Welcome Adress
Robert A. Hanna (Founder, RPM Engineering Ltd.; Past President of IEEE Canada)
Bio: Robert A. Hanna received the B.Sc. degree from the University of Basra, Iraq in 1971, M.Sc. Degree (with Distinction) from Queen Mary College, University of London, England in 1973 and Ph. D. degree from Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London, England in 1977, all in electrical engineering. Following a short teaching career, in 1981 he joined Petro Canada (formerly Gulf Canada) as a central engineering specialist providing technical support to the refineries in implementing capital projects and equipment selection. In 1995, he founded RPM Engineering Ltd., a certified consulting company in Ontario, Canada specializing in Adjustable Speed Drive applications, power quality studies, emergency shutdown equipment and equipment failure investigations.
Dr. Hanna is registered professional engineer in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (FIEEE), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), UK and a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (FEIC). He was President of IEEE Canada and IEEE Director (Region 7) in 2006-2007.
Keynote Speaker
David Schie (Vice President, Micrel)
Mr. Schie is Vice President of Micrel Semiconductor's Analog Business Unit, which focuses on power management, supervisory, interface & RF integrated circuits, and accounts for seventy five percent (75%) of the company's revenue. His responsibilities include business p&l, international design, process development, product engineering, test and R&D responsibility. Before joining Micrel, Mr. Schie was an Executive Director at Maxim Integrated Products from 2004 to 2007. From 2000 to 2004, he was Vice President of Supertex, Inc. Prior to Supertex, Mr. Schie was a founder of various companies including the ESG group of companies and Linear Dimensions Semiconductor. Mr. Schie holds a B.A.Sc. in Engineering Science (Electrical Option) from the University of Toronto.
Acedemic Speakers
Adel S. Sedra (Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo)
Bio: Adel Sedra received the B.Sc. degree from Cairo University, Egypt, in 1964, and the M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Toronto, Canada, in 1968 and 1969 respectively, all in Electrical Engineering.
Dr. Sedra joined the faculty of the University of Toronto in 1969, rising to the rank of Professor in 1978. During 1986-1993, he served as Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering (now Electrical and Computer Engineering). On July 1, 1993 he assumed the position of Vice-President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer of the University of Toronto and served in this capacity for nine years, leading the University through two major long-range planning cycles, in 1994 and 1999. On July 1, 2003, Prof. Sedra joined the University of Waterloo as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering where he led the academic planning process “VISION 2010”.
Professor Sedra specializes in the area of microelectronics. He has co-authored about one hundred and fifty papers and three textbooks including Microelectronic Circuits, which is now in its fifth edition and has been translated into nine languages.
Dr. Sedra currently serves on the Research Council of the Canadian Institute of Advanced Research (CIFAR), and has just completed thirteen years of service as a delegate to Oxford University Press. Awards and honours include: FIEEE (1984), FCAE (1999), FRSC (2003), Education Medal of the IEEE (1996), Award of Excellence of Ontario Professional Engineers (2002), D.Sc. (Hon.) Queen=s University (2003), LLD (Honoris Causa) University of Toronto (2005), D. Sc. (Honoris Causa) McGill University (2007).
K.C. Smith
KC lives with his wife Laura Fujino in Toronto, in the east-side Beaches, a former nineteenth century summer resort, with quick access to the renowned boardwalk on the shore of Lake Ontario. Unlike a majority of present Torontonians, he was also born in Toronto. He has been working part-time since the age of 14 when he was a retail store delivery and stocking assistant, and through concentrated summer work, ultimately becoming an electrical technician for the Ontario power company by the time of his first degree graduation. In his career, work experience extended from the Toronto area to Southern Ontario, across Canada to Newfoundland, then to Central Illinois, and ultimately Hong Kong. Now, in his 78th year, legally blind with a genetic retinal disorder, he continues to work as a diverse volunteer (including neighbourhood tree planter), consultant, author, and lecturer. With the assistance of Laura he continues to travel broadly primarily in North America, East Asia and Europe.
Industrial Speakers
Paul Dosser (VP Digikey)
Bio: Paul M. Dosser, Vice President Business Development, Digi-Key Corporation.
Paul has been in the electronics industry for over 25 years. After joining a regional electronic component distributor in 1984 based in Minneapolis, he held several positions, including outside sales, inside sales manager and outside sales manager. Acquired in 1992 by Kent Electronics, a national electronic component distributor, Paul held positions of General Manager and Regional Manager. Paul joined Digi-Key Corporation in September 2000 as Vice President of Business Development with responsibilities of managing a team that strategically integrates suppliers, sales channels and customers. A heavy emphasis is put on developing Digi-Key’s engagement with Universities in North America, new product introduction (NPI) support with major OEM’s, and production support with strategic customers through Digi-Key’s volume business division.
Paul received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN.
Peter Hiscock (Syscomp Electronics Design Ltd.)
