View the conference proceedings video (in realPlayer format) from the 2005 Young Inventors Inventing the Future conference, attended by approximately 150 innovators. Learn from accomplished entrepreneurs and experts in commercialization.
A wealth of experience for only $15.99 CAD!
The speakers listed below have agreed that all proceeds from the sale of the videos will be donated to support Young Inventors International.
Not only can you access leading minds in innovation, you can also help the next generation of innovators.
Featured Speakers:
JOHN E. ABELE
Founder Chairman,
The process of invention, the challenge of system solutions, ethical and social dilemmas
John Abele is the Founder Chairman of Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX on NYSE), a 16,000 employee, $6 billion world wide company that is a pioneer and leader in the field of “Less Invasive Medicine,” offering a broad range of products used to treat diseases or injuries of the heart, brain, digestive tract, urinary system, lungs, and vascular system.
A physics and philosophy graduate of
Amherst College, John started in the medical device business in 1960 with a small company that pioneered several laboratory instruments (flame photometer, osmometer) and distributed the first implantable pacemaker. Abele is one of the pioneers of less invasive medicine. In 1969 he joined with an inventor in a company called Medi-tech to develop, manufacture, and market a steerable catheter, which became the platform for a family of interventional “alternative to surgery” products. The concept of developing technology and products that reduce risk, trauma, cost, and recovery time was counterintuitive in the 1970’s and strongly resisted by the surgical establishment. Over the next two decades, however, with the use of innovative conferencing and training techniques, this concept transformed the practice of medicine. John holds numerous patents and has published and lectured extensively on the technology of various medical devices and on the technical, social, economic, and political trends and issues affecting healthcare.
His major interests are science literacy for children, education, and the process by which new technology is invented, developed, and introduced to society. Current activities include chair of the FIRST Foundation which works with high school kids to make being science-literate cool and fun, participation on many other non-profit boards, and development of The Kingbridge Centre (www.kingbridgecentre.com) and Institute, a conferencing institution whose mission is to research, develop, and teach improved methods for interactive conferencing: problem solving, conflict resolution, strategic planning and new methods for learning.
DR. DOUGLAS BARBER
Founder, Director, and Past President and CEO, Gennum Corporation
ROGER HILDESHEIM
Senior Engineering Manager, Lockheed Martin
Roger started his career in 1984 at Com Dev Ltd. as a microwave/RF technologist, working on satellite multiplexing equipment and advanced millimetre wave RF products. He attended
Lakehead University to earn an Engineering Degree and began working at Lockheed Martin Canada in 1989 in Electronic Warfare (EW) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system development. He was the lead RF engineer on the team that developed a low cost radar direction finding system. Roger then transitioned into a systems engineering role as chief engineer on a land based radar direction finding and location system. Roger has been chief engineer on multiple contracts with commercial wireless carriers to define system architectures for wireless phone location technologies. Currently, Roger Hildesheim is the Sr. Engineering Manager of the Lockheed Martin Canada at the
Kanata facility.
DR. HAROLD JENNINGS
Inventor of the Meningitis C vaccine (NeisVac-C™) and Distinguished Research Scientist, Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council of
Dr. Harold Jennings graduated in the
U.K. from the Brunel College of Technology in 1959. He emigrated to Canada in 1960 and obtained an MSc (1961) and PhD (1964) in Carbohydrate Chemistry from Queen’s University. After completing a NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship at Bristol University he joined the Institute for Biological Sciences at the National Research Council of Canada in 1966, where he has worked ever since. Dr. Jennings is internationally recognized for his pioneering research leading to the development of life-saving synthetic conjugate vaccines against bacteria that cause infant meningitis, one of which, against group C meningococcal meningitis, is currently being marketed in Canada and worldwide. Because of his expertise Dr. Jennings has been a regular consultant to both vaccine manufacturers, and national and international health agencies. He was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in 1999, and was recently nominated as a National Research Council Distinguished Research Scientist. Among his many other accolades are the Gold Medal Award of the Professional Institute of Public Service of Canada (1999), Manning Award of Distinction (2002), Jonas Salk Award (2003), Kalev Pugi Award of the Society of Chemical Industry (2004), and DSc (honoris causa) from Carleton University (2004).
MICHAEL LEE
Vice President, Interad Media Design Corp.
Michael joined Interad in 1996 after completing a degree in Environmental Science at the
University of Toronto, where he first experimented with Web technologies. It was also at the U of T that Michael mentored under Ian Graham and contributed to the second edition of Dr. Graham's bestseller, The HTML Sourcebook. As a principal at Interad, Michael's spends his time managing project teams and client relationships, while exploring his interests in information architecture, usability, and design.
