Chair of Commonwealth of Learning’s board of governors dies

Dr Lewis Perinbam, chair of the Commonwealth of Learning’s (COL) board of governors, died on 12 December 2007. He leaves behind his wife, Nancy Garrett, a sister and three brothers.

Born in 1925 in Johor Baharu, Malaysia, Dr Perinbam was educated in Scotland and later emigrated to Canada, where he steadily acquired a national reputation for fostering Canada’s role in international development through his involvement with different organisations, notably the World Bank and UNESCO.

He was the founding Executive Director of Canadian University Service Overseas and Executive Director of World University Service of Canada.

As Vice-President of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for 17 years he inspired the creation of CIDA’s non-governmental organisation and industrial co-operation programmes - the first of their kind in the world - and launched numerous initiatives to involve the private, non-governmental and institutional sectors in international development.

After retiring from CIDA he dedicated himself to helping the COL, serving first as a special adviser to COL's first two presidents, Dr James Maraj and Dato' Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan, before being elected chair of the board of governors in April 2003.

COL President Sir John Daniel said: “At an age when most people would be enjoying a well earned retirement Lewis came to his office at COL most days. He was an inspiring friend to members of the staff and during his time as Chair of the Board COL's governance practices became a model for intergovernmental organisations. It was a privilege to serve under him.”

A service of remembrance will be held in Vancouver on 28 December 2007, at 2 p.m. at St Helen’s Anglican Church, followed by a reception at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, 3811 Point Grey Road. A memorial service will also be held in Ottawa in 2008. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Lewis Perinbam Award in International Development c/o WUSC, 1404 Scott Street, Ottawa K1Y 4M8, Canada (www.wusc.ca).

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• Commonwealth of Learning