Bio: Peter Hiscocks (6T7) recently completed three decades of teaching Electrical Engineering at Ryerson University and consulting services in acoustics, multimedia and airborne instrumentation. He initated the Discover Engineering Summer Camp project at Ryerson, which encouraged young women to consider engineering as a career. In 2005 he joined with James Gaston to create the Open Instrumentation Project (OIP) to provide high-quality low-cost measuring instruments for engineers, students and hobbyists. The web-based company Syscomp Electronic Design hosts the OIP. It has now developed three successful products and sells instruments worldwide.
Ben Bar-Haim (General Manager, AMD Canada; Corporate Vice President, Software, AMD)
Ben Bar-Haim is general manager of AMD Canada and corporate vice president of Software Engineering for AMD. As General Manager, Bar-Haim leads AMD’s overall operations in Canada and manages relationships with the Canadian government and universities. He is responsible fordriving key initiatives and defining the value proposition of AMD’s Markham site. Bar-Haim is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Information Technology Association of Canada. As Corporate Vice President of Software Engineering, Bar-Haim is responsible for the global development, deployment and support of software for AMDproducts.
Bar-Haim came to AMD via the acquisition of ATI Technologies, Inc., in October 2006. He joined ATI in February 2001 as vice president, software, for the company’s PC business unit.
Prior to joining ATI, Bar-Haim served as president of Array Systems Computing Inc, a Canadian software company specializing in image and signal processing applications. Before then, Bar-Haim worked with Spar Aerospace Limited, where he was responsible for the development of ground-based computer systems controlling the robotics used by the International Space Station.
Bar-Haim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Tel Aviv University, and a Master of Sciences degree in engineering from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
Dermot J. A. O’Carroll (Senior Vice President, Access Networks, Rogers Cable Communications Inc.)
Mr. O’Carroll joined Rogers Cable Inc. in November of 1995 bringing with him over 20 years of experience in various technology, engineering and business management functions. In his capacity as Senior Vice President, Access Networks, he is responsible for the Technology, Planning Engineering and Operation of both the Cable and Wireless Access networks and for the integrated IP and transport networks. He has overseen the rebuild of the entire Cable network, the building and implementation of the industry-leading Network Operations Centre and the introduction of new technologies such as Internet over Cable, Interactive Digital Television, VOD, Digital Phone Service using Packet Cable architecture, and most recently Switched Digital Video.
He was previously with Unitel Communications Inc. as Vice President, Network Services. As such he was responsible for the architecture, design, planning, implementation management and operation of Unitel’s National Telecommunications network. This included both the Advanced Intelligent Voice network and the national Data and Frame Relay network. Prior to joining Unitel, he spent 15 years with Bell Canada, the largest local and long distance telephone company in Canada.
Mr. O’Carroll was born in Ireland and educated at University College of Dublin, Ireland graduating in Electrical Engineering. He is a member of the Professional Engineering Association of Ontario. He has been Vice President of the Radio Advisory Board of Canada for the years 1990 – 1995. He is in his third term as the Canadian Director at Large on the Board of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE).
Entrepreneurial Panel Moderator
Stephen Pollack
Stephen Pollack is a serial entrepreneur and technology specialist now working with companies and entrepreneurs seeking excellence. Stephen was most recently founder and CEO of PlateSpin Ltd, which he and his team grew to over $25M in revenue over five years prior to selling the business to Novell in 2008. During that period, Stephen and his team won numerous awards for business excellence, fast growth and market leadership, making it one of the most successful technology companies in Canada over the last 10 years.
Prior to PlateSpin, Stephen worked with globally successful technology companies such as Fulcrum Technologies, FloNetwork and NCR where he held senior leadership roles across a wide variety of operational disciplines including Marketing, Sales, Support, Customer Services, Operations, Product Development and Product Management.
In addition to Board and Advisor roles for companies such as Embotics, VM6 Software and Kaviza, Stephen is now the founder of www.InsideSpin.com, a community website designed to help technology entrepreneurs seeking excellence.
Entrepreneurial Panelists
Mike Branch (Inovex Inc)
Bio: Mike Branch is the founder and President of Inovex Inc. (est. 2003), a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Independent Software Vendor focusing on web and mobile applications. Mike is a published architect in the software domain for his work on mobile data collection systems and real-time, web based data acquisition systems, appearing in IEEE Industry Applications magazine. Since its inception in 2003, Mike has grown Inovex into a software development and consulting firm conducting business in the public and private sector (healthcare, oil and gas, water and wastewater), forging strong relationships with government and large organizations such as Siemens and SC Johnson. Inovex's expertise in developing highly salient web applications was also recently showcased on CBC's Dragon's Den, through the successful pitch for myCELLmyTERMS.com - a cell phone brokerage portal.
Mike is a Professional Engineer and graduate of the University of Toronto, holding a BASc in Computer Engineering. He has since served the university on a number of boards including the Executive Board of the Engineering Alumni Association, the Executive Committee of the College of Electors, and the Chancellor Search Committee.
