Gilles Patry, former Rector and current Professor of the University of Ottawa, has made significant contributions to civil engineering research, entrepreneurship, engineering education and senior academic administration.  His research consists of a combination of fundamental research coupled with a strong technology transfer to industry.  Founder and ex-President of Hydromantis, Inc., he transferred University research to industry and led a very successful SME.  As former Dean of Engineering, he forged a unique merger in Canada of Electrical and Computer Engineering with Computer Science, into the University of Ottawa School of Information Technology and Engineering.  As Rector, he is now one of very few engineers leading a major Canadian Research University. He is a member of the Order of Canada and currently serves as the executive director for U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities.