Leadership Awards
Researcher of the Year:
David Wishart, University of Alberta: Global Leadership in Metabolomics
Innovation of the Year:
Tanay Kumar, Aqtiva Inc.: Microbubble-Enhanced Plasma Technology for Crop Health and Productivity
Alberta wide Community Champion:
Amanda Lockhart, Canada Security Collective: Modernizing How People Enter and Navigate the Security Industry
Special Award:
Bob & Carollyne Collier, Bob Collier Foundation: Supporting the Next Generation of Agriculture Innovators in Alberta
Early Adopter of Alberta Innovation:
Hanif Joshaghani & Tiffany Kaminsky, Symend: Behavioral Science and AI for Digital Customer Engagement
Indigenous Collaborations & Initiatives:
Tara McGee, University of Alberta & Amy Cardinal Christianson, Indigenous Leadership Initiative:Innovations to Reduce Negative Impacts of First Nation Wildfire Evacuations
Community Empowerment:
Adeiza Suleman & Efemena Ikpro, 10Alytics: Improving Employment Outcomes Through Practical Tech Training
Women in Innovation:
Barb Carra, Cybera: Strengthening Cybersecurity in Alberta’s Higher Education Through Cross-Border Collaboration
Change Maker (Student & Early Career):
Rhailyn Jane Cona & Yue Zhou, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT): Offline-First AI Health Assessment for Rural Communities
Special Award:
Alireza Bayat, Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre / University of Alberta: CUIIC – Leading Collaborative Innovation in Underground Infrastructure
Regional Innovation Awards
Research:
Rick Blackwood, fRI Research (Hinton): Hinton: An Environmental Research Hub for 33 Years
Leadership in Accessibility:
Matthew Jubelius, VirtuClinic (Medicine Hat): The Digital Front Door to Workplace Wellness: On-Demand Access through Digital Health Advisors
Software:
Nathan Johnson & Wesley Howery, Stratus Advanced Technologies (Lethbridge): AI-Driven Automation of Complex Business Operations
Technology:
Pirouz Kiani, Joe Bulhoes, Ghazal Jalali, NanoStrip (Lloydminster): Revolutionizing Industrial Waste Treatment Through Breakthrough Contaminant Removal and Resource Recovery
Best in Sector Awards
Social and Educational Innovation:
Richard Zhao, Immersive Virtual School / University of Calgary: Transforming Remote Learning Experiences through Immersive Virtual School
Health, Medical, and Life Sciences Innovation – Research:
Douglas J. Mahoney & Team, Riddell Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy: Advancing Cancer Immunotherapy Through Research, Innovation and Translation
Health, Medical, and Life Sciences Innovation – Commercial:
Michael Wilson, DrugBank: Connecting Scientific Insight and Commercial Strategy to Accelerate Confident R&D Decisions
Innovation in Quantum Technologies:
John P. Davis, Zero Point Cryogenics: Dilution Refrigerators: The Essential Cryogenic Cooling Infrastructure for Quantum Technology
Innovation in Digital and AI Technologies:
Garnette Sutherland & Team, OrbSurgical Ltd.: Pioneering Sensors, AI, Digital Innovation & IoT-Systems in the Neurosurgical Operating Room
Advanced Manufacturing & Smart Cities Innovation:
Dr. Rajbir Bhatti, Mount Royal University: Built AI-Powered Supply Chain Tools and Calgary’s First Smart Integrated Transportation Hub
Innovation in Sustainability – Company:
Md Golam Kibria, CarboMat Inc.: Transforming Low-Value Materials to High-Value and Sustainable Carbon Products
Innovation in Sustainability – Academia:
Roland Lee, MacEwan University: Sustainable Technology for Water Management, Waste Conversion, and Revitalization
Energy Innovation:
Wesley Paterson, Paterson Consulting Inc.: Repurposing Orphan Oil Wells into Community Solar Energy Facilities
Aerospace, Defence & Dual-Use Innovation:
Thomas Jones, Jones Microwave Inc.: High Frequency, High Power Solid State Switching for Communication and Radar Systems
Agriculture & Agri-Food Innovation:
Kajal Latimer, Canadian Angus Association: Advancing Sustainable Livestock Production Through Genomics and Precision Innovation
Alberta Capital Connect – Breakout Venture of the Year Award
Al-Karim Khimji & Craig Adam, Propra Technologies Inc.
