Haig Farris was one of the co-founding members and partners of the Ventures West Management group of venture capital funds, now the largest venture capital pool in western Canada. His venture management experience includes finding, financing and developing high-technology start-ups and corporate turn-around opportunities. Since 1990, he has been President of Fractal Capital Corp., a private venture capital company financing high technology start-ups and resource service technology companies. From 1993 to 2003, Mr. Farris was also an Adjunct Professor of the University of British Columbia (UBC), teaching a course on entrepreneurship to graduate engineering, science and MBA students. Mr. Farris holds a Bachelor of Arts (economics and english) and an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of British Columbia, as well as a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Mr. Farris received the Bill Thompson Career Achievement Award from the British Columbia Technology Industry Association, and was awarded the Commemorative Medal of Canada in recognition of his service to the community. In 2001, the Vancouver Board of Trade named him a Pioneer of Innovation. He has been Chair of the Science Council of BC and a member of the founding Board of Directors for Science World, heading its first two capital campaigns. On the UBC campus, he served as President of the Alumni Association (1996-1999), is current chair of the President's Library Advisory Committee, and sits on the Dean of Science and Cecil Green College advisory committees.
Dr. Farris served on the PIMS Board of Directors from 2004-2019.
