Distinguished Lecturer
2025 Distinguished Lecturer
Shauna Curry (BE'94)
Shauna Curry, P.Eng (BE’94, Agricultural Engineering) is the President & CEO of the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST), leading the organization since 2011. With a strong engineering background and a deep commitment to sustainable development, Shauna has been central to CAWST’s mission to provide water, sanitation, and hygiene training to communities in need worldwide.
Under her leadership, CAWST has grown into a global leader, expanding its reach and empowering local populations with the knowledge and tools to maintain safe water and sanitation practices. As a Canadian charity and licensed not-for-profit consultancy, CAWST provides expert training and consulting, housing the world’s largest database of water, sanitation, and hygiene resources. In 2023, over 90,000 people from more than 200 countries accessed CAWST’s materials, and CAWST and its partners reached over 14 million people with improved water, sanitation, or hygiene.
Since CAWST’s inception in 2001, it has already impacted more than 50 million people, and under Shauna’s leadership, the organization is working toward reaching another 50 million by 2030. Shauna is a passionate advocate for equitable resource distribution and believes education is key to lasting, sustainable change. Her dedication to CAWST’s mission reflects her lifelong commitment to improving lives through community empowerment.
About the C.J. Mackenzie Distinguished Lecturer
Each year, a discipline within USask Engineering hosts the C.J. Mackenzie Gala to recognize the accomplishments of an alumnus who has achieved prominence in their profession. They are honoured as the evening’s Distinguished Lecturer and are inducted to the USask College of Engineering Alumni Wall of Distinction.
The host department and a panel committee choose a graduate from their program. In 2023, the host department was Civil Engineering, which celebrated the achievements of June Verhelst (BE'83).
The 2024 host department is Engineering Physics.
Past Distinguished Lecturers
2024 - Hugh Wood, Engineering Physics, 1966, MSc 1969, PhD 19722023 - June Verhelst, Civil Engineering, 1983
2022 - Myron Stadnyk, Mechanical Engineering, 1985
2021 – postponed due to COVID-19
2020 - Dr. Brad Polischuk, Electrical Engineering, 1988, MSc 1990, PhD 1993
2019 - Joe Deutscher, Chemical Engineering, 1985
2018 - Michael Marsh, Mechanical Engineering, 1979
2017 - Dr. Karim (Kay) Nasser, Civil Engineering, PhD 1965
2016 - Marvin F. Romanow, Electrical Engineering, 1977
2015 - Gilbert LeDressay, Chemical Engineering, 1989
2014 - Charles Till, Engineering Physics, 1956
2013 - Jim MacNeill, Mechanical Engineering, 1958
2012 - Ronald (Ron) L. Graham, Civil Engineering, 1962
2011 - Don Bateman, Electrical Engineering, 1956
2010 - David Manz, Agricultural Engineering, 1972
2009 - Tom Anselmi, Civil Engineering, 1985
2008 - W. Brett Wilson, Civil Engineering, 1979
2007 - Andrea A. Cherkas, Chemical Engineering, 1983
2006 - Morrel Bachynski, Engineering Physics, 1952
2005 - Al Schreiner, Mechanical Engineering, 1963
2004 - Paul Gagnon, Geological Engineering, 1959
2003 - Donald J. Listwin, Electrical Engineering, 1980
2002 - Harry M. Hill, Agricultural Engineering, 1956
2001 - Russel J. Renneberg, Civil Engineering, 1976
2000 - Cecil F. Shewchuk, Chemical Engineering, 1971
1999 - James A. Serak, Engineering Physics, 1983
1998 - Arthur E. Dumont, Mechanical Engineering, 1967
1997 - Thomas L. Davis, Geophysical Engineering, 1969
1996 - John S. Webb, Electrical Engineering, 1973
1995 - Gregory (Greg) J. Clark, Agricultural Engineering, 1964
1994 - J. D. (Jack) Mollard, Civil Engineering, 1945
1993 - Charles R. Tittemore, Chemical Engineering, 1942
1992 - Dennis W. Johnson, Engineering Physics, 1957
1991 - Byron J. Seaman, Mechanical Engineering, 1945
1990 - John A. Cherry, Geological Engineering, 1962
1989 - H. Douglas Barber, Electrical Engineering, 1959
1988 - Charles (Glenn) E. Downing, Agricultural Engineering, 1940
1987 - James P. Hutch, Civil Engineering, 1961
1986 - James M. Hay, Chemical Engineering, 1950
1985 - Gustav O. P. Handegord, Mechanical Engineering, 1946
1984 - Allan Crawford, Electrical Engineering, 1955
1983 - Clinton D. A. Dahlstrom, Geological Engineering, 1949
1982 - Herbert (Bert) T. Hargrave, Agricultural Engineering, 1942
1981 - Lorne G. W. McConnel, Engineering Physics, 1945
1980 - John (Jack) W. Poole, Civil Engineering, 1954
1979 - John L. Stoik, Chemical Engineering, 1947
1978 - C. Bruce Campbell, Mechanical Engineering, 1948
1977 - John Shewchuk, Mechanical Engineering, 1960