Dr. Geoff Payne is President and CEO of Michael Smith Health Research BC, bringing more than two decades of experience as a biomedical researcher and senior academic leader in British Columbia’s post-secondary and health research sectors.

Geoff joined Health Research BC from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), where he served as President and Vice-Chancellor from 2020 to 2025. Over his tenure, he championed research excellence, strengthened community partnerships, and expanded opportunities for innovation in northern and rural health.

A physiologist by training, Geoff holds a PhD in cardiovascular and renal physiology from Memorial University of Newfoundland and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University in the John B. Pierce Laboratory. He joined UNBC in 2004 as a founding faculty member of the Northern Medical Program and currently holds the rank of Professor in the Division of Medical Sciences.

Throughout his career, Geoff has held numerous leadership positions dedicated to strengthening BC’s research ecosystem. At UNBC, he was the inaugural Assistant Dean for Education and Research and the founding Director of the UNBC Health Research Institute. He later served as Vice-President, Research before assuming the presidency.