TRLabs Departing CEO Attributes Success to TRLabs Talent Pool

December 06, 2001 -- Edmonton, AB - For Glenn Rainbird, President and CEO of TRLabs, retirement from TRLabs as of January 1, 2002 is a time of mixed emotions.

On the one hand are the new life adventures to pursue. On the other hand has been the opportunity to steward an enviable track record of TRLabs success during his nine-year tenure at the helm, a record he attributes to an innovative collaborative model and a TRLabs team blessed with talent and vision.

During Rainbird’s tenure, TRLabs has seen a doubling of both annual revenues and employees. There has been expansion to new ICT research labs in Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg and an affiliate new media lab in Vancouver. Global research links have been established in working relationships with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) in Thailand, and TechnoBridge - a wireless research consortium owned and operated by TRLabs and the Center for Wireless Communications of Singapore. There have been numerous awards including two Industry-University Synergy Awards and an award for outstanding ‘contribution to the science and technology community’. That success also includes a rarity in a research environment, significant private sector funding of the business operation from over 70 firms that have participated in the TRLabs research program over the years.

However, Rainbird notes that the fact that TRLabs has grown to be Canada’s largest and leading ICT research consortium wouldn’t be possible without a core business model that creates value for TRLabs investors. Noting that TRLabs is in what he calls the ‘brain gain’ business, Rainbird says “TRLabs is an enabler, training people and developing skills that can transform inventive dreams into a future reality. Government, industry, and university funding is an enabling investment that unlocks the power to incubate fertile research minds. We return that collaborative investment in the form of ideas and new technologies that gives industry a competitive edge in the global economy, business growth and economic development for our government partners, and additional research resources for our university partners.”

With a track record of success behind TRLabs, Rainbird sees a future world of opportunity – for TRLabs and its sponsors. Citing Industry Canada figures that show more than 50% of Canadian households connected to the Internet and 12% of Canadian households making on-line purchases in 2000, Rainbird notes that the Internet has gone from the periphery of society only 15 years ago to today being at the core of what we as a society are, and what we do.

“Since TRLabs was ‘born’ in 1986, the world has transformed, Rainbird says. E-mail outnumbers regular mail 10:1. We’ve gone from ‘snail mail’ to the world at the click of a button. We chat, communicate, educate, inform, recreate, and conduct business in a new reality. Whether we like it or not, the Internet is a fundamental part of the way we live our lives. Looking ahead, that magnitude of change might just even accelerate – with ‘light speed’ networks of the future, the convergence of data, audio, video and text into multimedia forms of communication, wearable wireless everything, and perhaps even a fridge that can order milk for us over a wireless network.”

Rainbird says that the world isn’t just evolving, it is revolutionizing – the way we think, move, and interact. “TRLabs will be there for the ride, contributing in its unique way to an Internet network and communications infrastructure that is more mobile, accessible, faster, more reliable, more efficient – reaching anyone, anywhere, anytime.”

TRLabs Acting Chair Dr. Joanne Keselman says Mr. Rainbird has been a strong contributor to the realization of TRLabs vision of ‘people and technology for the future’, and a leader in the Canadian ICT industry. “Glenn leaves a legacy as a foundation builder for TRLabs. The stage is set for a new chapter of TRLabs success stories in the form of both people and invention.”

The TRLabs Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Dr. Roger Pederson as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TRLabs, effective January 1, 2002. Dr. Pederson will assume Mr. Rainbird’s duties until the TRLabs Board of Directors completes the appointment process. Keselman says Dr. Pederson, seconded to TRLabs from TELUS since 1997, will be an important leader in moving the TRLabs program forward. “The Board looks forward to the continuation of strong leadership that has been ever-present at TRLabs,” she says.

About Dr. Roger Pederson

Roger’s responsibilities with TRLabs currently include strategic direction of the research program, organizational performance measures, Intellectual Property protection, liaison with the telephone company sponsors of TRLabs, and management of the TRLabs Edmonton lab (photonics and network systems).

Roger held a variety of technical, planning, marketing and managerial positions with TELUS that were accountable for network design and planning, technology strategy, business analysis, R & D, and new market development. His extensive technical and managerial experience in the telecommunications industry is complemented by Electrical Engineering Degrees (University of Saskatchewan – B.Sc., 1968, University of Calgary – M.Sc., 1970, and Ph.D., 1973). In addition, Roger has been involved in provincial and national science and advanced technology advisory committees and boards such as NSERC, CATA, and ASTech.

About TRLabs

TRLabs, Canada’s leading ICT research consortium, creates innovative technologies and trains students to enhance Canada’s information and communications technology expertise and improve Canada’s global competitiveness. Labs in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, and Winnipeg employ more than 200 researchers, professionals seconded from industry, professors, graduate and undergraduate students, and support staff. With 40 member sponsors representing a unique synergy of industry, government, and university, research activities focus on five strategic areas: data networking, network access, network systems, photonics, and wireless communications. Industry sponsors include telecom carriers, multinational equipment manufacturers, telecommunications service providers, and emerging western Canadian ICT businesses. University sponsors are the Universities of Alberta, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Regina, and Manitoba. Government sponsors are the Governments of Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

In its 15 year existence, TRLabs has trained nearly 700 highly skilled university graduates, created 250 technologies adopted for use by companies, and generated 43 patented inventions.

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