New director named

by Jennifer Towell

Vice-Principal (Research) Pierre Bélanger has announced the appointment of Dawn Conway as Director of the Office of International Research, effective January 29.

Ms. Conway, who most recently headed the International Programs division of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for six years, takes the reins of a new office responsible for the management and promotion of international research and development at McGill.

A committee of eight established a short list of candidates drawn from a field of more than 230 applicants for the position, about half from outside Quebec. The applicants responded to external and internal advertising in both English and French. Seven candidates were interviewed in the last week of the fall term.

With such a strong response to the competition for the position, the selection committee was able to focus on candidates who met all the major qualifications being sought. The Vice-Principal explained, "We needed someone who was bilingual, had solid international experience and contact with the academic world, someone able to interact with both professors and international agencies."

The Director of the Office of International Research (OIR) will head a team of three people, including a contracts officer and an administrative assistant.

The Office will work with researchers throughout the University to enhance and expand international research and development activity. It will not be responsible for the hosting of international delegations. This was one of the functions of McGill International (MI) from the time that unit was established in 1980 until the recent cyclical review, which led to MI's closure and the creation of OIR.

Ms. Conway brings to McGill more than 15 years' experience in research funding and international affairs. As International Programs Director at NSERC, she managed a division of nine employees, with an annual program and contract budget of $10 million. She oversaw nine programs on behalf of 12 federal departments and agencies, as well as eight bilateral exchange agreements with agencies in other countries. In this position, Ms.Conway's duties included management, negotiation and top-level representation on behalf of NSERC.

Ms. Conway worked as Manager of Special Projects for NSERC following the abolition of the International Programs division last year. An earlier period as an awards officer for NSERC from 1979-83 was followed by positions as Program Officer for Social and Natural Sciences with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (1983-89), including two years as National Secretary of the Canada Man and Biosphere (UNESCO) Committee. She holds a BA Honours in Geography from the University of Ottawa and an MSc in Ecology and Regional Management from the UniversitŽ des sciences et techniques de Languedoc in Montpellier, France. She has also studied and worked in health care.