Roger G. H. Downer (21 December 1942 – 19 November 2022) was an Irish educator, scientist, and writer who held a number of non-executive positions on private and public sector boards.
The primary thrust of his research was directed towards an understanding of the biochemistry and physiology of insects and resulted in his consulting with a number of multinational agrichemical companies in the general area of insecticide discovery.
[6] Other senior leadership roles include: chair, Canadian Heads of University Biology Departments; president, Canadian Society of Zoologists; vice-president, Biological Council of Canada; vice-president, Huntsman Marine Biology Laboratory; chair, Council of Heads of Irish Universities; co-founder and co-chair, Irish Universities Association; member of council of European Universities Association; chair, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Grant Selection Committee in Zoology; chair, NSERC Grant Selection Committee in Food and Agriculture; member National Science Foundation Grant Selection Committee in Regulatory Biology; chair of numerous institutional and disciplinary review committees in North America, Asia and Europe; member of Quality Assessment panels in North America and Europe; chair, Planning Committee for establishment of University of Luxembourg.
Downer has served as non-executive director of Westaim Corporation,[7] Nucryst Pharmaceuticals, Shannon Development Corporation, Waterloo Economic Development Committee, Canadian Clay and Glass Museum, JF Kennedy Foundation, Irish Peace Institute (Chair), National Portrait Collection (Chair), Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation (Chair), Hunt Museum (Chair), Munster Rugby Board (Chair), Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Irish Rugby Players Association Player Services Council, UL Bohemians Rugby Football Club (co-president), Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership, Irish Red Cross, Washington Ireland Programme, JP McManus All Ireland Scholarships, Royal Irish Academy (Senior Vice-president).
A collection of Professor Downer's speeches as president of the University of Limerick "Reflections from the Shannon" (Wordwell Press, 2007) was published at the time of his retirement.