Indira Samarasekera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Indira Samarasekera
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Indira V. Samarasekera at the World Economic Forum, Annual Meeting of the New Champions, 2009
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| 12th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Alberta | |
| In office 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Roderick D. Fraser |
| Succeeded by | David Turpin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 11, 1952 Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Spouse | Sam Samarasekera |
| Alma mater | University of Sri Lanka University of California, Davis University of British Columbia |
| Salary | CA$546,236.90 (2015) CA$538,174.97 (2016) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Metalurgy |
| Institutions |
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| Thesis | Thermal distortion of continuous casting moulds (1980) |
Indira Vasanti Samarasekera OC (born April 11, 1952) is a respected leader and engineer. She used to be the president and vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta. Since 2016, she has helped choose new members for the Senate of Canada.
Contents
Biography and Early Life
Indira Samarasekera was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her family comes from the Sri Lankan Tamil people. She was married to Sam Samarasekera.
Education and Career Path
Indira Samarasekera studied Mechanical Engineering. She earned her first degree from the University of Sri Lanka in 1974. In 1976, she received another degree from the University of California, Davis. She was a Fulbright Scholar during this time.
Moving to Canada and Further Studies
In 1977, she moved to Canada. She continued her studies at the University of British Columbia. In 1980, she earned her PhD in Metallurgical Engineering. This field focuses on how metals are made and used.
Working at the University of British Columbia
After her PhD, she started working at the University of British Columbia. She focused on how steel is made and shaped. She was only the second woman to join the Faculty of Engineering there.
In 2000, she became the vice-president of research at UBC. During her time, the university's research money grew a lot. It more than doubled from $149 million to $377 million.
Leading the University of Alberta
On July 1, 2005, Indira Samarasekera became the president of the University of Alberta. She was the first woman to lead any university in Alberta. She served two terms, which means she was president for ten years. Her time as president ended on June 30, 2015. David Turpin took over from her.
Awards and Special Recognition
Indira Samarasekera has received many important awards. These awards recognize her achievements in science and leadership.
Key Awards and Medals
In 1991, she won the E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship from NSERC. This award is for promising young Canadian researchers. In 2002, she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors.
In 2012, she received the Public Policy Forum Peter Lougheed award. This award is for leadership in public policy. She also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal that year. In 2014, she became a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Engineering.
Honorary Degrees
She has also received special honorary degrees from many universities. These include the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto. Other universities that honored her are the University of Waterloo, Queen's University Belfast, Université de Montréal, and the University of Western Ontario.
In 2018, she was given the Bessemer Gold Medal. This award is for outstanding work in the steel industry. It is named after Sir Henry Bessemer.
Board and Committee Service
Indira Samarasekera has served on many important boards and committees. These roles show her wide range of influence.
Serving on Company Boards
She joined the board of directors for Scotiabank in 2008. In 2014, she also joined the board for Magna International. Since 2016, she has been on the board of directors for TC Energy. This company owns the Keystone Pipeline.
Leadership in Global Networks
In 2012, she became the chair of the Worldwide Universities Network. She has also served as a board member and chair of the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT).
Advisory Roles for Government
She has been a member of Canada's Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC). She also advised the Prime Minister on public service matters. She served on the Conference Board of Canada and the Public Policy Forum.
From 2010 to 2012, she attended the World Economic Forum in Davos. She often spoke or led discussions there.
Sources
- University of Alberta bio information
- Rising Up Against Rankings by Indira Samaasekera, Inside Higher Ed, April 2, 2007.
- http://scotiabank.com/cda/content/0,1608,CID12292_LIDen,00.html
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/u-of-a-students-could-face-new-570-fee-1.924947
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100226022300/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/administrators+face+furloughs+salary+cuts/2333907/story.html
| Academic offices | ||
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| Preceded by Roderick D. Fraser |
President of the University of Alberta 2005–2015 |
Succeeded by David Turpin |
