John R. Evans

John R. Evans

“The early decades of the 21st Century will be marked by the increased scientific and technological convergence of three fundamental drivers—biotechnology, advanced information technology and nanotechnology […]. These converging technologies have the promise to achieve tremendous improvements in human capital, innovation, economic performance and the quality of life.”—Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)
Dr. John Evans was engaged in medical education, academic administration, government service, charitable foundations and business. He was committed to the growth of Canadian companies and to sharing knowledge with the developing world.
Dr. Evans received his undergraduate medical training at the University of Toronto and specialty training in internal medicine and cardiology in London, England, Boston and Toronto. Dr. Evans was founding Dean of the McMaster University, Faculty of Medicine in Hamilton, Ontario, served as President of the University of Toronto, and was founding Director of the Population, Health and Nutrition Department of the World Bank in Washington, D.C.
As Chair of Allelix Inc., Dr. Evans was associated with the birth of biotechnology in Canada. He oversaw the evolution of Allelix into a public company, and the strategic merger with NPS. He served as a director of several Canadian corporations and institutions and as Chairman of Torstar Corporation, Chairman of Alcan Inc. and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation.
Dr. Evans was a Companion of the Order of Canada, member of the Order of Ontario, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, (London), Master of the American College of Physicians and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.