Catherine started out as a structural engineer and has had a progressive career in engineering and management and is the Chief Operating Officer of Morrison Hershfield now Stantec, a global multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm with 35,000 professionals around the world. Catherine has also had professional public leadership roles including being elected the chair of three professional engineering organizations in Canada – Engineers Canada, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE). She also served on other boards including Engineers Without Borders, Hydro One Incorporated and Western University Board of Governors. In addition to being the President of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, she is presently the President of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) representing over one and a half million engineering professionals in about 100 countries worldwide; and is on the board of the Canadian Council of Academies (CCA). Besides being inducted as a Fellow to the Academy, she has consistently been recognized for her contributions to the profession including awarded Canada’s highest engineering distinction for an individual’s achievement in their chosen field – the Gold Medal from Engineers Canada; awarded Professional Engineers Ontario’s highest engineering distinctions – the Gold Medal and the rank of Companion; been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in four different categories (Professional, Corporate Directors, Trail Blazers and Trendsetters and Corporate Executive); was inducted into Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women Hall of Fame; awarded The Governor General of Canada Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers; Awarded the inaugural Consulting Engineering Magazine’s Life Time Achievement Award; received an Honorary Doctorate from Western University and from the Toronto Metropolitan University, to name a few. Catherine has a bachelor’s and master’s degree of Engineering Science from Western University.
Samantha is a trailblazer and global leader in the engineering profession and in the mining industry. She has more than 30 years of experience including executive director roles at Vale. She is a strong advocate for engineering and promoter of the essential role of mining for society and is listed as one of the Top 100 Women in Mining. She received numerous recognitions and is sought after for her thought-leadership and engaging management style. Currently, as the Senior Executive Advisor at Stantec, she is leading a Whole Mine Approach in engineering consulting to drive a step change in the mining industry and to achieve safe, responsible, net zero, and sustainable results. Samantha is the outgoing president of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum and is an active board member of several organizations.
A Fellow of both the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Soheil has over 35 years of diversified technical, business and operations experience in the oil and gas industry marked by providing strong leadership to several profit and not-for-profit organizations. He graduated from Rice University with a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has served the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum as President, Petroleum Society of CIM as Chairman, Petroleum Recovery Institute as First Vice Chairman, and Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovations and Canadian Photonic Industry Consortium as a director.
Bruce Burlton is a world pioneer in the establishment of commercial communications satellite systems. Among his many achievements, he was part of the team that successfully implemented and operated the world’s first domestic satellite communications system (Telesat) and led the team that successfully placed twelve Telesat satellites in the operating orbit. His most spectacular contribution was to lead the team which twice successfully rescued the Anik E2 satellite, developing the earth borne control system enabling it to successfully operate for 10 more years in spite of critical failures of its onboard control systems. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Department at Carleton University.
Kathy Baig has distinguished herself by her exceptional contribution to the restoration of confidence in the engineering profession in Quebec following the Charbonneau Commission, and by her contributions to several companies (Aéroports de Montréal, PyroGenesis Canada and others) and Boards of Directors (VIA Rail, Engineers Canada). President of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec since 2016, she implements the ING2020 Strategic Plan to make the Order the benchmark for the protection of the public. Her achievements have been recognized by Engineers Canada and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec (Mercure Award for her leadership).
Richard Boudreault is a recognized aerospace and energy authority who has served on key international committees, and an accomplished teacher. His work in medical imaging led to a new optical platform for breast cancer imaging and for drug development. He is spearheading, scientifically and strategically, development of a new process for the production of alumina which will potentially displace billions of dollars of Canadian imports and impact the aluminum industry worldwide. He is also a recognized expert in venture capital and in the development of technology-based companies, having served on over 25 Boards of Directors, including, presently, Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd. He is currently CEO of Technologies Aerospatiales, executive Chair of Sigma Energy Storage and Chair of Polar Knowledge Canada, the national polar agency.
Dr. Crotogino has made outstanding contributions to the pulp and paper industry as a researcher, research manager and educator. His fundamental research related to paper making and pulp processing operations has led to significant changes in manufacturing technology, most notably a complete overhaul of paper calendaring technology in Canada and around the world. As a research manager and adjunct professor, he guided industrial and university researchers, and students to address key fundamental issues that would lay the foundation for improved operations and novel process technologies. Together with colleagues at McGill University, he helped to build a sound understanding of the factors governing through-air drying, a key technology in the manufacture of tissue paper products.
