Chancellor Elect

On March 15, 2024, the Senate, in compliance with the Post-Secondary Learning Act (2003), elected Nizar J. Somji as the 23rd Chancellor of the University of Alberta.  Chancellor Elect Somji will be installed on Friday, June 21, 2024 at the final ceremony of Spring Convocation and will serve a four-year, non-renewable term, ending June 2028.

During more than 30 years of leadership developing new initiatives, forging strategic partnerships and driving innovation, Somji founded multiple successful businesses, including the Jaffer Group of Companies, which has invested more than $130 million in Alberta through ventures in construction, staffing, information technology, realty, hospitality, petroleum and property management.

A U of A graduate, Somji holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering. Dedicated to supporting advances in industrial innovation, Somji has funded two engineering research chairs at the U of A, leading to many developments in process control and automation that were adopted by several multinational corporations. His expertise as a seasoned corporate executive also extends to the community. He is a current member of EPCOR’s board of directors and chair of KV Capital, a Western Canadian equity fund enterprise. Somji has also served on the boards of Redline Communications and Critical Control Energy Services Corp. As well, he has served with the U of A Board of Governors and as global director of campus development and operations with Aga Khan University and Hospital.