Meet Our Dedicated Leadership Team
Samantha is a global leader in mining and engineering with 38 years in leadership roles at Falconbridge/Glencore, Denison, Inco, Vale, BESTECH, and Stantec. She is recognized among the Top 100 Women in Mining. She authored the Whole Mine Approach to promote sustainability in design, and she is a community champion of Designing Sustainable Prosperity – The Sudbury Initiative. Samantha is the outgoing President of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), a technical advisor to BROKKR, and sits on several boards including Eldorado Gold, Paramount Gold Nevada, and Northern Graphite. Her recognitions include awards from WIM Trailblazer, Engineers Canada, University of Toronto, OSPE Engineering Management, and CIM Fellowship and President’s Medal. In 2026, she was inducted to the Mining Hall of Fame.
Catherine is a structural engineer and Senior Vice President at Stantec. She has received numerous accolades for her professional contributions including Engineers Canada’s Gold Medal, the Order of Ontario, induction into Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women Hall of Fame, honorary doctorates, and Lifetime Achievement Awards. Catherine has chaired major engineering boards including FIDIC and Engineers Canada. She has also served on several other boards including Western University, Engineers Without Borders and Hydro One.
Richard is a leading figure in aerospace and energy, known for innovation in medical imaging and sustainable alumina production. He has served on over 25 boards and contributes to national science and energy policy. Richard is currently CEO of Technologies Aerospatiales, Executive Chair of Sigma Energy Storage, and Chair of Polar Knowledge Canada, leading strategic initiatives in science and sustainability.
Bruce Burlton is a pioneer in satellite communications, having led the deployment of 12 Telesat satellites. His most notable achievement was rescuing the Anik E2 satellite, enabling it to operate for 10 more years. He is widely respected for his technical innovation and leadership. Bruce now serves as an Adjunct Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University.
Janaka Ruwanpura, named a Top 25 Canadian Immigrant by the Prime Minister in 2022, is an internationally recognized scholar, leader, consultant, and entrepreneur in construction automation and productivity. A former Canada Research Chair in Project Management Systems, he served as the University of Calgary’s Vice-Provost International and Associate Vice-President Research from 2013–2024. He is also President of JYR Consultants and a fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and Member of the US National Academy of Construction.
Dr. Gamal Refai-Ahmed, Ph.D., P.Eng. (Ontario), FIEEE, LFASME, FEIC, is a Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. A recognized engineering leader, he brings more than 30 years of experience in semiconductor packaging, AI, and high-performance computing. He has held senior leadership roles at AMD, Xilinx, and ATI, advancing chip, package, and system-level integration for next-generation technologies. He holds over 160 patents and has authored more than 120 publications. Dr. Refai-Ahmed now serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
With over 50 years in innovation and economic development, Camille Gagnon is the founder and Chairman of Innovitech. His work bridges academia, industry, and government, managing major urban and R&D projects. Camille has coached and financed over 100 engineering-focused startups, making him a recognized expert in innovation ecosystems in Quebec and across Canada.
Kevin Hall, President and CEO of Zayed University is a former civil engineer and global leader in sustainability and equity in education. His research focused on environmental modeling and public health. He has advanced innovation in Canada and Australia and is a founding board member of the Sydney School of Entrepreneurship. Kevin is dedicated to inclusive, impactful education and research.
Dr. Jayas is a globally recognized grain storage expert and Distinguished Professor. His research has improved grain systems worldwide, supporting automation and safety in food storage. He has supervised over 100 graduate students and published over 445 peer-reviewed papers. Dr. Jayas is also deeply involved in technical societies and higher education leadership, shaping global agricultural practices.
Heather Kennedy’s career in the resource sector and public service spans operations, major capital projects, stakeholder engagement, policy and regulatory work. She is a strong advocate for diversity in engineering and community engagement. For more than 20 years she has contributed to numerous not-for-profit and community organizations. Heather sits on several corporate boards and continues to shape Canada’s engineering landscape as a priority.
Sadie Sellars has played key roles in major offshore oil and gas projects including Hibernia, Sable, and Hebron. As Technical Manager for the Hebron Project, she led one of Canada’s most complex engineering undertakings. Sadie is also a founding member and former president of WISE-NL and currently serves on the board of C-CORE, supporting innovation in remote sensing and geotechnical engineering.
Dr. Jesse Zhu is a Distinguished Professor at Western University and a global expert in particle technology. His innovations in fluidized beds, powder handling, and pharmaceutical processes have led to licensed technologies worldwide. Dr. Zhu has received top awards from CSChE and Western, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2015 for his outstanding contributions to engineering.
Robert has over 30 years of experience in technology innovation and leadership. He has held senior roles in organizations such as NanoQuébec and Precarn, and serves on multiple boards. He holds engineering degrees from McGill and a Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa. A CAE Fellow, IEEE Senior Member, and certified PMP and ICD.D, Robert is committed to advancing engineering, innovation, and governance in Canada.