Overview
The Ocean Frontier Institute was established in September 2016 thanks to an investment of $227 million from the Government of Canada and various private and public-sector organizations. OFI is led by Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the University of Prince Edward Island, and includes partners in North America and Europe.
OFI operations are shared between Dalhousie University and Memorial University of Newfoundland. OFI reports to the Vice-President Research & Innovation at Dalhousie, and the Vice-President Research at Memorial.
Organizational structure
Committee governance
OFI committees ensure the decisions made — and resources used — are aligned with public interest and that OFI funding which is contributed by government, industry, and institutional partners, is prudently used to establish a world-leading, and collaborative, research institution.
Executive Council
This group stewards OFI on behalf of Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the University of Prince Edward Island. Members of the Executive Council provide institutional oversight, financial accountability, and direction to the scientific and management affairs of OFI.
Executive Council members
- Alice Aiken (Chair)
Vice President of Research & Innovation, Dalhousie University - Neil Bose
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Vice-President (Research) - Catherine Blewett
OFI Chief Strategic Engagement Officer - Travis Fridgen
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Acting Dean of Science - Gitta Kulczycki
Dalhousie University, Vice President, Finance & Administration - Chuck Macdonald
Dalhousie University, Dean, Faculty of Science - John Newhook
Dalhousie University, Dean of Engineering - Robert Shea
Memorial University, Vice-President, Marine Institute - Paul Snelgrove
OFI Associate Scientific Director, Memorial University - Ivan Soto
Representative from Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat - Kim Thomson
OFI Chief Administrative Officer - Anya Waite
OFI CEO & Scientific Director, Dalhousie University Associate Vice-President Research (Ocean)
Management Committee
This team ensures OFI, and the projects and programs it undertakes, are managed in accordance with Canada First Research Excellence Fund guidelines.
Management Committee members
- Catherine Blewett
OFI Chief Strategic Engagement Officer - Jonathan Fisher
Research Scientist, Marine Institute at Memorial University of Newfoundland - Jaclyn Pitman
OFI Manager of Operations - Marlies Rise
Dalhousie Assistant Vice-President, Office of Research Services - Paul Snelgrove
OFI Associate Scientific Director, Memorial University - Maria Steele
UEPI Research Manager - Kim Thomson
OFI Chief Administrative Officer - Anya Waite
OFI CEO & Scientific Director, Dalhousie University Associate Vice-President Research (Ocean)
Scientific Committee
This committee provides general oversight to the planning and coordination of research projects, including the allocation of research funding.
Scientific Committee members
- Anya Waite (Chair)
OFI CEO & Scientific Director, Dalhousie University Associate Vice-President Research (Ocean) - Paul Snelgrove (Co-Chair)
OFI Associate Scientific Director, Memorial University - Ratana Chuenpagdee
Social Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland - Stefanie Colombo
Applied Science, Dalhousie - Mark Fast
Natural Science, University of Prince Edward Island - Ian Fleming
Natural Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland - Kelly Hawboldt
Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland - Ali Nasiri
Engineering, Dalhousie - Daniel Ruzzante
Natural Science, Dalhousie - Ian Stewart
University of King's College - Brad de Young
Natural Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland - Melanie Zurba
Social Science, Dalhousie
Advisory Committee on Indigenous Engagement in Ocean Research
This committee guides OFI’s engagement with Indigenous communities and organizations to help ensure strong linkages and meaningful engagement between Indigenous communities and organizations and other ocean organizations in Atlantic Canada, while recognizing global aspects and impact on OFI’s international collaborations and partnerships. The Committee will work with OFI staff and the research community to help ensure the active incorporation of Indigenous interests and protection of Aboriginal and Treaty rights into coastal and ocean research to foster meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities.
