User:alina toronto
This page was created just for you. You can use it to store your contact information, to-do list, or any other information you might want to share with other users.
My specific interests: to encourage integration of Russian and CIS scientists into the Canadian scientific community by bringing together Russian scientists and their Canadian counterparts,a helping Canadian technology companies to enter the Russian market, providing information about various initiatives, such as the Global Partnership Program under which Canada has already contributed over $60 million to the redirection of former weapons scientists in Russia to peaceful activities.
What I do now: I am a Director of Russia & CIS Programs at the Schulich Executive Education Centre, Schulich School of Business, York University, currently focusing on knowledge exchange programs in commercialization of innovations and intellectual property (i.e. Program in Commercialization of Innovations for scientists, start-up managers and administrators from Lomonosov Moscow State University). During these exchange programs we visited Ontario Centres of Excellence, MaRS, and high-tech companies and universities, including the Kitchener-Waterloo region. I maintain contacts with alumni of various executive training programs for Russia and other coutries of the Former Soviet Union funded by CIDA, and lately, by the Russian government.
Since 1990, I have my own consulting company, Sci-Tech Ventures Associates which provides technical liaison services and consulting for universities, companies and government institutions involved in bi-lateral relations between Canada and Russia, with an emphasis on Commercialization of Innovations and technology transfer between Russia and Canada, and also Canada-Russia Initiative in Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Private Partnership in the Russian North.
Background: I hold a M.Sc. in chemistry and Ph.D. in ceramic engineering from Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology in Moscow, Russia. After immigrating to Canada in 1974, I studied business management at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, and completed postdoctoral fellowship in ceramic engineering at McMaster University.
High-tech experience: I worked on advanced materials research and applications in Russia and then in Canada (1974-1983: Dept. of Metallurgy at UofT, Noranda Metal Industry Ltd., Special Metals Division - CANDU reactors). In 1984-1990 I worked as a Senior Ceramicist and then Director of Ceramics Research at the Powerplex Technologies, a joint venture between Magna International, Asea Brown Boveri of Germany and NGK Insulators of Japan, created in Toronto for commercialization of advanced sodium-sulfur battery for electric cars.
Experience in business education: In 1987-89 I represented Magna International on the board of directors of the Seneca College’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and in early 90s, on the Advisory Board of the East-West Enterprise Exchange Program at the Faculty of Administrative Studies (now Schulich School of Business), York University, where I served from 1992 to 1997 as a president of Sci-Tech Ventures Associates.
My direct involvement in executive education started in 1993-1995 when Sci-Tech Ventures Associates was contracted by York University to develop and coordinate a series of custom tailored programs for 150 managers from major steel companies in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
My major contribution into executive education in Russia, and Canada-Russia relations was the Canada-Russia Program in Corporate Governance, which I initiated in 1996 on request of a Russian client from steel industry who was sued by the foreign minority shareholders. In partnership with the Schulich School of Business, I put together a proposal for funding to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), receiving $CDN 6mln. for two phases of the program. I was a Program Director in 2000-2003, and an Executive Director in 2004 – 2006. This program alone created a network of 140 business leaders and academics all across Russia, many of whom remain loyal to Canada and interested in join activities in various business sectors. In February 2002, the Centre on Corporate Governance was opened at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow by the former prime minister of Canada Jean Chretien during Team Canada visit to Russia.
Affiliations:
Canada-Eurasia Russia Business Association, founding member, board member (since 1997)
Canada-Russia Intergovernmental Economic Commission (since 1995)
Advisory Council member, East/West Enterprise Exchange, York University (1990-1997)
Member of the OECD Round Table on Corporate Governance, Russia (1999 - 2006)
Seneca College Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, member of the board (1987-89)
Member of the Advisory Council on Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston (1992-1994)
Minister's National Advisory Committee on Ceramics Program at CANMET (1988-1989)
Canadian Advanced Industrial Materials Forum (1985-1990)
Canadian University-Industry Council on Advanced Ceramics (1985-1990)
Ad Hoc EV Battery Readiness Working Group at the US DOE (1990-1994)
Association of the Professional Engineers of Ontario (Since 1975)
