Dear Friends and Colleagues:
I am announcing today my intention to step down from the position of Executive Director and CEO of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS). As the first permanent Executive Director and CEO of GIFS, together with our founding partners, we have successfully created a world-class research institute and everyone who has played in role in that should be immensely proud of what we have accomplished. As for myself, the goals I have set out to achieve have been realized and the Institute is at a stage where new leadership can now take it in the direction it needs to go to build on, and to maintain the success we have built.
Through discussions with the Board, I will remain in post until 30th November 2018, in order to assist with succession planning and identification of the next CEO for GIFS. In the intervening period, I shall continue to lead GIFS in its efforts to build a sustainable funding base, to run a successful GIFS Conference: “Emerging Technologies for Global Food Security” in June 2018, to lead and manage the Plant Phenotyping and Imaging Research Centre (P2IRC) through its annual symposium in October and the launch of Phase II of this exceptional program funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. I also hope to assist in the building of a strong relationship between the University of Saskatchewan and the recently announced super-cluster: Protein Industries Canada.
I remain steadfastly committed to GIFS’ current strategy focused on technology for Western Canadian agriculture and the targeted translation of our discovery science into the developing world. We shall continue to encourage excellence in our three scientific pillars: “Seeds, Soils and Software” and their collaboration with key University of Saskatchewan Centres of Excellence, while building on our foundations: Genomics and bioinformatics, and Policy-related initiatives in collaboration with the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and the Canadian Institute for Science and Innovation Policy (CISIP).
I am very optimistic for the future of GIFS and I am confident that the next generation of leadership will be able to build on the growth that we have collectively achieved. I also believe that GIFS will continue to be a beacon of scientific excellence and international visibility for the University of Saskatchewan, attracting high quality scientists and commercial ventures to establish and grow in the Province. None of this could have been achieved without a great GIFS team, present and past, to whom we are all grateful for their commitment, generosity and altruism. We have built on the vision of the original Founding Partners: Potash Corp (now Nutrien), the Government of Saskatchewan and The University of Saskatchewan and we should be thankful for the generosity and foresight of their collective ambition.
With very best wishes,
Maurice
Dr. Maurice Moloney
Executive Director and CEO
110 Gymnasium Place, suite 1460
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 4J8 Canada
Office: 306-966-3701 | Cell: 306-230-6333
E-mail: gifs.director@usask.ca
Website: www.gifs.ca