Professor Carolyn Hansson CM, FCAE, FRSC has had a distinguished career spanning industry and academia, including roles at Lockheed Martin, Bell Labs, and leading universities such as Waterloo, Queen’s, Columbia, and SUNY. A Professor of Materials Engineering at the University of Waterloo and former Vice President of Research, she led innovation across all disciplines. A recipient of the Order of Canada, Professor Hansson has served on boards and influential committees across North America and Europe, with deep connections in international innovation circles.