Denis Brière elected Chair of the Board of CREPUQ

MONTREAL, June 11 /CNW Telbec/ - The Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (CREPUQ) is pleased to announce that Denis Brière, Rector of Université Laval, has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors.

As Chairman, Mr. Brière will promote excellence in university education and work to support the remarkable development of Quebec university research, with a view to helping innovation better serve the knowledge-based economy.

"Quebec universities are facing significant challenges, particularly in the areas of financing and governance. The role of CREPUQ is more important than ever in ensuring that university education and research achieve the recognition they deserve in the eyes of society and those who govern it. I intend to pursue the work our outgoing Chair has been doing with elected representatives, business people and education partners so that our universities may continue contributing to growth and innovation in Quebec," said Denis Brière.

"I am honoured to have had the opportunity to serve Quebec and Quebec's universities as Chair of CREPUQ at a time when universities were called upon to respond to a number of public policy initiatives affecting higher education, and to contribute to the renewal of the Stratégie québécoise de la recherche et de l'innovation. I look forward to working with the new Chair and my colleagues over the coming months and years to ensure that our universities remain positioned to deliver a high-quality education and contribute to research and innovation for the benefit of all Quebecers," added outgoing Chair Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University.

"I congratulate Mr. Brière and am confident that his broad understanding of the university milieu will help CREPUQ pursue its goal to promote university education and research for Quebec's economic, social and cultural development," noted Daniel Zizian, President and Director General of CREPUQ.

CREPUQ officers

Denis Brière, Rector of Université Laval, has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors for a two-year term.

Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University, will serve as Outgoing Chair for one year.

Continuing their terms are Vice-President Judith Woodsworth, President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University, and Executive Committee member Yves Beauchamp, Director General of École de technologie supérieure. Three new officers have been appointed for two-year terms: Luce Samoisette, Rector of Université de Sherbrooke and Sylvie Beauchamp, President of Université du Québec, will serve as Vice-Presidents; and Michel Patry, Director of HEC Montréal, is the new Secretary-Treasurer.

Denis Brière biographical notes

In 1979, Denis Brière earned a PhD in forest management from the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses from 1977 to 1980. From 1979 to 1980, he served as president of the federal-provincial Committee for the evaluation of environmental policies in British Columbia.

Mr. Brière returned to Quebec in 1981 and joined the James Bay Energy Corporation, following which he then spent five years with the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada. He went on to become vice-president and general manager of the Woodlands Division at Kruger Inc. and then president and chief executive officer of Kruger Forest products Inc.

From 1998 to 2000, he was president of the Comact Group, a North American leader in the design and manufacture of wood processing equipment.

In 2000, Denis Brière was named Dean of the Faculty of Forestry and Geomatics at Université Laval. In that capacity, he was actively involved in developing the faculty and promoting every aspect of the university. In 2007, he was elected the 25th Rector of Université Laval.

Mr. Brière also served as a Vice-President of CREPUQ from 2008 to 2010.

About CREPUQ

CREPUQ includes all 18 Quebec universities. The organization acts as their voice in relations with government and milieus concerned with university education and research. It also fosters coordination and collaboration between universities, is a research centre for university administrations, acts as a centre for coordination and joint service delivery, and is a resource centre and think tank for its members.

For further information: Chantal Pouliot, Director of Communications, Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities, 514 288-8524, ext. 244