OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 08/07/08 -- The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), today appointed Dr. Gerri Sinclair, Dr. Priscilla Renouf and Mr. Fred Morley to the Council.

"I am pleased that Dr. Sinclair, Dr. Renouf and Mr. Morley will be joining the Council. Their combined experience in the areas of technology, business, academia and government policy will contribute to furthering research and training in the fields of social, cultural and economic life," said Minister Prentice.

Dr. Sinclair is currently the Executive Director of the Centre for Digital Media, Great Northern Way Campus in Vancouver. First President (2001-2002) of the Premier's Technology Council, she is also a director of the Toronto Stock Exchange and Ballard Power Systems Inc. She is a former Chair of the Telecommunications Policy Review Panel.

Dr. Renouf has been active in the heritage community in Newfoundland and Labrador for over 25 years. She is currently the Canada Research Chair in North Atlantic Archaeology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is also a member of numerous editorial boards, including the Journal of the North Atlantic and the Anthropological Papers of the University of Alaska, New Series.

Since 2002, Mr. Morley has served first as Vice-President, then Executive Vice- President, and Chief Economist with the Greater Halifax Partnership. He was previously involved in business retention and expansion and economic development initiatives with organizations such as Nova Scotia Business Inc. and Nova Scotia Economic Development.

SSHRC is an independent federal government agency that funds university-based research and graduate training through national peer-reviewed competitions. The Council also partners with public and private sector organizations to focus research and aid the development of better policies and practices in key areas of Canada's social, cultural and economic life.

BACKGROUNDER

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Biographical Notes

Dr. Gerri Sinclair

Dr. Gerri Sinclair's career spans over 20 years in the fields of Internet and new media technology, entrepreneurial business, academic research, and government policy.

She is currently the Executive Director of the Centre for Digital Media, Great Northern Way Campus in Vancouver. Dr. Sinclair served as Chair of the Telecommunications Policy Review Panel from 2005-2006. She was formerly the General Manager of MSN Canada, as well as the founder and CEO of NCompass Labs.

Dr. Sinclair has served on several government and corporate boards including TELUS Corporation and BC Telecom, as well as Canada's Information Highway Advisory Council and the National Broadband Task Force. First President (2001-2002) of the Premier's Technology Council, she is currently a director of the Toronto Stock Exchange and Ballard Power Systems Inc.

Dr. Sinclair holds a B.A. (Hons.) and a Ph.D. in Medieval Renaissance Drama from the University of British Columbia and an honorary doctorate in computer science.

Dr. Priscilla Renouf

Dr. Priscilla Renouf has been active in the heritage community in Newfoundland and Labrador for over 25 years. She is currently the Canada Research Chair in North Atlantic Archaeology at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Dr. Renouf is currently the Chair of the founding Board of Directors, The Rooms Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador. She is a member of numerous editorial boards, including the Journal of the North Atlantic and Anthropological Papers of the University of Alaska, New Series.

She is a past member of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation and the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Chair of the Newfoundland Archaeological Heritage Outreach Program.

Dr. Renouf holds a Ph.D. in Archaeology from Cambridge University and an M.A. in Anthropology (Archaeology) and a B.A. in Anthropology from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Mr. Fred Morley

Since 2002, Mr. Fred Morley has served as Executive Vice-President and Chief Economist (2002-2005 Vice-President and Chief Economist) with the Greater Halifax Partnership. In 2005, he led the Halifax Economic Strategy Project with the Halifax Regional Municipality.

From 1995-2002, Mr. Morley was involved in business retention and expansion and economic development initiatives with organizations such as Nova Scotia Business Inc. and Nova Scotia Economic Development. He previously worked with the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council as an economist and senior policy analyst.

His board experience includes the International Economic Development Council, Saint Mary's Business Development Centre, Canadian Association for Business Economics, and Acadia Centre for Social and Business Entrepreneurship. He is currently a member of the Regional Municipality of Halifax Regional Plan Advisory Committee.

Mr. Morley holds an M.A. from Saint Mary's University and a B.A. (Economics) and a B.Sc. (Chemistry) from Dalhousie University.