York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri has been appointed to the Space Advisory Board. The announcement was made Nov. 19 by Industry Minister James Moore at the 2014 Canadian Aerospace Summit.
The Space Advisory Board will provide expert advice to the government on Canada’s role and future in space.
"I am proud to serve on this new Space Advisory Board for Industry Canada, particularly given York University’s strengths in space science and our research collaborations with the Canadian Space Agency," said Shoukri. “I look forward to contributing to the advancement of Canadian space policy and research."
The board includes experts from across the country who will help lead Canada's space policy in the years ahead. In addition to Shoukri, other members of the Space Advisory Board are: General (Retired) Walt Natynczyk, deputy minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, former chief of defence staff and former Canadian Space Agency president; Terry Malley, president and CEO of Malley Industries; Arlene Ponting, president emerita of MindFuel, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring young people's involvement in science through education; Lorne Trottier, co-founder of Matrox Electronic Systems and the Trottier Family Foundation; Fred George, president and CEO of JLK Global Fund International and honorary captain to the Royal Canadian Navy; John Keating, director of Sandvine and former CEO of COM DEV; and, Colonel Chris Hadfield, retired Canadian astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station.
"Canada's aerospace industry is one of the pillars of the Canadian economy. If we are to continue punching above our weight in aerospace, we must build on our successes,” said Moore. “Our government is committed to setting the right conditions to ensure that the aerospace industry and all Canadian businesses continue to compete and succeed on the world stage."
In 2013, Canada's aerospace industry was responsible for more than 170,000 jobs and contributed $28 billion to the economy. Aerospace is a priority sector under Canada's Global Markets Action Plan.
The government recently committed $30 million (over five years) to a newly formed, industry-led research network, the Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Canada (CARIC).
It has also announced a comprehensive response to the space recommendations, including the release of Canada's Space Policy Framework to guide decisions in the future.