John North

"Education for all - learning to do and to think - is the bedrock of a healthy, stable society and provides opportunities to everyone to experience the satisfaction of making their own contributions to their community and beyond."

John grew up in England and has a PhD in Immunology, having had the good fortune to experience a fully government-funded education in the UK. After nine years of fundamental Immunology, Virology and Oncology research in academic laboratories in UK and USA, his work became increasingly applied, with team and program management responsibilities in the biotechnology industry developing new medical devices and pharmaceuticals in UK and USA. He moved from London to Vancouver in 1998 to join the senior management of a successful biotechnology company, developing drugs for cancer treatment and for an ophthalmic disorder. He served as a Director of several biotechnology companies and, before retiring to Comox, he led a UBC spin-off company for 8 years – raising funds and developing a new type of drug to control infection and inflammation.

John has served as a Director and Vice-President of the Science Fair Foundation of BC and as a Director and Secretary of the Dr. Michael Smith Science Fair Endowment. Since retirement, he has taught about the human microbiome at VIU ElderCollege in Parksville and at Comox Valley ElderCollege in Courtenay. He has served as a Director of the Rotary Club of Comox and for three years as Chair of the Comox Valley ElderCollege volunteer management team.