OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chris Houser is the Dean of Science at the University of Waterloo. Prior to joining the University of Waterloo, he was Dean of Science at the University of Windsor (2016-2022) and Interim Vice President Research and Innovation (2022-2023). Houser joined the University of Windsor from Texas A&M University where he was the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Geosciences (2014-2016), and the inaugural Global Faculty Ambassador in the Office of the Provost (2011 to 2016).
Chris Houser is a coastal and aeolian geomorphologist. His research focuses on the response and recovery of coastal barriers to extreme storms, coastal erosion in the Great Lakes, the physical and social dimensions of beach safety, and the use of analytical reasoning, semantic modelling, and graph theory for landscape interpretation. His Coastal Research Group ([https://www.windsorcoastalgroup.ca/](https://www.windsorcoastalgroup.ca/)) also manages the COASTIE ([https://coastiecanada.ca/](https://coastiecanada.ca/)) citizen science science program in partnership with Parks Canada to monitor shoreline change in park managed areas across Canada.
Chris Houser
Board Member
Diane Johnston is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of senior leadership experience in higher education and a distinguished career in public sector financial management across Canada and the UK in health, local government and education. Currently serving as Associate Vice President, Management Services in the Office of the Vice President, Research and International (VPRI) at the University of Waterloo, Diane brings strategic oversight to the financial management of the research funds of the university and leads a team of professionals providing finance, HR, operations, risk management, systems, and analytics services across the VPRI portfolio.
Diane received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Aberdeen in 1993 with her research focusing on the electrical characterisation of semi-conductors. She retrained as an accountant, obtaining her UK Chartered Public Finance Accountant designation in 1996, and has deep expertise in financial planning, compliance, risk management, and research administration. She has played a pivotal role in implementing national projects such the UK National Health Services Shared Financial Services pilot and has led initiatives to streamline administrative processes and enhance financial accountability in research.
Diane’s governance experience includes serving on the Finance Committee of the National Cybersecurity Consortium and as Treasurer and Board Member of the Canadian Association of Research Administrators. She was awarded an Ontario Volunteer Service Award in 2015 in recognition of her service to Girl Guides Canada.
Diane Johnston
Board Member
For over 25 years, Jennifer Flanagan has been a leading force in transforming STEM education in Canada. As the Co-founder, President, and CEO of Actua, she has empowered hundreds of thousands of young minds, focusing on diversity and inclusion in technology and engineering. Under her leadership, Actua has raised tens of millions of dollars, engaging 375,000 youth annually through a network of over 40 universities and colleges. Her efforts target girls, Indigenous and Black youth, and those from rural and Arctic communities. Jennifer's work in technology equity and her entrepreneurial success have established her as a national thought leader. She also volunteers on numerous boards and advises startups focused on gender equity, innovation, and education.
Jennifer Flanagan
Board Member
Louis-Pierre Gravelle is a partner at Dipchand LLP. He is recognized as a leading professional in the fields of high technology and artificial intelligence. A lawyer and engineer, Louis-Pierre's practice focuses on patent and technology law, with a focus on obtaining and exploiting intellectual property rights for start-ups, SMEs and large corporations to support them in their business growth and success.
Louis-Pierre is a firm believer in giving back to the community. In this role, he has vigorously promoted the importance of protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights for businesses of all sizes, leading him to be involved with the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) for at least 15 years, as well as with the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI) for the past six years. Louis-Pierre is a past President of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC), President of FICPI Canada and Deputy Secretary General of FICPI.
Louis-Pierre Gravelle
Board Member
Megan Lee is Managing Director of Calgary’s “Quantum City,” with nearly 20 years experience across the full spectrum of research, innovation and commercialization. She has a significant depth of experience in various organizations from operational leadership at a publicly traded biotech company, to the world’s top university-affiliated incubator to a large oncology research and care funder.
She is a recognized expert in conducting technical and business due diligence, start-up creation, strategy and management consulting, investment portfolio management and organization management of a growth stage biotech company, where she led the development of new pharmaceutical products and recorded multiple consecutive years of record turnover and profit. She has a MBA in entrepreneurship and technology commercialization and a PhD in Biochemistry.
