Helsa Leong – CHBE Hall of Fame
2025 Inductee Graduate Secretary UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering (1986 – 2015) In recognition of her dedication, compassion, generosity, professionalism and commitment to providing exceptional service to graduate students and faculty in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at UBC. Helsa joined the department in 1986 as graduate secretary serving our PhD and Master’s thesis programs as well as the M.Eng program and the Professional Masters in Pulp and Paper Engineering program. For over 25 years, Helsa was the pillar of our graduate programs, an extremely able and dedicated graduate secretary who displayed and provided deep knowledge of university procedures. […]
Joe Mazza – CHBE Hall of Fame
2025 Inductee BASc in Chemical Engineering, UBC. (1998), P.Eng. MBA in Executive Management, Royal Roads University (2007) Vice-President, Energy Supply and Resource Development, FortisBC Clean 50 and Clean 16 Award – Sustainable Energy Leadership (2023) Northwest Gas Association, Board In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the profession of chemical and biological engineering, most notably for his leadership in developing and building FortisBC’s energy supply and delivery to customers in British Columbia, including natural gas, electricity, renewable and lower-carbon energy. As an energy engineering and energy transformation leader in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, Joe Mazza advanced energy security, affordability, and sustainability through […]
Ah-Hyung “Alissa” Park – CHBE Hall of Fame
2025 Inductee FRSC, FACS, FAIChE, FAAAS BASc (1998) and MASc (2000) in Chemical and Biological Engineering, UBC Dean, Samueli School of Engineering, UCLA Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, UCLA In recognition of her scientific and technological contributions leading to advancements in sustainable energy and materials conversion pathways, including work on using integrated carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies to address climate change. Dr. Park is recognized as a field-defining clean energy scholar, and her research has delivered breakthrough technologies for direct air capture of carbon dioxide and negative emissions. She has also partnered with UN Women, a United Nations initiative, on projects supporting […]
Axel Meisen – CHBE Hall of Fame
2025 Inductee C.M. Ph.D. P.Eng. Eurlng, FCAE, FCIC, FIEI Professor, UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering (1969 – 1999) Dean, UBC Faculty of Applied Science (1985-1997) President and Vice-Chancellor, Memorial University of Newfoundland (1999-2007) In recognition of his accomplishments in chemical engineering and other engineering disciplines, university leadership, and internationalization. Dr. Meisen’s contributions include the creation of the UBC Pulp and Paper Centre, cooperative education in Engineering at UBC, the Washington Accord for the mutual recognition of engineering accreditation, the Process Engineering program and Oil & Gas Development Partnership at Memorial University, and advanced foresight methodologies. Applications of the latter include the […]
Lori Tanaka – CHBE Hall of Fame
2025 Inductee Undergraduate Student Coordinator UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering (1988-2021) In recognition of her outstanding contributions as a knowledgeable, compassionate and dedicated undergraduate student coordinator for over thirty years serving hundreds of students and the faculty in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Lori has shown a remarkable combination of professionalism, empathy, and institutional wisdom, and served generations of students and faculty with unwavering dedication. Her door was always open—whether for a confused second-year student navigating their first timetable, or a faculty member refining course logistics and orientation, Lori’s knowledge of departmental operations […]
Jacob Masliyah – CHBE Hall of Fame
OC, AOE, NAE (US), DSc(Hon), FRSC, FCAEPHD in Chemical and Biological Engineering, UBC (1970)Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, University of AlbertaUBC Applied Science Dean’s Medal of Distinction (2023) In recognition of his pioneering scientific and technological contributions leading to advancements in fundamental interfacial science and the oil sands industry, as well as his mentorship, advocacy and leadership within the profession of chemical engineering. Dr. Masliyah is recognized as a thought leader in understanding complex interactions between oil, water, and sand particles. His field-defining research has resulted in tangible improvements to oil recovery from the Alberta oil sands, including reducing its impact on […]
Shanna Knights – CHBE Hall of Fame
M.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, UBC (1993), FCAEDirector, Research & Technology Collaborations, Ballard Power Systems Inc. (2014-2023)R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award (2017)UBC Applied Science Dean’s Medal of Distinction (2021) In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the profession of chemical and biological engineering, most notably international leadership in the development and commercialization of PEM hydrogen fuel cells and their application in commercial trucks, buses, and other transportation and stationary power systems. From 1995 to 2023, Shanna Knights conducted and led PEM fuel cell components technology research at Ballard Power Systems, including pioneering work on fuel cell durability. She developed and led innovation initiatives […]
Clive Brereton – CHBE Hall of Fame
PhD in Chemical Engineering, UBC (1987), FCAEProfessor, UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering (1989 – 1996)Vice President, NORAM Engineering and Constructors Ltd.Chief Technology Officer NORAM Electrolysis Systems Inc. In recognition of his contributions in important sectors and operations of chemical and biological engineering, including separations systems in nitration operations, bromine and nitrogen trichloride handling in chloralkali plants, fluidized bed combustion and calcination operations, scrubbing technologies for NOx control, and industrial electrolysis systems, flow batteries and electrochemical technologies for clean energy production. A major contributor to the growth of NORAM Engineering and Constructors Ltd. as one of Canada’s foremost engineering firms, Dr. Brereton’s […]
Jimmy S.H. Lee – CHBE Hall of Fame
B.A.Sc in Chemical and Biological Engineering, UBC (1981)President and Chief Executive Officer, Mercer International Inc. (1992–2015)Executive Chair of the Board, Mercer International Inc. (2015–present) In recognition of his outstanding contributions to both the department and profession of chemical and biological engineering as a leader in sustainability. As the founder of Mercer International Inc., Jimmy Lee’s role in developing and securing Canada’s forest products sector has been ground-breaking, thanks to his aptitude for business development and understanding of forest products manufacturing. Through his work, Jimmy provided important contributions to the relevance of Canada’s kraft pulp industry as well as establishing the kraft […]
Richard Kerekes – CHBE Hall of Fame
PHD, P.ENG. (1979–2009), FCAEHonorary Professor (1978–2001), Professor (2001–2005), UBC Chemical and Biological EngineeringPaprican Professor of Pulp and Paper Engineering (2001–2005)Founding Director, UBC Pulp and Paper Centre (1983–2005) In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the UBC Pulp and Paper Centre, the department and its student body, and the profession of chemical and biological engineering, including his national leadership and seminal research toward fundamental understanding and technology development to improve fibre quality for paper-making. Dr. Kerekes is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most important and influential scholars in the areas of fibre processing and papermaking technology, and is the recipient of […]