John Helliker, Director of Sheridan College’s Screen Industries Research and Training Centre at Pinewood Toronto Studios (SIRT) has accepted the position of Director, Strategic Partnerships & Director, SIRT/SirtNet, reporting to Dr. William Holmes, Vice Provost. Helliker will be responsible for establishing strategic partnerships that strengthen Sheridan’s role as a regional catalyst for academic, industry and government collaboration arising out of the synergies between the province’s screen industries (cinema, television and gaming), and ICT and business sectors. He will also engage Sheridan’s internal community in this process with the goal of expanding Sheridan’s leadership in curriculum, applied research, and creative innovation within these areas.
Helliker will continue to direct SIRT as well as SirtNet, a new broadband digital network and private cloud initiative for the screen industries in Southern Ontario. Building on the activities of the SIRT Centre at Pinewood Toronto Studios, he will also work to expand Sheridan’s campus identity in downtown Toronto.