Lili-Anna Pereša, Executive Director of the ONE DROP Foundation since April 2009 and a 1987 Polytechnique graduate in electrical engineering, has built an impressive career that has left the beaten track and differed from the traditional practice of the engineering profession, devoting herself to humanitarian aid. Engineers Canada has recognized her outstanding professional career, giving her its Meritorious Service Award for Community Service. Ms. Pereša has worked with, among others, Oxfam Québec, CARE Austria, Amnesty International France, the Montréal Women's Y (YWCA) and Les petits frères des Pauvres du Québec. She was also awarded an honoris causa degree at a commemorative ceremony on December 6, 2009, on the recommendation of Polytechnique. Ms. Pereša replaces Normand Morin, Senior Advisor with SNC-Lavalin Group, who has sat on the Board of Directors since April 10, 2002.

Jamal Chaouki has been a full professor at Polytechnique Montréal since 1995. While devoting himself to teaching, Professor Chaouki has served as an advisor to several national and international companies. He has trained about 50 researchers at the master's and doctoral levels and supervised the work of more than 30 postdoctoral researchers and visiting professors. To date, he has published more than 200 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals as well as more than 250 other scientific articles, and he has published three books. Professor Chaouki holds 10 patents and has won several scientific awards. He has helped organize a number of conferences and was director of the technical program at the 8th World Congress of Chemical Engineering in 2009. He is currently Director of Polytechnique's Centre Bioraffinage and a member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Professor Chaouki began his mandate as a member of the Board of Directors on August 5, replacing Professor Patrick Desjardins, the new Director of the Department of Physical Engineering since June 4.

To read about Prof. Chaouki's expertise:  www.polymtl.ca/recherche/rc/en/professeurs/details.php?NoProf=29&Langue=A

Our most sincere congratulations to the two new members.