MIE Industry Board of Advisors

David F. Poirier (IndE 8T1), Board Chair Chief Executive Officer (CEO) The Poirier Group Ltd.

Mr. Poirier graduated from Industrial Engineering in 1981 and is a recipient of the Faculty's 2T5 Mid Career Award and the U of T Arbor Award. For over 25 years David held increasingly senior roles in retail and healthcare. David is currently the CEO of The Poirier Group Ltd., based in Mississauga, Ontario, which is a senior advisory firm, focused on working with Private Equity as well as public and private corporations to transform businesses or functions through difficult challenges in strategy, planning deployment and execution of initiatives and operations.

Professor Ridha Ben Mrad, Faculty Representative Associate Chair, Research Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Professor Ben Mrad has been with the University of Toronto since 1997. He previously held research positions at the National Research Council of Canada in Vancouver, BC, and Ford Research Laboratory in Dearborn, Michigan. R. Ben Mrad received in 1986 the BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, the MASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1988, the MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1991 and the PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1994. R. Ben Mrad's research interests are Mechatronics and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) with a special focus on the design of precision actuators, the design of microactuators and microfluidic systems, MEMS fabrication, and development of smart materials based devices.

Ted Maulucci (MechE 8T9) Chief Information Officer (CIO) Tridel Corporation

Mr. Maulucci graduated from Mechanical Engineering in 1989. Upon graduation, Ted joined Tridel and after pursuing an MBA at York University's Schulich School of Business, he returned to Tridel in increasingly senior roles. Ted created and deployed new technology, specifically software that integrates operations and became the leader of the software development group before accepting the position of CIO.

Dr. Cameron Ower (MechE 8T3, MASc 8T6) Director, Research and Development MDA, Space Missions

Dr. Ower graduated from Mechanical Engineering with a BASc and MASc in 1983 and 1986 respectively. He later completed a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University in 2000. He is currently Director, Research and Development at MDA, Space Missions, responsible for the identification and development of enabling robotic technologies in fields such as satellite servicing, planetary exploration and medicine. This current role also involves extensive university/industrial research partnerships and collaboration. Over his 25 years, he has been involved in the design, development and operation of a number of unique prototype and space systems including Canadarm 2, Dextre and the Orbital Express Demonstration Manipulator Systems. Dr. Ower is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Dr. S. Eswar Prasad (Adjunct Professor) Chairman Piemades, Inc.

Dr. S. Eswar Prasad is a well respected scientist and manager for 30 years. He is currently the Chairman of Piemades, Inc. and an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto. In 2010, he retired as the Chairman of Sensor Technology Limited (www.sensortech.ca), a company he founded in 1983. His experience encompasses fields of materials research (piezoelectric ceramics and glasses), acoustic transducers, hydrophones, systems design, and hardware development for defence, aerospace, medical and industrial sectors.

S.Eswar Prasad has over 35 publications and over 70 conference presentations and was an invited speaker at several international meetings. He has also served on the editorial board of the Encyclopedia of Smart Materials published by John Wiley & Sons, was the Canadian Representative of an International committee on sensors & actuators (American Ceramic Society) and a lecturer at a course organized by NATO Advanced Vehicle Technology Panel. S. Eswar Prasad is also currently on the board of directors of CANSMART, an organization dedicated to promoting smart structures in Canada.