The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy is pleased to welcome Jerome Konecsni, former president and CEO of Innovation Saskatchewan, as an executive-in-residence effective February 27, 2017.
During Konecsni's tenure at Saskatchewan Innovation (October 2011-October 2016), he helped develop key partnerships between the province, industry and academia in sectors including mining (International Minerals Innovation Institute), nuclear innovation (Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation) and agriculture (Global Institute for Food Security).
“We are thrilled to have Jerome Konecsni join the JSGS as an Executive-in-Residence,” says Kathleen McNutt, JSGS Executive Director. “Jerome’s reputation for innovation and his commitment to the public service, science education and internationalization, will prove to be key assets as we move forward.”
Konecsni joined the province after serving as the Director General of the National Research Council's Plant Biotechnology Institute. In this capacity he was part of a team that was awarded the National Public Service Award of Excellence for contribution in science for the first 100 per cent bio jet flight in the world.
Jerome has also served as the CEO of Genome Prairie and BioSmart Technologies, and as Vice-President of Corporate Development for Bioriginal Food and Science Corporation. In the latter role, he helped the company grow from a small start up to a successful international enterprise with a presence on four continents.
Jerome is an active leader in the community and has served on many boards and committees. He was a founding director of both the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation and the International Minerals Innovation Institute, and served on the boards of the Canadian Light Source, the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, and the Agricultural Bioscience International Conference.
Born, raised and educated in Saskatchewan, Jerome received his MA, BEd and BA (Honours) from the University of Saskatchewan. In 2011, he was recently awarded a Honourary Doctorate from Karunya University in India.
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For more information:
Erica Schindel, Communications and Marketing Specialist
Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
306-966-2663
erica.schindel@usask.ca