Selection and Appointment of Governing Council Members

Members of Governing Council are appointed by the Governor in Council – decided upon by the federal Cabinet – and may hold office for two consecutive three-year terms. The President holds office for five years and is also eligible for reappointment.

All CIHR Governing Council members have an interest and expertise in health research and how research knowledge can be applied to improve the health of Canadians, strengthen the Canadian health care system or improve the effectiveness of products and services. They serve in a personal capacity and do not represent any particular constituency.

Section 7(4) CIHR Act outlines the appointment criteria for Governing Council members as "women and men who reflect the highest standards of scientific excellence and women and men who reflect a range of relevant backgrounds and disciplines"

In keeping with Section 7(4) the Nominating and Governance Committee oversees:

• the development and maintenance of a nomination profile for Governing Council, including the competencies and skills that Council as a whole should possess;
• the nomination process for seeking members for the Governing Council, consistent with succession planning best practices.

In addition to demographic requirements, specific skills and competencies are needed on Council. These are broadly defined as a fine balance of:

• health research expertise
• health care delivery and administration
• industry and business
• governance, financial, legal and communications expertise
• ethics
• knowledge translation, including commercialization

Highly-qualified candidates to meet identified needs also possess other valued competencies such as:

• demonstrated leadership
• strategic decision-making
• integrity and accountability
• vision.

Highly qualified potential candidates are identified through a variety of sources such as the scientific community, key partners in health research, Institute Advisory Boards and past and present Governing Council members.

Candidates who are able to make a significant contribution to CIHR are recommended to the Minister by the President, who is also the Chair of Governing Council.