Moderator

Dr. Ishwar K. Puri

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering
McMaster University, Canada
Host of the 2020 GEDC Industry Forum

Dr. Puri is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is Dean of Engineering and Professor at McMaster University and a member of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Puri is the author of several books and archival papers and has founded technology startups. He served as chair of Engineering Deans Canada, and has been identified among the top 2% of scientists based on citations of their work. He is the architect of The Pivot, a significant transformation of engineering education that embeds design thinking, innovation mindset and entrepreneurship in all programming. The Pivot transforms the curriculum through integrated project-based learning experiences, reimagines the classroom as a purpose-built studio, and amplifies experiential learning. Puri initiated the MacChangers program through which interdisciplinary teams of students work on local solutions for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He is also leading the development of verifiable digital credentials and microcredentials for a spectrum of learners.

Keynote Speaker

Michael O’Neill

Director, University Partnerships EMEA
Coursera

After spending over 17 years delivering exceptional digital experiences with Adobe, Michael joined the University Partnerships EMEA team at Coursera to enable skills through transformation and learning. He works with universities to deliver the best blended learning platform for self-authoring, assessments alongside a deep catalogue of courses delivering critical skills that prepare the next generation of students for employment and prosperity.

Starting out at MTV in New York, then for nearly two decades of a high touch sales career at Adobe, and now with his latest Directors role at Coursera, he has helped global media, entertainment brands and Higher Education institutions across EMEA transform their end-to-end production workflows and teaching approach to enrich people’s lives with programmes, courses and services that inform, educate, entertain and ultimately connect.

More recently he has brought this in-depth industry knowledge to Education institutions to ensure they’re giving their students the power to create bright futures by igniting creativity, developing skilled content creators and career-ready students while providing a deep and varied course catalogue that includes degrees in a variety of subjects, such as engineering, humanities, medicine, biology, social sciences, mathematics, business, computer science, digital marketing, data science and others.

Panelists

Jennifer Bradford

Academic Programs Manager
Siemens

Michael Fors

Executive Leader
Boeing’s Leadership, Learning & Organizational Capability (LLOC)

Sunil Maharaj

Professor and Dean
Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
University of Pretoria
Chair-Elect of the Global Engineering Deans Council