Ferguson Director
The University of Western Ontario Research & Development Park – Sarnia Lambton Campus
Telephone: (519) 858-5198
Fax: (519) 858-5197
Email: wferguso@uwo.ca