Board Members

Research Manitoba’s Board appointments are made by Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister. The Board will consist of at least nine but not more than 17 directors.

Here is a list of our Board members:

Ms. Andrea Legary (Chair)
Chief Science and Technology Officer, The Recoup Group

Mr. Jason Leibert (Vice-Chair)
Chief Growth Officer, MSP Starch Product Inc.

Mr. James Sandison (Secretary-Treasurer)
President, SCS Inc.

Dr. Mario Pinto
Vice-President (Research and International), University of Manitoba

Dr. Peter Nickerson
Vice-Provost (Health Sciences) and Dean, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Immunology, Flynn Family Chair in Renal Transplantation, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba

Dr. Rashid Ahmed
PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba

Dr. Athar Ata
Chair and Professor of Chemistry, The University of Winnipeg

Dr. Hani El-Gabalawy
Professor of Medicine and Immunology, Endowed Rheumatology Research Chair, University of Manitoba

Mr. Luis Escobar
Principal, Transportation, Stantec Consulting

Mr. Earl Gardiner
Founder and Executive Chairman of Careica Health

Ms. Erin Romeo
Executive Vice-President, Digital Innovation, Strategy and Partnerships – Glacier FarmMedia

Dr. Sri Navaratnam
President and CEO, CancerCare Manitoba

Ex Officio, Non-Voting Members:


Jerin Valel
– (Active as of January 2023)
Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade, Province of Manitoba

Ray Hoemsen – (Active as of February 2023)
Acting Chair – Research Advisory Committee