John Dinsmore is one of those rare engineers who served in senior positions in both the public and private sectors. He spent much of his active career in private industry, in product development and marketing and in companies in which he held senior management positions. In 1970, he joined the Quebec Ministry of Education as associate deputy minister, moving to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in 1973 and serving as its deputy minister from 1975 to 1977. He then returned to senior management positions in the private sector. From 1987 to 1998, he directed institutes devoted to technology transfer and management education. He has served as president of CAE, EIC, OIQ, CCPE, as Chief Warden of the Corporation of the Seven Wardens (Iron Ring) and on corporate and not-for-profit boards of directors.