President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canada.

Plenary: Role of policy in achieving societal well-being through science and technology

Expanding the dialogue on diversity to benefit STEM
Plenary: Strategic priorities for regional STEM gender equality policy

Dr Pinto received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Queen’s University. He served as Professor, Chair of Chemistry and Vice-President Research at Simon Fraser University (SFU), President of the Canadian Society for Chemistry and Vice-Chair of the Chemical Institute of Canada. Dr Pinto has received numerous awards recognizing the quality and impact of his research, including Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada. He has also established a track record for developing exciting new models of innovation. Successes include: VentureLabs®; Venture Connection®; Zone Start-Ups India, a joint venture between Ryerson University, SFU and the Bombay Stock Exchange Institute; and, a partnership between SFU and the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. in hydrogen fuel cell technology.

At NSERC, building on the agency’s dual expertise as an investor in discovery-based research and a broker of successful R&D partnerships with technology-driven enterprises to de-risk promising research, Dr Pinto has been active in leading efforts for a new strategic plan, NSERC 2020. He launched an extensive consultation process for the plan to engage Canada’s diverse research ecosystem. In doing so, Dr Pinto has taken steps to ensure that NSERC is working effectively as a convenor of stakeholder interests in the natural sciences and engineering in Canada. NSERC 2020 was launched in December 2015. Dr Pinto is also a champion of diversity and inclusivity in research and innovation and promotes gender equity and inclusion of the two-spirit/LGBTQ community.

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