Xerxes Wania (President and CEO, Sidense Corp.)
Bio: Xerxes F. Wania, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sidense Corp.
Xerxes Wania has over 15 years of experience in marketing, sales and engineering in the semiconductor intellectual property industry. He was most recently the Director of Mixed-Signal Marketing at Synopsys (Nasdaq: SNPS) where he was involved in marketing and business development activities for Synopsys' mixed-signal semiconductor IP products. Prior to Synopsys, Xerxes was the President of inSilicon Canada and Vice President of Mixed-Signal Business for inSilicon (Nasdaq: INSN) worldwide. inSilicon was a semiconductor IP market leader before being acquired by Synopsys in 2002. Xerxes successfully grew inSilicon Canada into a profitable business and in 2001 was listed among the Top 50 Canada's Hottest Startups. Xerxes was also previously the founder and CEO of Xentec Inc, a successful Intellectual Property company in Ontario, Canada.
Paul Chen
In 1993, Paul founded FloNetwork Inc., serving as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer. In that role, he guided the firm to prominence as a leading email marketing service provider. After raising over $30M from high-profile venture capital firms such as McLean Watson Capital, Ventures West and the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan, Paul was instrumental in ultimately selling the business in 2001 to DoubleClick (now part of Google) for $80+M.
Following his successful exit from FloNetwork, Paul served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at McLean Watson Capital.
In 2005, Paul launched his next venture, the Software-as-a-Service based email archiving firm Fortiva. As CEO, Paul helped to establish The Electronic Communications Compliance Council (TE3C). Fortiva grew as a leader in the SaaS email archiving space and counts many Fortune 500 companies as its customer with petabytes of email stored and instantly searchable. It was eventually acquired in 2008 by Proofpoint.
Paul earned his Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto. In his early career, Paul held development positions with IBM, Honeywell Inc. and Bell-Northern Research Inc., the research and development subsidiary of Nortel.
Life After Graduation Panel:
Sarah Oliveira (Bombardier)
Bio: Sarah graduated in 2005 from Electrical Engineering, and works for Bombardier Aerospace. Sarah's job is to design and verify electrical system control logic, as well as support in-service troubleshooting.
Mathew Szeto (RBC)
Bio: Mathew Szeto is a trader on the Program Trading desk at RBC Capital Markets. In this role he trades client portfolio on an agency or guaranteed basis with the help of proprietary algorithms in order to provide best execution.
Simon Nitschke (Hatch)
Bio: Simon Nitschke is a mechanical engineer at Hatch Ltd with 7 years of experience focusing of the design and analysis of metallurgical furnaces. He has experience in the completion of both design modifications to existing plant equipment as well as the study of alternative engineering options and detailed design of green field furnace and smelting plant areas. In particular, his technical experience includes the thermal and mechanical design of furnace technology systems using 2D and 3D finite element analysis techniques.
His field experience includes operations support engineering during equipment modification and installation in several metallurgical plant areas including smelter, off-gas and acid plant facilities, planning and execution of shut down projects, construction supervision of furnace rebuild work and assistance with commissioning and training during plant start-up.
Simon is currently the project engineer for the DC smelting furnaces for the Koniambo Nickel Project where he leads a team of multi-disciplinary engineers and designers.
Alvin Mok (Orbis)
Alvin Mok is the global head of the retail group at Orbis, a mutual fund with USD20B under management, with offices in Bermuda, London, Vancouver, San Francisco, Seoul and Sydney. His current focus is to incubate an internal start-up which will revolutionize the financial industry with state-of-the-art technology, novel business model and innovative products.
Prior to joining Orbis, Alvin was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey Hong Kong, where he was actively involved in the high tech and infrastructure practices as well as co-founded the Greater China real estate practice. Earlier in his career, Alvin was a venture capitalist, held positions in Microsoft, and founded his own startup whilst a student at the University of Toronto.
Alvin holds a MBA from Harvard Business School (Baker Scholar), where he was also the CEO of the student businesses and COO of student government. He graduated from University of Toronto with a bachelor’s degree from Engineering Science with the highest cumulative university-wide average (Governor General Award recipient).
Short Course on Engineering Design (Microchip)
Dennis Cecic (Microchip)
Title: Low Power Embedded System Design
Abstract: The overall low power problem is introduced. System design techniques are presented including management of internal peripherals, low power integration of external peripherals, external signal acquisition problems, power profile and clock management. Details of Microchip’s nanoWatt XLP microprocessors are introduced and examined as an integral part of a low power system design.
Bio: Dennis Cecic, P. Eng., is a Sr. Technical Training Engineer with Microchip Technology Canada Inc, specializing in microcontrollers, software and embedded systems. His 12+ years of embedded design experience includes development of microwave, infrared and acoustic motion sensors for the commercial security system market. He has also developed and taught courses in 32-bit microcontrollers and DSP in the school of electronics at Seneca College. He holds a B. Eng. Degree in Electrical Engineering from Ryerson University.
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