Grand Challenges Canada Welcomes Three New Members to Board of Directors

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - May 04, 2016) -  Grand Challenges Canada is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors: Dr. Cedric Bisson, Venture Partner at Teralys Capital in Montreal, Quebec, Johanne Charbonneau, former Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of CBC/Radio Canada, and Dr. Mwelecele Malecela, Director General of the National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania.

Dr. Bisson has served on Grand Challenges Canada's Investment Committee and Dr. Malecela on Grand Challenges Canada's Scientific Advisory Board.

"We welcome the addition of these three outstanding new board members," said Guylaine Saucier, Chair of Grand Challenges Canada's Board of Directors. "Their experience in private investing, financial management and global health will strengthen Grand Challenges Canada's evidence-based approach to development innovation."

Funded by the Government of Canada, Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact^® in global health. Since launching in 2010, Grand Challenges Canada has supported a pipeline of over 700 innovations in more than 80 countries.

Cedric Bisson, LLB, MD

Dr. Cedric Bisson is partner at Teralys Capital, Canada's largest investor focused on innovation, where he in charge of healthcare and life sciences investments. Teralys finances private venture capital funds investing in innovative businesses in information technologies, life sciences, and clean or industrial innovations.

Dr. Bisson, a member of Grand Challenges Canada's Investment Committee, brings a wealth of private investment and healthcare experience to Grand Challenges Canada's Board of Directors. He has spent the past two decades across Canada, in Europe and the USA creating, building and advising innovative businesses, notably serving as founder and partner of iNovia Capital (a leading pan-Canadian venture capital firm), and as associate principal at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. Dr. Bisson is also involved in his community as Chairman of the Montreal Biennale, the country's largest international event focused on contemporary art, and Procure, a professional charity fighting prostate cancer.

Dr. Bisson obtained his medical degree from McGill University and his law degree from the Université de Montréal.

Johanne Charbonneau, FCPA, FCGA, MBA, C.Dir

Johanne Charbonneau is a senior finance executive and former Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of CBC/Radio-Canada. She was previously Vice-President Resources and Chief Financial Officer at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) where she traveled and worked in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia.

Ms. Charbonneau brings valued financial management expertise to Grand Challenges Canada's Board of Directors. She is a member of the board of Alterna Bank, The Co-operators Group, and the Sovereign General Insurance Company. Ms. Charbonneau is also a volunteer member of the board of the Certified General Accountants of Ontario and is vice-chair of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Ms. Charbonneau obtained her Certified General Accountant designation and her Master of Business Administration from Queen's University. In 2013 she was awarded the Fellowship Certified General Accountant designation and recently received the accreditation of Chartered Director.

Mwelecele Malecela, PhD

Dr. Mwelecele Malecela is Director General of the National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania, the first woman to hold the position. She is also Vice-President of the International Association of National Public Health Institutes.

Dr. Malecela is recognized as a renowned scientist and is a valued member of Grand Challenges Canada's Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Malecela serves on a number of other international committees and boards, including as Chair of the Medical Research Coordinating Committee, the main body responsible for oversight of health research in Tanzania.

Dr. Malecela holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Dar es Salaam and a Master of Science and Doctorate in Parasitology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

For more information, visit grandchallenges.ca and look for us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Grand Challenges Canada

Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact® in global health. We are funded by the Government of Canada and we support innovators in low- and middle-income countries and Canada. The bold ideas we support integrate science and technology, social and business innovation - we call this Integrated Innovation®. Grand Challenges Canada focuses on innovator-defined challenges through its Stars in Global Health program and on targeted challenges in its Saving Lives at Birth, Saving Brains and Global Mental Health programs. Grand Challenges Canada works closely with Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Global Affairs Canada to catalyze scale, sustainability and impact. We have a determined focus on results, and on saving and improving lives.

www.grandchallenges.ca