Advisory Committee on Indigenous Engagement in Ocean Research members
- Catherine Blewett
OFI Chief Strategic Engagement Officer - Shelley Denny
Director of Aquatic Research and Stewardship, Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources - Angeline (Angie) Gillis
Associate Executive Director, Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq - Cathy Martin
Director of Indigenous Community Engagement, Dalhousie - Corey Morris
Appointee, DFO, Canada - Melissa Nevin
Appointee, Atlantic Policy Congress of the First Nations Chiefs Secretariat - Eric Oliver
Indigenous OFI Researcher - Ken Paul
Lead Fisheries Negotiator & Research Coordinator for the Wolastoqey Nation of New Brunswick - Paul Snelgrove
OFI Associate Scientific Director - Alanna Syliboy
Mi’kmaw Knowledge and Community Engagement Manager, Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq - Anya Waite
OFI CEO & Scientific Director, Dalhousie University Associate Vice-President Research (Ocean)
Excellence, Impact, and Engagement Committee
The Excellence, Impact, and Engagement Committee (EIEC) provides guidance on OFI’s research focus, reviews annual progress reports and funding allocation, project development, and strategic direction. The EIEC also ensures mechanisms are in place to exceed expectations for mid-term funding renewal.
Excellence, Impact, and Engagement Committee members
- Geoff Munro (Chair)
Owner, Trestle Networks Inc. - Catherine Blewett
OFI Chief Strategic Engagement Officer - Ray Gosine
Memorial University Associate Vice-President Research - Heide Hackmann
Executive Director, the International Council for Science (ICSU) - Marc D'Iorio
Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada - Greg Johnson
President, RBR Ltd. - Kendra MacDonald
CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster - Arran McPherson
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Melanie Nadeau
Chief Executive Officer, COVE - Jake Rice
Chief Scientist Emeritus, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada - Paul Snelgrove
OFI Associate Scientific Director - Kim Thomson
OFI Chief Administrative Officer - Anya Waite
OFI CEO & Scientific Director, Dalhousie University Associate Vice-President Research (Ocean)
Innovation and Commercialization Committee
This committee is responsible for advising on progress towards meeting annual, mid-term, and seven-year targets set for innovation and commercialization, and for promoting, developing, and facilitating commercialization arising from OFI’s proposed innovation deliverables.
Innovation and Commercialization Committee members
- Catherine Blewett
OFI Chief Strategic Engagement Officer - Carey Bonnell
Vice President of Sustainability, Ocean Choice - Amy Brookman
Director of Product Management, Vemco - Stephen Hartlen
Assistant Vice President (Industry Relations), Office of Commercialization and Industry Engagement - Susan Hunt
Chief Technology Officer, Ocean Supercluster - Jennifer LaPlante
Executive Director, DeepSense - Paula Mendonca
Technology Transfer & Commercialization Office, Memorial University of Newfoundland - Justin Moores
Director, Commercialization, Industry &Innovation, Research Services, University of Prince Edward Island - Melanie Nadeau
Chief Executive Officer, COVE - Vincent Sieben
Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Dalhousie University - Eric Siegel
Executive in Residence, Oceans CDL, Atlantic - Paul Snelgrove
OFI Associate Scientific Director - Andrew Swanson
Vice President Research & Development, Cooke Aquaculture - Kim Thomson
OFI Chief Administrative Officer - Anya Waite
OFI CEO & Scientific Director, Dalhousie University Associate Vice-President Research (Ocean)
Data Management Committee
The OFI Data Management Committee acts in an advisory role to the OFI Scientific Directorate. The Committee reports to the OFI Management Committee and is responsible for developing, overseeing, and supporting researchers in the implementation of data management policy and guidelines that direct and inform all OFI researchers in the management of all data collected through OFI sponsored research.
Data Management Committee members
- Mike Smit (Chair)
Assoc. Professor, School of Information Management, Dalhousie University - Tony Charles
Professor, Saint Mary’s University - Fraser Davidson
Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Richard Davis
RIU Manager, Ocean Frontier Institute - Alison Farrell
Public Services and Research Data Management Librarian, Memorial University of Newfoundland - Shayla Fitzsimmons
Executive Director, Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System-Atlantic - Ines Hessler
Chief Technology Officer, ACENET - Jennifer LaPlante
Executive Director, DeepSense - Erin MacPherson
Research Data Management Librarian, Dalhousie University - Kim Mears
Health Sciences and Scholarly Communications Librarian, University of Prince Edward Island - Kate Patterson
Data Team Manager, Ocean Frontier Institute - Jon Pye
Assistant Director of Data Management, Ocean Tracking Network
