KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & SPECIAL GUESTS

Mr. Denis Beaulieu has obtained a Bachelor degree in civil engineering in 1972 from Laval University, a Master degree from the same institution in 1973 and a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta in 1977. During his career as a researcher and professor at Laval University, from 1978 to 2009, he has, among others, supervised the research work of more than 45 graduate students and published a large number of papers and reports. He has, above all, authored and co-authored several practical textbooks on the design of steel and aluminum structures. He worked as a designer at Buckland &Taylor Ltd. of Vancouver in 1977-78 and 1992-93, and is presently with SNC-Lavalin since 2010. Dr Beaulieu has also been Associate Dean Research and Technology Transfer at the Faculty of Science and Engineering of Laval University, from 1993 to 1998, President of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering in 2002-03 and Vice-President Development of Technology at the Quebec Industrial Research Center (CRIQ), from 2004 to 2008.

Pr. Alain Desrochers is the NSERC Chair in Design for Aluminum whose mandate is to foster the strategic use of aluminum in products from a cost/benefit/performance perspective.  In addition, Pr. Desrochers is also Director of University Affairs at the Centre de technologies avancées BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) – Université de Sherbrooke, a joint research centre with a focus on motorized sports.  Prior to this, Pr. Desrochers was Associate Dean Resource at the Engineering Faculty from 2005 to 2009 and Bombardier Chair in modeling and design of mechanical systems and complex structures from 1999 to 2004.  His research interests are in product design and computer aided design.

Maurice Duval, Scientific Director at the CQRDA, obtained a diploma in geophysical engineering, in 1972 from the Engineering faculty of the University of Montreal.  He obtained there, in 1984, a doctoral degree in metallurgical engineering. He worked during ten years as a metallurgist engineer for the companies Combustion Engineering,  Canadair and  Lavalin. From 1984 to 1993, Mr. Duval acted as a consultant for the Canadian International Development Agency helping Senegalese industries in addition to directing researches and teaching mechanical engineering at the École Polytechnique de Thiès, in Senegal and at the University of Sciences and Technology, in Gabon. In 1993, he came back to Canada and started a design and manufacturing equipment company. He joined the CQRDA in 1997 where he is responsible for the whole scientific program and ensures the administrative and scientific follow-up of the projects.  He is, for this reason, the reference to advise the promoters of project and the Quebec companies involved in aluminium transformation.

Randy Kissell, P.E., is a senior partner with the TGB Partnership, an engineering firm specializing in aluminum structures in Hillborough, North Carolina, USA. Mr. Kissell is secretary of the Aluminum Association's Engineering Advisory Committee, responsible for the Specification of Aluminum Structures, used throughout the U.S. for aluminum structural design. He is co-author of Aluminum Structures – A Guide to Their Specification and Design, which demonstrates how aluminum opens up design possibilities for engineering and architectural professionals. Mr. Kissell co-holds two U.S. patents, including one for an aluminum bridge deck. His structural designs have been featured in Civil Engineering and Engineering News-Record and at ASCE Structures Congresses. He is chairman of the ASME B96 Committee for Welded Aluminum Alloy Storage Tanks, secretary of the American Welding Society's Subcommittee on Aluminum Structures, and a member of the ASTM Light Metal Alloys Committee, the American Society of Civil Engineers Load Standards Committee, and the American Petroleum Institute's Pressure Vessel and Tank Committee.

Mr. John R. McDougall was appointed as NRC's President in April 2010. Born and raised in Edmonton, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Research Council (ARC) from 1997 to 2010. His career began with a decade served as a petroleum engineer which quickly evolved into the ownership and management of an international engineering consulting firm. He held a number of influential positions with some of Canada's most innovative research and manufacturing businesses, consortium and not-for-profit organizations and has contributed to a number of senior advisory boards and committees at the provincial and federal levels. A fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineers and Engineers Canada, Mr. McDougall has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta, with a number of postgraduate courses in Environmental Engineering to his credit. From 1991 to 1997, he served as the university's first Poole Chair in Management for Engineers, a leadership position within the Faculty of Engineering. Mr. McDougall was founding Chair and President of Innoventures Canada.

Professor Federico M. Mazzolani is a world-renowned researcher in the field of structural design and engineering. His expertise includes such topics as: structural analysis and design; steel and aluminium structures, including connection and stability; earthquake engineering, including seismic design and passive control; and structural restoration. He is Professor Emeritus of the Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, as well as President of the Doctoral School of Civil Engineering, and President of the Master in Design of Steel Structures, all at the University of Naples “Federico II” in Naples, Italy. He is Doctor Honoris Causa at the Universities of Timosoara and Bucarest (Romania). Professor Mazzolani has written more than 800 technical papers for international journals and conference proceedings, and is the author of 34 books. He has served as Chairman of the CEN-TC250/SC9 Design of Aluminium Structures Committee since 1992, and served as Chairman of the national committee on Eurocode 9, Aluminium Structures, from 1990 to 2006. Professor Mazzolani has been also involved in a multitude of international engineering-related Boards, Committees and Projects, and is a member of the Canadian Standards Association.

Born in Montreal, Julie Payette joined the NASA astronaut corps in 1996 and flew two space missions aboard space shuttles Discovery and Endeavour. She is the first Canadian astronaut to participate in a mission to construct the International Space Station. In January 2011, Ms. Payette accepted a fellowship in public policy at the prestigious Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. In October of the same year, she was named Quebec’s Scientific Delegate to promote collaboration and linkages between science and technology institutions in the United States and in Quebec. Ms. Payette is Knight of the National Order of Quebec and in 2011 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. Ms. Payette is the Director of the Montreal Science Centre since July 2013.

Mr. Simard is President and General Manager of the Aluminium Association of Canada since January 2009. He is also President of the upcoming Canadian International Aluminium Conference. Prior to this, following almost 20 years as a public affairs and government relations consultant, mainly in the fields of the environment and energy, he joined Gaz Métro as vice-president, sustainable development and government relations. Mr. Simard holds a degree in civil law from the University of Ottawa and is a member of the Barreau du Québec. He is a member of the boards of directors of the Aluminium Research and Development Centre of Quebec (CQRDA) and Mission Design, a non-profit organization that groups together professional orders and associations in the field of design.

Prof. Soetens was employed from 1975 up to 2010 by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). From September 1995 up to now he is also attached for two days a week to Eindhoven University of Technology. His 35 years of experience includes research, consultancy and the transfer of knowledge on the behaviour of steel and aluminium structures, in particular the design of aluminium structures. Prof. Soetens leads, and has led, various national and international research projects of many companies, universities and research organizations throughout Europe. His activities at Eindhoven University of Technology are mainly dedicated to doctoral students of the Department of the Built Environment.