George Iwama

Director – biography

George Iwama

George Iwama was appointed the fourth president of the University of Northern British Columbia on July 1, 2009.

He is currently a director on the board of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.  He also serves on the association’s Standing Advisory Committee on University Research. Dr. Iwama is also chairman of the Council of Western Canadian University Presidents.

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Iwama was dean of the faculty of science at Carleton University. He previously held the same position at Acadia University, where he also served for a year as vice-president academic.

Dr. Iwama holds a PhD in zoology from the University of British Columbia and was a professor there for 15 years. At UBC, he received numerous academic fellowships and awards and conducted research on animal physiology, specifically related to fish and fish aquaculture. He has published more than 135 articles and his research included a project east of Prince George in the Torpy River.

He has experience in building university-industry-government-community partnerships and was the driving force behind the creation of “science cafes” in Ottawa and Nova Scotia in an effort to bring the excitement of scientific innovation to the public.