Life Sciences Ontario wishes to congratulate Mark Lievonen, President of Sanofi Pasteur Limited, and Bonnie Schmidt, President and Founder of Let’s Talk Science, on their investment into the Order of Canada, which took place in a ceremony in Ottawa last week.
J. Mark Lievonen, CM, FCPA, FCA, was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, in recognition of his outstanding achievements, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the pursuit of sustainable healthcare. A leader in the pharmaceutical industry, Mark is also a passionate contributor to public policy debates. He has led the expansion of Sanofi Pasteur Limited, positioning the company as a global biotechnology enterprise and a symbol of Canadian innovation. He has also been an advisor on health and drug access policy for the federal and provincial governments. In addition, he founded Sanofi Biogenius Canada, a student program that encourages aspiring scientists to pursue leading edge research. Sanofi Pasteur Limited is a key partner and core member of Life Sciences Ontario.
In his comments on Mark’s appointment, MPP Monte Kwinter noted Mark’s “visionary leadership” and his drive to stimulate innovation, Canadian competitiveness, and productivity. “Mark has transformed Sanofi Pasteur Canada – a vital manufacturing and R&D hub – into a global, billion-dollar biotechnology enterprise which stands as a symbol of Canadian talent, innovation and R&D excellence,” he said. In recognition of these extraordinary contributions, LSO presented Mark with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Dr. Bonnie Schmidt’s investment as a Member of the Order of Canada recognizes her leadership in fostering science literacy among primary and secondary school students across Canada, notably as the founder of Let’s Talk Science. Let’s Talk Science is an award-winning, charitable organization focused on education and outreach to support learning and skill development in Canadian youth using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To date, the initiative has reached more than 4 million Canadians; it also mobilizes more than 3,000 postsecondary and industry volunteers each year, more than half of whom are in life sciences. In light of these achievements, LSO recognized Dr. Schmidt with our 2016 Community Service Award.
“Life Sciences Ontario congratulates Mark and Bonnie on their investment into the Order of Canada,” said Jason Field, President and CEO of Life Sciences Ontario. “This is a well-deserved honour for both Mark and Bonnie, and we are deeply appreciative of their contributions to shaping the success of Ontario’s life sciences sector.”
The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honours, which recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation. A full list of the most recent appointees can be found here.
About Life Sciences Ontario:
Life Sciences Ontario is a member-driven organization that represents and promotes the province’s vibrant and diverse life sciences sector. LSO collaborates with governments, academia, industry, and other life science organizations in Ontario and across Canada to promote and encourage commercial success throughout this diverse sector. Membership in Life Sciences Ontario includes individuals, students, emerging companies, investors, service providers, and companies with marketed products. The organization provides a wide range of networking and educational events, and operates a vibrant mentorship program that is helping to develop highly-skilled talent and build new business opportunities for the life sciences sector. LSO is an effective conduit for delivering policy options to governments, and is dedicated to promoting Ontario’s life sciences sector internationally.
How you can support LSO’s advocacy efforts:
- Become a member
- Join our 10,000 Coffees mentorship program
- Attend a Knowledge & Networking Breakfast
- Read and share our Life Sciences Sector Report