What is your first U of A memory?
My first meeting with my academic collaborators to be in the then very new Centennial Center for Interdisciplinary Science. I was very impressed with both the facilities and the researchers, and the culture that valued private sector partnerships.
What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?
Not all of my coworkers know that I continue to serve on the technical committee for the Canadian Hydrogen Convention, hosted at the Edmonton Convention Center.
What’s your favourite distraction?
I often find myself diving into the science behind the technologies in my portfolio during my spare time.
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
I’m very interested in the pace of innovation relative to policy, regulation and law. A program that explored this in general, or perhaps specifically, such as the impact of artificial intelligence on intellectual property strategy under the current laws would be very helpful. Better yet, if it explored these within a system wide context to identify the impact on commercialization.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
It’s hard to pick just one, but I’d be interested to discuss the methanol economy through the lens of today’s world with Nobel Laureate George Olah. Our paths seem to cross every 10 years or so. First, his prize-winning research led me to consider a career in organic chemistry. Around 10 years later, his book inspired two successful cleantech projects in the private sector. As it’s been nearly 10 years since he passed, the timing seems to be appropriate.
If you could see any live performance tomorrow, what would it be?
Almost any piano concerto from the romantic period.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
It’s okay to want to know a little bit about everything. Being a generalist will help understand new things, and to make unexpected connections between people and ideas.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Variety. My role allows me to engage on a daily basis with a broad range of inventions and stakeholders.
What three words describe your U of A experience?
Collaborative, adaptive, analytical.
Do you have any upcoming projects or initiatives you are looking forward to at work?
I’m looking forward to attending the 2026 Canadian Hydrogen Convention and serving as a session chair. It’s a great setting to engage with representatives from government, academia and industry in support of U of A innovation.
How would you describe your role to people who do not work in your field?
I’m a part of the team that enables inventors to navigate the path from discovery to commercialization. I ensure that new technologies have the right legal protections such as patents or the license agreements that bring them to market whether through private sector partnerships or a new spinoff.
