Principal Emerita and Professor of Biology
The University of British Columbia
Kelowna, BC
As a scientist with experience in leadership roles at three of Canada’s research universities, Deborah is a passionate advocate for the role institutions can play in society: advancing economic and social development, sustainability, social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. She began her career at McGill University where she taught and led research in plant science and breeding. She was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 1996, becoming Canada’s first female dean of agriculture and leading a transformation of the Faculty to embrace new and emerging academic areas of applied life sciences, including biotechnology, health and environment. In 2006 she joined Dalhousie University as Director of Environmental programs and founder of the College of Sustainability. She became Principal of UBC Okanagan in 2012, leading strategic visioning and planning for this young, research intensive campus.
Deborah is active in the community; most recently as a member of Board of Directors of First West Credit Union, serving on Audit and Human Resources Committees; as Chair of a Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on Plant Health Risks in Canada; and as Vice-Chair of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (Pacific region).
Deborah has a B.Sc. (Horticulture) from University of Bath and Ph.D. from Imperial College, Wye campus, UK., she also holds an ICD.D.