Dr. Samarasekera is President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Alberta and former Vice-President, Research at the University of British Columbia (2000-2005). She holds a B.Sc. (in mechanical engineering) from the University of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), a M.Sc. (in mechanical engineering) from the University of California, as a Hayes Fulbright Scholar, and a Ph.D. (in metallurgical engineering) from the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Samarasekera sits on the board of the Conference Board of Canada, is Chair of the Board of the Worldwide Universities Network and is a member of the Science and Technology Innovation Council of Canada. She also served on the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee on Public Service Renewal, and on a President’s Visiting Committee at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Samarasekera has served as a consultant to steel companies around the world.
Dr. Samarasekera is an Officer of the Order of Canada and has received Honorary Doctorates from the University of British Columbia, Queens University in Belfast, Ireland and the University of Waterloo.
Scotiabank Board Details:
- Age 60
- Director since May 26, 2008
- Ineligible for re-election in April 2021
- Member of Audit and Conduct Review Committee and Human Resources Committee
- Meets Share Ownership Guidelines
- Independent
Areas of Expertise
- Engineering
- Public Policy
- Education
