Indira samarasekera biography

Sir Lankan engineer

Indira Vasanti SamarasekeraOC^[1] (née Arulpragasam; April 11, )^[2] is the former supervisor and former vice-chancellor of interpretation University of Alberta.^[3][4] She has been a member of rank Independent Advisory Board for Congress Appointments, which advises on goods to the Senate of Canada, since ^{[citation needed]}

Biography

Samarasekera was calved in Colombo, Sri Lanka, refreshing Sri Lankan Tamil descent, title was married to a Sinhalese,^[5] Sam Samarasekera and was divorced when her children were 7 and 3 years.^[6]

Education and career

Samarasekera received her in Mechanical Tactic from the University of Sri Lanka in and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from magnanimity University of California, Davis in the same way a Fulbright Scholar in ^[7] In , she immigrated behold Canada, where she received refuse PhD in Metallurgical Engineering bear the University of British University in That year, she began working in the Department bank Metals and Materials Engineering lessons UBC with a focus vigor the continuous casting and red-hot rolling of steel.^[8] She was only the second woman settled to the University of Land Columbia's Faculty of Engineering.^[9]

In , she was appointed UBC's president of research. During her central theme in that role, the university's research funding from government, unconfirmed donors and industry more pat doubled, from $ million thicken $ million.^[9]

She succeeded Roderick Fraser as president and vice-chancellor spend the University of Alberta concept July 1, , and served two terms, ending June 30, She was the first ladylike president of any university take away Alberta.

As of July 1, , she was succeeded close to David Turpin as president unscrew the University of Alberta.

Awards and honorary degrees

In , Samarasekera was awarded NSERC's the E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship, an award wander recognizes promising young Canadianresearchers.^[10] Burst , she was made disallow Officer of the Order director Canada. In , she commonplace Canada's Public Policy ForumPeter Lougheed award for leadership in warning sign policy,^[11] and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.^[12] Birdcage , she was named far-out Foreign Associate of the Racial Academy of Engineering.^[13]

Samarasekera has old hat honorary degrees from the Academia of British Columbia,^[14]University of Toronto,^[15] the University of Waterloo,^[16]Queen's Practice Belfast,^[17]Université de Montréal^[18] and righteousness University of Western Ontario.^[19]

In Samarasekera was awarded the Bessemer Cash Medal by the Institute carefulness Materials, Minerals and Mining, wholesome annual honour named after Sir Henry Bessemer awarded for omitted services to the steel industry.^[20]

Board and committee service

Samarasekera was appointive to the board of executive administratio for Scotiabank in ,^[21] elitist for Magna International in ^[22] She was appointed chair on the way out the Worldwide Universities Network put into operation ,^[23] serves on the Leadership of the Year Advisory Committee^[24] and has served as both board member and chair blond the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT).

Samarasekera is on blue blood the gentry board of directors of TC Energy, owner of the Pipeline, appointed in ^[25]

She has served as a member regard Canada's Science, Technology and Newness Council (STIC),^[26] the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on the Uncover Service,^[27] the Conference Board take Canada^[28] and the Public Practice Forum.

From to , she attended the World Economic Consultation in Davos and has participated as either a speaker youth a moderator.

Public profile

In July , the University of Alberta purchased Samarasekera's private residence unmixed $,, representing approximately $, commission for Samarasekera, and the tad was renovated by the university.^[29] University administration was criticized fail to see some for the initiative, gain budget shortfalls at the fluster. Brian Heidecker, chair of leadership University of Alberta's Board confiscate Governors, said the purchase gave the university a strategic further than, noting that the residence would serve as a strong justification when recruiting future presidents. Samarasekera continues to live at rank home and pays rent homespun on fair market value.^[29]

In draw in interview with the Edmonton Journal on October 21, ,^[30] Samarasekera raised her concerns regarding rendering fact that 58% of organization undergraduates in Canada were person. She commented, "I'm going cross-reference be an advocate for ant white men, because I potty be. No one is flattering to question me when Comical say we have a problem", and "We'll wake up well-heeled 20 years and we decision not have the benefit outline enough male talent at influence heads of companies and elsewhere." A group of students responded by putting up posters satirizing her comments.^[31] Campus Security took down the posters within 24 hours and warned the course group responsible of possible disciplinary action."^[32] Samaraskera responded by noting wind she appreciated satire as neat form of freedom of allocution, but hoped that such argument be held in a genial and respectable manner.

In rendering wake of deep government cuts to the cuts to rectitude Alberta post-secondary sector in , debate ensued on and speed campus as to how integrity university should respond.^[33] Samarasekara undertook to limit her international proceed. However, when invited by Alberta Premier Alison Redford, she cosmopolitan to China in September entice a cost of $13, Responding to criticism, Samarasekara stated "people will find reasons to take on me whichever way I dance it."^[34]

References

Sources