IT Director, Clinical Information Systems
Northern Health
Age: 39
Bjorn Butow claims it was his Prince George Citizen paper route as a boy that initially trained him in business. Well he is making headlines, now, as one of the local professionals who have grown up to lead this region’s business community. He is doing it from the health sector.
“I’m privileged to lead a dedicated team of technical and clinical professionals,” said Bjorn. “We undertake hundreds of projects, applying information management and information technology to transform healthcare. Our IT systems enable Northern Health clinicians to be more effective in delivering patient care in our northern B.C. hospitals, clinics and community centres.”
His is Northern Health’s largest IT portfolio, with 10 managers, 70 staff and an operating/capital budget of $15 million.
“Prior to Northern Health I led the largest revenue portfolio (about $80 million) at private sector high-tech company Sierra Wireless,” he added.
Butow has seemingly always been involved in key developments. He was co-founder of the NextPG group for business people under age 40. He was the founding president of UNBC’s Commerce Student Society while getting his BComm degree at UNBC.
Prior to that credential, he got a Business Administration-Computer Systems diploma from CNC and went on to get an MBA from Royal Roads University in 2011 before moving back to his Canadian home city (he arrived with his family from South Africa in 1988).
“I’m passionate about P.G. and love living and raising my family here,” said the husband and father of two children. “I’m a current board director of Kiwanis Prince George and the P.G. Performing Arts Centre, and co-founded and chair the local Kiwanis AleFest craft beer tasting festival.”
In the past, he has been a board member for Theatre North West and the UNBC Alumni Association while also serving on the Northern Edge: Prince George Integrated Community Network Committee with Initiatives Prince George. He wants his next venture to be a small company startup he is currently building the business plan for.
Presented by the Prince George Chamber Of Commerce
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