FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2013
Max Bell Foundation announces the appointment of Allan Northcott as Vice President and Dr. Ralph Strother as Chief Investment Officer
CALGARY, AB – Max Bell Foundation, a pan-Canadian grantmaking Foundation that helps charities bring their insights and experiences to the public policy process, has appointed Allan Northcott as Vice President and Dr. Ralph Strother as Chief Investment Officer.
“In this new role, Allan will lead grant making at McGill University and Foundation initiated programs including the Public Policy Training Institute and the 40th Anniversary Essays and Lectures,” said David Elton, Max Bell Foundation’s President. “He’ll also continue to work with the broad network of applicants and grantees the Foundation supports across Canada.”
Northcott brings a deep understanding of Canada’s charitable sector developed over more than 15 years in academic, think tank, and Foundation settings. He has advised on strategy, program and project design, and communications for a range of organizations including the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Imagine Canada, and the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers’ Network, where he served as Board Chair from 2009-2012. Over those years, Mr. Northcott has developed an extensive network of contacts within Canada’s community of charitable organizations.
Prior to joining Max Bell Foundation in 1998, Mr. Northcott served as a policy analyst at Canada West Foundation and taught communications at the University of Calgary and the University of Illinois. He holds a master’s degree in communications and an honours bachelor degree in communications, both from the University of Calgary.
“I am very pleased to announce this appointment,” said Carolyn Hursh, Chair of Max Bell Foundation’s Board. “Allan’s knowledge and experience will be critical to ensuring Max Bell Foundation achieves its mission to improve Canadian society through a focus on public policy.”
As Chief Investment Officer Ralph will be responsible for monitoring the performance of our investment managers and identifying creative investment opportunities for the Foundation within public markets and in the private sector” said David Elton. “In addition Ralph will continue to play a lead role in identifying health care granting opportunities and working with other foundations on joint initiatives.”
Strother brings to his new position over twenty years of experience in both the charitable sector and the investment community. He has been the Chair of both the Calgary Foundation and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and has served as an advisor to the investment committees of a number of Foundations. Ralph is also a family physician with his Fellowship from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (FCFP) with a specialty in Sports Medicine and was a Professor at the University of Calgary medical school for 16 years.
“We are delighted that Ralph has agreed to accept this new challenge of overseeing the Foundation’s investment strategy,” said Carolyn Hursh. “The new reality in the investment world requires constant monitoring for foundations to keep their head above the water and we look forward to benefiting from Ralph’s extensive experience in both public and private investment markets.”
Since its creation in 1972 by the late Mr. George Maxwell Bell, Max Bell Foundation has made grants for a wide range of charitable purposes which benefit all Canadians. The Foundation makes grants of approximately $2 million annually to Canadian charities. Thirty percent of those grants support work at Max Bell’s alma mater, McGill University.