Elizabeth Cannon

Elizabeth Cannon is an international expert in geomatics engineering. Born into a scientific household in Charlottetown, she went on to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science in mathematics at Acadia University, followed by a Bachelor of Science in geomatics engineering at the University of Calgary. After working for several years in the geomatics and GPS industry, Cannon returned to the University of Calgary, earning both a Master of Science and a PhD in geomatics engineering. She joined the Schulich School of Engineering as a faculty member in 1991, advancing to the position of dean by 2006, and was installed as the University of Calgary’s first woman president in 2010. Cannon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and an elected foreign associate of the National Academy of Engineering. She has received numerous awards and distinctions for her scholarship and advocacy for women in STEM, including the first NSERC/Petro-Canada Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for the Prairie Region. Cannon also developed Cybermentor, a ground-breaking online mentoring program to encourage girls to explore careers in STEM fields.

“Whether you are the first female dean of engineering or the first female president, you don’t do it for those reasons. But it does give you a mantle, and a voice, and an opportunity to impact others – either in a vocal way or in a subtle way”