Distinguished Lecturer
2024 Distinguished Lecturer
Hugh Wood (BE’66, MSc’69, PhD’72)
Engineer. Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. Community builder. Educator. Researcher.
Dr. Hugh Wood’s impact and influence in the profession of engineering – and beyond – continues to this day.
Dr. Wood earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in Engineering Physics at the University of Saskatchewan. He worked for several years in remote sensing and instrumentation at SED Systems, now Calian Advanced Technologies, then returned to the University and taught in the Electrical Engineering Department for 26 years.
A solid leader, team-builder and problem solver, Dr. Wood served as the Department Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering for six years. During his time on faculty, he was integral to the development of the Digital Signal Processing stream. In recognition of his contributions and support, the 2C74 Electrical Engineering Undergraduate lab was named the Doc Wood Lab in 2019.
In 2000, Dr. Wood joined WaveCom Electronics with founder Surinder Kumar, becoming the company’s chief operating officer. Today the company, now known as Vecima Networks, is valued over $350 million. The Canadian Academy of Engineering inducted Dr. Wood as a Fellow in 2010, recognizing his role in helping to grow the company from a three-person start-up to a significant player in the international telecommunications marketplace.
With his understanding of entrepreneurship and dedication to grow local businesses, Dr. Wood has been a mentor for various startup companies. He is also an active philanthropist, deeply committed to his community. He is a Life Member of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and has served as a reviewer for the Canada Research Chairs program of the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
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