RICHARD OWENS
Executive Director of the Centre for Innovation Law and Policy, and Chairman of the
Richard Owens has been the Executive Director of the Centre for Innovation Law and Policy since February 2001. He graduated from the University of Toronto Law School in 1987 and was called to the bar in 1989. He then built a career as a partner with Smith Lyons (now Gowlings) LLP practicing corporate and commercial law and specializing in technology related law, leading its IT and IP practices. His teaching and writing interests include the Internet, intellectual property, financial services, electronic commerce, biotechnology and the law of the cyborg.
Richard has acted for many high-technology companies as well as financial institutions in their uses of technology, including licensing, strategic alliances and joint ventures, privacy, financing, outsourcing, electronic commerce, public/private partnerships, and Internet issues. He is a director of the Computer Law Association and of other private corporations and charities. He is chair of the board of the
University of Toronto Innovations Foundation. Richard has been repeatedly recognized as one of
Canada's leading computer lawyers in the Leading Lawyers in Canada Guides, published jointly by Lexpert and American Lawyer magazine. He has written and published widely on the law of information technology, privacy, and the regulation of financial institutions. Richard has taught a course called the Law of Information Technology and Electronic Commerce, and another course on Innovation Law and Policy. He is preparing a course on biotechnology law and policy. He is currently at work on many projects relating to innovation law and policy.
THOMAS PARSONS
Chair, OnSETT, and Senior Business Development Officer at the Research Business Development Office of the University Health Network
Thomas Parsons is Senior Business Development Officer at University Health Network (UHN) where he helped create the UHN Research Business Development Office. He is also Chair of the Ontario Society for Excellence in Technology Transfer (OnSETT), an association of technology transfer offices in
Ontario, as well as a director of Molecular Templates Inc. a UHN Spin-off company. Prior to UHN, he worked in research on the genetics of mental disorders and created the research business development function at Clarke Institute of Psychiatry (now part of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health). Mr. Parsons holds an M.Sc. from University of Toronto and an Honours BSc in Biochemistry and Biology from Dalhousie University.
EBAD RAHMAN
Associate Lawyer, Bereskin and Parr
Ebad Rahman is an associate lawyer with Bereskin & Parr and is a member of the firm's software/high technology practice group. Ebad attended
York University where he obtained a bachelor of science in computer science. He then graduated in the top 10% of his class at Osgoode Hall Law School where he received his law degree. While attending law school, Ebad spent two summers with Bereskin & Parr and also completed his articling term with the firm. In addition, Ebad gained experience working in the software industry developing database applications for a large company that specialized in electronic tolling systems. At Bereskin & Parr, his patent practice focuses on computer software and business method patents.
Currently, Ebad is a member of the Advisory Committee for the
School of Computer Studies at Seneca College.
DAVID ANDREW TOBIN
Commissioner of Patents, Registrar of Trade-marks and CEO, Canadian Intellectual Property Office Department of Industry
David Tobin was appointed Commissioner of Patents, Registrar of Trade-marks and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in December 1999. The Office is responsible for the administration of
Canada's intellectual property system. In the past 25 years, Mr. Tobin has occupied several positions in the federal government, namely with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Department of Finance. For a few years, Mr. Tobin also held the position of Director General of the Corporate Governance Branch within Industry Canada. He holds a B.A. Honours (Political Science) from Loyola College and an M.A. from Carleton University's Institute of Canadian Studies.
ANNE SWIFT
Founder and President, Young Inventors International
Glamour Magazine named Anne Swift a visionary who will change the world for her work in creating and managing Young Inventors International, a not-for-profit organization that connects innovators between 18 and 35 who are commercializing new technologies to helpful resources. Under Anne’s leadership, the organization has grown to more than 1,000 members, and counts Xerox, Pratt and Whitney, Dupont, Mitsubishi, Magna International, the World Intellectual Property Office as its supporters.
Anne contributes regularly to policy discussions through her involvement with the Innovation System Research Network at the
University of Toronto, where Anne is designing performance measures for a multi-million dollar study. Anne also manages a consulting company, with entrepreneurs and organizations that support innovators, including the MaRS Discovery District in
Toronto and start-up companies in Canada and Sweden. Anne’s work has been profiled in various national and international media, including the National Public Radio, the IEEE Spectrum, and the Toronto Star.