Biography: David Murrin

Head shot of David Murrin.

Director General
Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering

Dr. David Murrin is the Director General of the NRC's Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre. Previously, Dr. Murrin served as Director of Research and Development (R&D) at the NRC's Ottawa facility, where he was responsible for the leadership of research scientists, engineers, and technologists who carry out R&D in the areas of naval architecture, ocean engineering, coastal engineering, water resources management and marine safety.

Before joining the NRC, Dr. Murrin was the Operations Director Canada for Wood Group Kenny, located in St. John's. He was responsible for strategic growth planning, negotiating agreements with clients, and understanding the offshore market and its potential for growth.

In 2011, Dr. Murrin was appointed Executive Director for the Centre for Arctic Resource Development (CARD) where he was responsible for interfacing with the Centre's Industry Advisory Committee and engaging the local community while developing and executing a strategic research plan.

Dr. Murrin holds undergraduate, Master's and Doctoral degrees in Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering, at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he has also worked as a visiting Assistant Professor. In 2012, Dr. Murrin was presented the Early Accomplishment Award from Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 2024, Dr. Murrin was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in recognition of his outstanding achievements in engineering, his impact on society, his profession and his peers, as well as his exceptional leadership in engineering practices.