Director:  Bruce Rutley PhD PAg

Having drunk the waters of the Peace River soon after he first arrived in 1976 with his BSc (Agr), Bruce was naturally predisposed to return to the Peace.

He left the Peace Country In 1978 for the family farm and then his MSc from McGill University. In 1985, he returned to the Peace where he spent the next 20 years raising his family and working at Peace Country colleges. He started as the Coordinator for the Agriculture Program at Northern Lights College. During that time he obtained his PhD in Renewable Resources - energetics of plains bison - from the University of Alberta and then contributed to the research & development of the diversified livestock industry (bison and reindeer).  He then worked as Dean, Agricultural Technologies at Fairview College before becoming involved in the development of The Innovation Network for PREDA.

He left the Peace in 2005 for Victoria where he created a new R&D practice on Vancouver Island with his son. Back in the Peace Country for the third time in September 2008, he is currently the Director of the Centre for Research & Innovation - a GPRC - PREDA Partnership.

Administrative Assistant:  Leann Kleininger

Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Leann arrived in the Peace Country in 2007 via Yellowknife, NWT. With over 27 years of administrative experience, she has worked for the likes of government, universities, school boards, and a Global potash company.

Adjunct Staff CRI:  Gary Christopherson MPA BA

As the founder of seven start-up businesses, four of which involved substantial innovation in the areas of communications, aviation, manufacturing and consulting, Gary Christopherson is no stranger to entrepreneurial risk.

Along with a BA (Honours) History with International Relations, from the University of British Columbia and an MPA from Queens University at Kingston, Ontario, Gary brings to the CRI a broad field of knowledge and extensive experience with what it takes to do business in the North.

Researcher:  Dr. Weixing Tan

(Picture and biography to follow.)