Candidate Profile – Dr. Marilyn Powers, P.Eng.

NAME Marilyn Powers, PhD, P.Eng. EMPLOYER AND POSITION Mohawk College Director, Academic Technology Integration & Innovation EDUCATION PhD Mechanical Engineering (Virtual Reality Surgical Simulation), University of Calgary, Alberta & École Polytechnique de Montréal, 2005 MSc Mechanical Engineering (3D knee kinematics), University of Calgary, Alberta, 1999 BASc Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Ontario, 1996 EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Mohawk College, Director, Academic Technology Integration & Innovation, 2020 – present Mohawk College, Professor & Coordinator, Immersive Technologies, 2019 – 2020 PowersTech Creatives Ltd, Product Management Program Creator & Facilitator, Communitech Academy & Product Management Consultant, 2017 – present D2L Inc., Senior Product Manager, 2014 – 2018 AXDEV Group, Director of Operations, 2013 – 2014 CAE Healthcare, Inc, Manager, Project Management Office, 2011 – 2012 CAE Healthcare, Inc, Manager, Education, Training & Research, 2008 – 2011 MPB Communications, Inc, NSERC Industrial Post-doc in Haptic Interfaces & Mechanical Engineer, 2006 – 2008 University of Calgary, Researcher, Biomechanics, 1996 – 2005 Mount Royal College, Instructor, Engineering, 1999 – 2002

YEARS OF REGISTRATION WITH THE PROFESSION

• Ontario – 16 years (1996 – 2003 & 2014 – 2021)
• Quebec – 9 years (2004 – 2013)

OTHER PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Association of International Product Marketing & Management, Certified Product Manager

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Manager, KW Vipers Girls Basketball, 3 years
• Surge @Mohawk (an entrepreneurship service), Mentor, 2 years
• Communitech, Product Management P2P Co-Champion, 3 years
• Communitech, Women in Tech Mentor, 1 year

CANDIDATE STATEMENT

As new technology emerges at an accelerated rate, now more than ever before, we need a strong, networked engineering profession. I have dedicated my career to applying technological advances to helping us learn: from immersive simulations to learning management systems. Yet in the 25 years I’ve practiced, I have rarely worked alongside another Professional Engineer. Most engineers don’t bother to register because it’s not perceived as having an effect on their career. Yet, these engineers work on software applications and platforms on which our society now needs as basic infrastructure to do business. It is with this conviction that I believe I can add new perspective to OSPE’s initiatives of advocacy, inclusivity and diversity.

As customer-centric Product Manager and professor of design thinking, I work collaboratively to identify root problems and lead teams through creative solutions. My experience in working with start-ups and within long-standing corporations from high-tech healthcare solutions to SaaS software has provided me with tools and frameworks that use the scientific mindset to set hypotheses, run experiments to validate learning and adjust accordingly. I believe these competencies compliment the OSPE values of leadership, collaboration, and guidance by facts.

I bring my unlimited energy and enthusiasm for collaborating together to strengthen strategies and execute iteratively. I look forward to the opportunity to serve OSPE through this rapidly changing time.