Brian Colbourne has been appointed as Memorial University's director of the Department of Financial and Administration Services. The appointment was made by the university's Board of Regents at its March 27 meeting. Mr. Colbourne took up his new position on April 7.

In this senior financial position, he will be responsible for the monitoring and control of all university income and expenditures; and the installation and modification of accounting procedures, controls and financial computer systems. In addition, he will co-ordinate the budget allocation and administration process and administer university policies and procedures. He will also oversee the university's risk management, property insurance and daily investment activities, and provide direction to the university's print operations and support offices, among other duties.

Mr. Colbourne - who has a B. Comm. from Memorial and achieved his CA designation in 1981 - is an experienced chartered accountant with career experience that encompasses public practice, government, industry, volunteer and private business.

Most recently, Mr. Colbourne worked as vice-president, print operations, at Robinson-Blackmore Printing and Publishing, where he was responsible for three printing plants, including MRI Digital Print and the company's book publishing division. He was also responsible for liaising with the company's Halifax and Moncton operations and the development of an overall Atlantic Canada printing strategy for that company. Mr. Colbourne also served as Robinson-Blackmore's vice-president finance and operations, a senior position that carried the responsibility of managing the financial and operational aspects of 270-employee and publishing and printing operation, including 15 community newspapers.

He has also served as one of three senior managers employed by BP Resources Canada Ltd. to manage Hope Brook Gold Inc., a $350-million gold-producing mine infrastructure in Newfoundland.

Mr. Colbourne has owned and operated several of his own businesses and has worked as a regional audit director for the provincial auditor general in western and central Newfoundland.

In addition to his work experience, Mr. Colbourne is also active in community and athletic activities, and spent five years as a varsity volleyball player at Memorial. He has been extensively involved as a coach and as a baseball player, being offered a tryout with the Montreal Expos early in his career, and served a chairman of the 1999 Canada Winter Games Bid Committee which was successful in securing the right for Corner Brook to host the winter games in that city.