Ian Thomas, manager of Innovation Programs and Policy Research with the Science and Technology Division of Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, has left to join the Alberta government. He has been appointed to the newly created position of director, Policy and Planning, with the Alberta Ministry of Innovation and Science (MIS). Over a tumultuous five-year period, Thomas held a variety of positions relating to innovation and science and technology within the Ontario government. They included head of the secretariat for the now defunct Ontario Science and Innovation Council and management of the Ontario R&D Challenge Fund, Ontario Innovation Trust and Premier’s Research Excellence Awards. Prior to joining the Ontario government, he accumulated a large body of administrative experience with various governments and colleges in western Canada, including administration of the Premier’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology in British Columbia….