Dr. Ray Gosine, Associate Vice-President (Research) and former Dean at Memorial University of Newfoundland, is an academic leader with a longstanding commitment to university-industry collaboration and to the transfer and commercialization of university research to benefit Canada. He has been successful in building research partnerships and generating millions of dollars in investments to Memorial. The province has profited from his student mentorship as a Research Chair and from his encouragement for his students to identify and address real industrial challenges leading to the creation of their own technology businesses.
Dr. Jayas of the University of Lethbridge (formerly of the University of Manitoba) is a world-renowned scientist in the field of grain storage research and is a former a Canada Research Chair in Stored-Grain Ecosystems. His research has resulted in better grain storage and drying systems in several countries, and is contributing to the automation of grain handling and processing operations in Canada and several other countries. He has trained more than 100 highly qualified personnel at the masters, doctoral and postdoctoral levels. Dr. Jayas has authored or co- authored over 445 refereed papers and an additional 400 technical articles, conference proceedings, book chapters and books. Beyond his research contributions, he has been an active contributor to many technical societies and to his profession.
Heather Kennedy has been a proud engineer for 40 years. Heather has worked in mining and oil sands; in fields covering operations, project management, stakeholder relations, transportation and regulatory; both in private sector and for government. Heather believes the intersection of engineering and society is of utmost importance; demonstrated by work done in the regional municipality of wood buffalo. The need to have diversity in engineering, while being focused on the core skills and attributes of engineering has made Canada a better country and will be part of its future success and being part of this journey is her passion. Heather currently serves on the Boards of Ingenium (Canada’s Museums of Science and Technology), Careers; the Next Generation and the Calgary Airport Authority.
Bill is deeply committed to teaching and learning. He has been recognized with two University of Calgary Students’ Union Teaching Excellence Awards and has twice been named Professor of the Year in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Bill has been active with and received awards from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and APEGA. Bill’s commitment to students is further highlighted through his involvement as a founding member of the Canadian Engineering Association, where he served as the western regional director on their governing board from 2011 to 2013.
Marc Rosen is a Professor of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa, Canada, where he served as founding Dean. He has carried out extensive research for industry on energy technologies, with the results in numerous instances being adopted, leading to increased efficiency and reduced emissions and costs. Dr. Rosen has served as President of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering and the Engineering Institute of Canada. He has received numerous awards, is a Fellow of many societies (CAE, EIC, CSME, ASME, CSSE, IEF) and has worked for such organizations as Argonne National Laboratory.
Jennifer Williams has made exemplary contributions to the field of power systems planning, operations and leadership. As CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, as well as through her other leadership roles, she has made significant impact in the province via planning for the net-zero energy transition and through oversight of the electricity resources in the province which includes generation, transmission and distribution assets, including one of the largest hydro plants in Canada, Churchill Falls. Critical contributions also include facilitating electrification in the province and enabling the burgeoning hydrogen opportunities. In addition to her professional leadership roles, Jennifer has contributed significantly to the community through volunteer activities.
Dr. Jesse Zhu is a Distinguished University Professor at Western University and has made major contributions to the application and understanding of particle technology. Working closely with students, colleagues and industry, he has made significant advances in many areas or particle technology, including handling of cohesive particulate materials, powder coating and fluidized bed reactors, and developing innovative technologies. His work has contributed in particular to the chemical, biochemical, materials, pharmaceutical and environmental industries, with several technologies licensed in Canada and internationally. Zhu has also won many awards, including 3 major awards sponsored by the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering and top awards from Western University. Zhu is also a Fellow of Royal Society of Canada since 2015.
Robert has over 30 years’ experience in technology innovation. He serves on several Board of Directors including private and not-for-profit organizations and is active in standards development. Prior positions included CEO of the National Capital Institute of Telecommunications, Executive Director of the Ontario Research Network in Electronic Commerce, CEO of NanoQuébec and VP Operations of Precarn Incorporated. Robert received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Business from McGill University, his Master's degree in Electrical Engineering also from McGill and his Doctorate in electromagnetic compatibility from the University of Ottawa. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, a Senior Member of the IEEE, Member of the Canadian Society of Senior Engineers (CSSE), a registered Engineer in the Province of Ontario a certified project management professional (PMP) and a certified Director (ICD.D).
