John Fraser Forbes is a leading authority on process control and optimization operations, a distinguished academic leader and an innovative educator. His research on high performance control and optimization has created significant economic value through industrial applications. As Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta, his leadership continues to contribute to the growth of the faculty, and he is the driving force behind the University's transformation into an international leader in research and innovation, particularly in renewable energy research. He has made impactful contributions to Canadian industry through successful collaborative projects, and has demonstrated his commitment to excellence in education for the next generation of engineers.