Mr. Rotman is Chairman of Roy-L Capital Corporation which is a private family investment company. He launched his business career in 1962 and has been involved in establishing a number of private and public companies active in oil trading, petroleum distribution, oil and gas exploration, merchant banking, real estate and venture capital.  He has served as a Director on numerous corporate boards including the Bank of Montreal, Barrick Gold Corporation, Canada Northwest Energy Ltd., Masonite International, and TrizecHahn Corp. He also served as Chair of the Board as Founder of Tarragon Oil and Gas, Geocrude Energy, PanCana Resources, PanCana Minerals and Embassy Resources, amongst others. As the Founder he remains a Director of Clairvest Group Inc., a merchant bank. In August 2008 he was appointed Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. In 2009 he was appointed Chairman of Grand Challenges Canada, an independent non-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, and in 2010 he became founding Chair of the Ontario Brain Institute, a non-profit research and innovation institute.

LIFE SCIENCES AND INNOVATION

Over the last 12 years Mr. Rotman has applied his business experience to the advancement of Canadian life sciences research, the development of Canada's innovation and commercialization capacity, and related public policy at the federal and provincial levels, including:

• Aggregate Therapeutics Inc.: Member of Board of Directors (2007 - ). StemCell Network and MaRS Strategic Partnership to create a StemCell Regenerative Medicine Commercialization Cluster in Canada for a development and translational program.
• Canadian Institute of Health Research: Member of Governing Council (June 2000-2006) and Executive Committee (June 2002-2006) and Chair of President's International Advisory Committee (June 2000-2006);
• Gairdner Awards for outstanding achievement in biomedical research worldwide: Member of Board of Directors, Member of Board of Trustees (February 2005-present).
• Government of Canada Expert Panel on Commercialization: (2004 - 2006) Chaired the preparation of the Report for Industry Canada "People and Excellence: The Heart of Successful Commercialization".
• MaRS (Medical and Related Sciences Discovery District): Board of Directors (2000-present) and Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee;
• Ontario BIOCouncil: Chaired the preparation of the BIOCouncil Report (2002) which the Ontario government used to assist in Ontario's Biotech Strategy;
• Ontario Genomics Institute: Board of Directors (2001-2006) and Chair (2001-2004);
• Prime Minister's Advisory Council for Science and Technology (ACST): Co-Chair of Round-table on Pre-seed/Seed Commercialization and Venture Capital Funding (2005);
• StemCell Network: Director (2005-present)

HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION

Mr. Rotman and his wife Sandra have made a long-term commitment primarily to healthcare and higher education. Through active involvement and financial assistance, they have supported the development of internationally-renowned Canadian institutions in the creation of new knowledge in science and technology, business practices, and public policy; and the acceleration of the transfer and application of this new knowledge in Canada and around the world.

• Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care (1985-present ):
  • Baycrest Board of Trustees: Director;
  • Baycrest Research Advisory Committee: Co-Chair;
  • Rotman Research Institute: Established in 1989 to create leading-edge knowledge in cognitive neuroscience, including cognitive theory, sophisticated imaging methods and analyses, and to use the most recent research results directly with patients;
  • Sandra A. Rotman Program in Neuropsychiatry: To support research and education in neuropsychiatry.

• University Health Network (1990-present):
  • McLaughlin Rotman Centre: Seeking molecular solutions to global infections, the Centre focuses on infectious diseases of global significance and is dedicated to accelerating the translation of molecular knowledge into appropriate therapeutics and diagnostics that are economically viable and deployable around the world;
  • Sandra Rotman Chair in Health Sector Strategy, focusing on managing health care resources more effectively and advancing evidence-based decision-making in the health sector;
• University of Toronto (1981-present):
  • Committee for Honorary Degrees (2001-2004)
  • Governing Council Member: (1995-2003); Executive Committee Member (1998-2003)
  • Innovation Foundation: Chaired restructuring on behalf of the VP of Research.
  • U of T Asset Management Corporation, Vice Chair (2000-2006)
  • Rotman School of Management: primary benefactors, with the objective of creating an internationally-renowned business education institution and globally-competitive Canadian executives;
  • Sandra Rotman Chair in Social Work, for research to identify emerging trends in trauma and their uses among first responders;

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Mr. Rotman has also participated in the community over the years through a number of initiatives.  Some examples include:

• Art Gallery of Ontario: Board member (1991 - 2000), Chair (1993 - 1996);
• Canadian Ditchley Foundation: Director (1996-present);
• C.D. Howe Institute: Director (1999-present);
• Canadian Institute of International Affairs: Member of the National Council;
• Governor General's Performing Arts Award Foundation: Director;
• The Toronto General Hospital Foundation: Director.

Joseph Rotman was born on January 6, 1935 in Toronto, Canada.  He received his B.A. from the University of Western Ontario in 1957, and his M.Comm. from the University of Toronto in 1960.  During 1960-61 he studied at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business in the Ph.D. program.  Mr. Rotman was awarded an honorary LL.D. from the University of Toronto in 1994.  His appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada was announced on January 4, 1995.

Joseph Rotman and Sandra Frieberg were married in 1959 and have two children, Janis and Kenneth.