OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(EMWNews – Aug. 5, 2008) – The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced six full-time appointments and two full-time reappointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).

Youssoupha Diop, Elaine Doyle and Carlos R. Martinez were appointed as Board members for three-year terms to the Montreal regional office. Lynda Gaignard, Mamerto C. Geronimo and Louise Paquette-Neville were appointed as Board members for three-year terms to the Toronto office. Winston E. Lim was reappointed a Board member for a five-year term to Toronto office and Carolyn McCool was reappointed a Board member for a five-year term to the Vancouver office. These appointments and reappointments were made in accordance with the IRB’s merit-based appointment process.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Diop held senior positions in Business Development with Airtel Communications, CDXAction and AMG-Capital. Mr. Diop earned his master’s degree in Business Administration from the Universite du Quebec in Montreal.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Doyle was Director of Public Affairs and the Clerk’s Office at the Borough of Cote-des-Neiges/Notre-Dame-de-Grace. She was also Division Head for the Clerk of the Municipal Court and Assistant Clerk in Pierrefonds. Ms. Doyle received her bachelor’s degree in Legal Sciences at the Universite du Quebec in Montreal.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Martinez was Director General for the Central Park Lodge in St. Lambert. He was also Human Resources Director at Douglas Hospital. Mr. Martinez received his bachelor’s degree in Administration and his master’s degree in Project Management from the Universite du Quebec in Trois-Rivieres, in addition to a certificate in Law from the Universite de Montreal.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Gaignard was a Professional Regulations Officer with the Law Society of Upper Canada, Paralegal and Litigation Law Clerk with the Ministry of the Attorney General (Crown Law Office – Civil) and Paralegal and Client Liaison with Marler Kyl Van Der Steen, Barristers and Solicitors. Ms. Gaignard received her Bachelor of Psychology from Bishop’s University in Quebec and her Paralegal Diploma from the PrimeTech Institute in Toronto.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Geronimo was a Collection Officer and Payroll Trust Examiner with the Canada Revenue Agency, and Senior Collection Officer with the Bank of Montreal and a Collection Officer with the Canadian Dominion Leasing Corporation. Mr. Geronimo received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Santo Tomas and his Bachelor of Laws from San Beda College, Manila, Philippines.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Paquette-Neville, a former IRB member, was a tax specialist with Premiere Canada Tax Services and Holt Renfrew. She was also Project Manager with LNDi, Louise Neville & Company and an Adjudicator with the Social Benefits Tribunal of Ontario. Ms. Paquette-Neville studied at the Mitchener Institute, the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School.

Prior to his appointment to the Board in September 2006, Mr. Lim was a Quality Assurance Advisor for Southern Ontario with the Canada Revenue Agency. Throughout his career, he has held various positions with the Verification and Enforcement Division of the Canada Revenue Agency. Mr. Lim received his Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Mountain View College in the Philippines and is a Certified General Accountant.

Prior to her appointment to the Board in June 2006, Ms. McCool served as head of the United Nations Development Fund for Women in Afghanistan. She also spent three years in Kosovo, where she served as Director of the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and her law degree from the University of British Columbia.

Created in 1989, the IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The Board has three divisions: the Refugee Protection Division, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Immigration Division. The IRB determines refugee protection claims made in Canada, hears immigration appeals, and conducts admissibility hearings and detention reviews.