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Dr. Manuel Juárez, DVM, PhD, will begin his new role as director of effective July 23, the Centre, with the (UCVM), is pleased to announce.  

Juárez began his career as a veterinarian in Finland, where he focused on dairy and swine health. He later pursued advanced studies, earning both an MBA and a PhD in animal production, during which he gained research experience at institutions in Ireland and Italy. He subsequently worked in the private sector in southern Spain, developing solutions for goat and swine producers.  

In 2009, Juárez moved to Canada as a postdoctoral fellow, and two years later he was appointed livestock phenomics scientist at . In this role, he employed a holistic approach to examine the interactions between genetic and environmental factors, quantifying their relative contributions to animal performance as well as carcass and meat quality traits. His research has consistently focused on optimizing livestock production systems to maximize profitability while maintaining or enhancing product quality.

“The first thought that came to my mind when I met Dr. Juárez was his alignment with the Centre’s goals and vision,” says , chairman and CEO of the CANA Group of Companies, whose $5-million donation established the Centre. “He understands the role we wish to play in the agriculture arena. His desire to expand our base using student learning, exchange networks, early outreach, and the Alberta Science network resonated on how we want to elevate our reputation.”

Juárez is thrilled to be taking on this role and continuing the Centre’s committed work to connecting research with real-world policy and decision making. 

“I look forward to working with stakeholders across the agri-food system to help advance informed dialogue and support a more sustainable future for agriculture,” says Juárez.

The Centre was established in February 2020 through a $5-million donation from Ģ����ý rancher and businessman John Simpson. This gift provided the endowment to fuel four key research areas: agricultural innovation, public education, market trade, and environmental sustainability. The Centre has been Canada's leading bridge between agricultural research and tangible outcomes. The Centre mobilizes cutting-edge science to inform smarter policy, strengthen public understanding of agri-food system, and advances Canada’s sustainable food future for all — from trade policy and supply chains to climate action and public health.

The Simpson Centre acts as a knowledge broker, using the scientific and medical expertise of the UĢ����ý faculty to inform stakeholders on critical agri-food issues, such as climate change, trade dynamics, digital agricultural technology and animal health. 

“With extensive experience in agriculture, Dr. Juárez brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective to our organization. We are excited to have him join the team and look forward to the impact he will no doubt make”, says , PhD, dean of UCVM.  

The Simpson Centre and UCVM celebrate and thank the inaugural Simpson Centre director, , DVM, PhD, who has held the position for the last five years.  

“I am very proud of our accomplishments over Dr. Lhermie’s tenure,” says Don Smith, BA’91, executive vice-president and chief operating officer at UFA Co-operative Limited and Simpson Centre Advisory Board chair. “We knew we had big shoes to fill. Dr. Lhermie, thank you for all the time and effort you put into getting us up and running at the level we are at today.” 

Sincere appreciation goes to the entire Simpson Centre team and UCVM during this transition. At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Juárez and look forward to the expertise and leadership he will bring. 

  for more information on The Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy.