OGI Appoints New VP of Outreach
Toronto, June 29, 2010 – The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) has announced the appointment of Dr. Alison Symington as Vice President, Outreach.
As Vice President, Outreach, Dr. Symington assumes responsibility for OGI’s external stakeholder relations, corporate communications and educational outreach programs. These three emphases share the common thread of forging a broader understanding of genomics among those who fund scientific research, the broader public, those in the international life sciences sector and those at the educational interface with the next generation, some of whom may contribute directly to but all of whom will be affected by genomics research. Through its outreach function, OGI also aims to emphasize the catalytic role of genomics technology and resources in accelerating life sciences research and the advance of applications in agriculture, energy, environment, human as well as animal health, industrial materials and natural resource management.
Dr. Symington will oversee key programs such as the OGI Summer Research Fellowships and the annual OGI Genomics Teaching Prize, and also new partnerships with the arts and entertainment industries, which pioneering collaborations have led to extremely engaging as well as broad-reaching events and activities exploring the benefits and issues associated with genomics research and its outcomes.
Dr. Symington joins OGI from Bioscience Education Canada (BEC), where as Executive Director she led the organization through a substantive rebranding and refocusing, and managed a number of outreach and educational events that significantly increased the visibility of Canadian science education nationally and internationally. Notably, she led the Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge, the Biotech Toolbox Program and was involved in the creation of several laboratory courses for high school teachers.
“Alison is extremely well-respected in the Canadian life sciences community and is well-known for her innovative approach in engaging a wide variety of audiences with science and its possibilities,” commented Dr. Christian Burks, President and CEO of OGI. “Her wealth of experience in conceptualizing, developing and managing large outreach initiatives, and leading use of communications strategies and tools in that context, will provide vital advantages to OGI’s outreach efforts moving forward. We are delighted that she will be joining the leadership team at OGI.”
Prior to her role at BEC, Dr. Symington was a professor and program coordinator at Seneca College’s School of Biological Sciences and Applied Chemistry, and before that worked as a development scientist at sanofi pasteur, Canada’s largest vaccine research and manufacturing company. She earned her PhD in Cell Biology at the University of Toronto, during which she was awarded an NSERC post-graduate fellowship.
“I am extremely excited to be joining OGI, an organization that is widely recognized for its creative outreach activities,” commented Dr. Alison Symington. “I’m looking forward to building on existing programs as well as working with the Outreach team, and the whole organization, to explore and develop novel, effective approaches to further spread awareness of genomics and its importance in meeting the significant challenges facing us all today, and our society in the future.”
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For more information about OGI: www.OntarioGenomics.ca
For more information about the OGI Summer Research Fellowship Program: http://www.ontariogenomics.ca/outreach/ogi-summer-research-fellowship-program
For more information about the OGI Teaching Prize: http://www.ontariogenomics.ca/teaching-prize
About OGI
The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) is a private, not-for-profit corporation focused on using world-class research to create strategic genomics resources and accelerate Ontario’s development of a globally-competitive life sciences sector. Through its relationship with Genome Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI), and other private and public sector partners, OGI works to: identify, attract and support investment in Ontario-led genomics research; catalyze access to and the impact of genomics resources; and, raise the visibility of genomics as well as its impact and associated issues.
OGI media enquiries:
Alastair Harris-Cartwright
Corporate Communications Manager
T: +1 (416) 673-6582.
E: aharriscartwright@OntarioGenomics.ca