Megan Lee
Board Member
Michele Mosca earned a BMath from Waterloo in 1995, followed by an MSc and DPhil in quantum computer algorithms from Oxford. In 1999, he initiated Waterloo's quantum computing efforts, becoming a Full Professor in Combinatorics & Optimization, with cross-appointments in Computer Science and Physics. Mosca co-founded CryptoWorks21 and the Quantum Cryptography Summer School for Young Scientists at IQC.
He has significantly advanced quantum information processing, including quantum algorithms and quantum security. His work includes defining private quantum channels and optimizing quantum encryption methods. Mosca co-founded the ETSI-IQC workshop series in Quantum-Safe Cryptography and evolutionQ Inc. to secure systems against quantum threats.
His research is widely published, and he co-authored “An Introduction to Quantum Computing.” His accolades include Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, Canada Research Chair, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Michele Mosca
Board Member
Dr. Na Young Kim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo. Her research explores quantum electronics, quantum optics, cavity quantum electrodynamics, condensed matter physics, and quantum information science and technology. She leads the Quantum Innovation (QuIN) Laboratory, which aims to build large-scale quantum processors leveraging novel materials and advanced device technologies. Two major projects are currently underway: (1) the development of semiconductor quantum processors that integrate controllable optical and electrical domains to investigate exotic materials and the fundamental nature of symmetries, and (2) the realization of multifunctional classical–quantum device arrays that form a planar architecture composed of nanoscale devices with electrical, optical, thermal, and mechanical functionalities.
She received her B.S. in Physics from Seoul National University and her Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Stanford University, where she investigated mesoscopic transport properties in low-dimensional nanostructures. Before joining the University of Waterloo in 2016, Dr. Kim worked at Apple Inc., developing small display products.
Na Young Kim
Board Member
Dr. Nigel Smith became TRIUMF Executive Director and CEO in May 2021. Previously, he was Executive Director of SNOLAB and holds adjunct and visiting professorships at Queen's University and Imperial College, London. Smith leverages extensive leadership experience in developing science research facilities in the UK and Canada. He is a CIFAR Fellow, co-Chair of the IUPAP Neutrino Panel, and a member of various international advisory committees.
As a scientist, Smith's research spans astrophysics, underground science, and experimental physics. He led Dark Matter Research at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory for over a decade and has worked in underground labs in the UK and Canada. Smith holds a B.Sc. in physics and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Leeds University, focusing on VHE gamma-ray astronomy at the South Pole.
Nigel Smith
Chair
Sonia is CEO of Creative Destruction Lab, a global program for science-based ventures operating 15 locations in 9 countries. She also led the CDL Rapid Screening Consortium during COVID-19. With a decade at Hatch managing large projects, she founded the Sonia Sennik Resilience Fund at McMaster University, the largest multi-donor endowment in its history. Named Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, she serves on the board of Futurpreneur Canada, and was former coach of the Senior Women’s Rugby Ontario team.
Sonia Sennik
Board Member
Tim Jackson
Board Member
Tim Jackson is President and CEO of Shad Canada, a live-in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Math) and entrepreneurship program for high school students.
Tim has an extensive background as an entrepreneur, business and not-for-profit leader. He has served as CEO of the Accelerator Centre, an incubator for technology startups, was a Vice President at the University of Waterloo and was Executive Vice-President at the MaRS Discovery District, one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs. He co-founded Tech Capital Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm, and served as CFO and CEO at Waterloo based technology firm PixStream (sold to Cisco Systems).
Tim has been an active volunteer in his community chairing the boards of organizations such as The Ontario Trillium Foundation, The Waterloo Public Library, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region and the Centre in the Square Theatre. He has cofounded three charitable organizations
Tim sits on the boards of Manulife Bank of Canada and Bold Innovation Group Ltd. When not working you will likely find Tim at the poker table or practicing magic tricks.