The Canadian Research Knowledge Network is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Jutras as Chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. Jutras begins his three-year appointment following CRKN’s annual Meeting of the Members on November 2, 2022.
Mr. Jutras is currently rector of Université de Montréal, a position he has held since June 2020. In his first two years in office, the university received its two largest donations ever – $40 million from the Fondation Chopin-Péladeau and Québecor, and $159 million from the Fondation Courtois – adopted a policy on freedom of expression on campus, and presented an ambitious strategic plan after a consultation process involving more that 7,000 people.
With expertise in contract law and civil liability, class actions, and judicial institutions, Mr. Jutras is a leader in research in the law of obligations from a comparative and pluralist standpoint. In addition to being internationally renowned for his contributions to civil and comparative law, Mr. Jutras has also worked to transform legal education programs in Quebec and throughout the world. Prior to his role as rector at UdeM, he was the Wainwright Chair in Civil Law at McGill University’s Faculty of Law and had also been Director of the Institute of Comparative Law and Dean of Law at McGill. He received degrees in law from Université de Montréal and Harvard University.
“Daniel Jutras brings strong experience in university leadership, research, and a commitment to increasing access to knowledge to the CRKN Board,” commented Melissa Just, Dean, University Library, University of Saskatchewan, and CRKN Board Vice-Chair. “He is perfectly positioned to lead CRKN through the final years of our current strategic plan that focus on transforming scholarly communications, an area where UdeM has been a leader in Canada and internationally in their commitment to open scholarship and investments in open infrastructure. We look forward to Mr. Jutras’ leadership as we embark on collective and collaborative initiatives across the research infrastructure sector.”
“I am very pleased to join the Board of Directors of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network," said Mr. Jutras. “CRKN's important work in transforming scholarly communications has a real impact on how Canadian researchers can conduct their work in the future and share it with the wider community. Issues of open and responsible science are at the heart of CRKN's thinking and I intend to contribute positively to these reflections, which affect all academic institutions in the country. Ultimately, we are all committed to making knowledge accessible to all Canadians.”
In addition to chairing the CRKN Board, Mr. Jutras also sits on the Board of Directors for the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, the Montreal Clinical Research Institute, and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. He also works closely with other universities and their administrators on the boards of the Interuniversity Cooperation Office and the U7+ international university network.
Mr. Jutras takes over as CRKN Board Chair from Dr. Annette Trimbee. “We are so grateful for the vision and dedication that Dr. Trimbee has brought to CRKN over the past three years,” said Melissa Just. “Dr. Trimbee provided inspirational leadership to the CRKN Board, particularly over a period of significant change and challenges across the academic sector. Her leadership has helped the Board chart exciting new paths and we are thrilled that Mr. Jutras will be taking on this role and continuing to build a strong and innovative future for CRKN and its member institutions.”
For more information, please contact:
Claire Duncan
Strategic Communications Advisor
cduncan@crkn.ca