Salvini named AVP Research Commercialization

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Paul Salvini as Associate Vice-President, Research Commercialization," says a memo from Vice-President, University Research George Dixon. "He is also appointed to the role of Accelerator Centre CEO and will assume his new University of Waterloo and Accelerator Centre responsibilities in late August."

Salvini is described "a seasoned executive" who most recently served as Chief Technology Officer at Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc., and "is a proven leader in technology commercialization."

Prior to Christie, Salvini was CTO at Toronto-based Side Effects Software, where he led an award-winning team of mathematicians and software developers in the creation of 3D animation and visual effects software for Hollywood feature films. He is an active leader within the local and digital media communities serving on numerous boards including as Chair of GRAND (Canada’s Digital Media Network of Centres of Excellence) and President of the University of Waterloo Alumni Council. In 2007, he was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™, a national award that honors individuals for outstanding achievements in innovation, leadership, vision, and community involvement.

"His technical expertise, leadership abilities, and business acumen is widely respected and admired within the commercial enterprise and within academic communities," the vice-president, university research's memo continues.

Salvini holds a BMath degree in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo, MASc and PhD degrees in Engineering from the University of Toronto, and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He lives in Kitchener with his wife and two children.

"I look forward to working with Paul, and am confident that he will have your full cooperation and support," Dixon's memo concludes.

 

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Feds open doors for Open House event

by Jacqueline Martinz.

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend Feds Open House on Wednesday, July 9, 2014.

Hosted by the Federation of Students, it will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre. For the university community, Feds Open House is an opportunity to glimpse inside the day-to-day operations of the student union.

The Feds executive, full-time, and part-time staff will be present to share what they do in their roles, and how their actions contribute to campus life. Attendees will learn how to get involved with Feds through clubs, services, and societies. Details about part-time employment opportunities, the health and dental plan, and much more will be provided.

A BBQ will be held throughout the event in the SLC Courtyard for attendees, and an array of prizes such as an iPhone 5 will be given away.

More information including how to register for this free event is available online.

 

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WatRISQ holds first executive board meeting

by Nan Gao.

The Waterloo Research Institute in Insurance, Securities and Quantitative Finance (WatRISQ) was founded in 2009 after the merging of two existing institutes (IQFI and IIRP). WatRISQ had its first executive board meeting on Monday, June 16.

WatRISQ's vision is to be a world-class centre in financial risk management, bringing together a strong research team of specialists in actuarial science, computer science, econometrics, finance and statistics. With over 40 active faculty members across three faculties and approximately 150 associated graduate students, WatRISQ research activities have several dimensions at the University of Waterloo campus, across Canada, in academia and industry, and internationally.

Two corporate members, Brian O'Donnell, chief data officer, risk management of CIBC and David Panko (BMath 93), managing director, automated trading group of TD Securities, along with Dean of Math Ian Goulden, Associate Dean of Arts Tim Kenyon, WatRISQ Director Thomas F. Coleman and six other board members participated in the meeting. Two other corporate members are Jean Cloutier, vice president, international operation, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and Byron Corner, SVP and chief actuary, London Life Insurance Company. Unfortunately they could not join in this meeting due to their travelling schedules (individual meetings have been arranged to update them on the WatRISQ activities).

Pictured above are board members Ian Goulden, Brian O'Donnell, Thomas F. Coleman, David Panko, Ken Seng Tan, Tony Wirjanto, Tim Kenyon, Nan Gao, Jean Webster ,and Tom Scott.

Thomas Coleman updated the board on the current state of WatRISQ and provided WatRISQ’s future plans and initiatives to the board, including the online risk management program development and executive training opportunities.

During the meeting, a demo of the module called Bond was given. Bond was developed by Peter Wood, one of the nine professors who have participated in the online course development, and implemented by Center for Extended Learning. Corporate board members Brian O’Donnell and David Panko were very pleased and interested in the online program development: they not only provided invaluable advice, but also offered their help to market the WatRISQ program within their organization (CIBC and TD securities, respectively).

Brian O’Donnell has been involved with WatRISQ, and before that one of its predecessor groups IQFI, for about ten years now. As an industry practitioner of risk management and quantitative analysis, Brian says: “I see WatRISQ as invaluable in bringing together academic and industry perspectives to some of the most pressing issues we face. The conferences and research materials, including innovative approaches to problem solving are beneficial for both the academic career of students and their professional career as they apply what they have learned once they enter the industry. I am particularly impressed with the new online program that is being developed, in order to allow students to quickly learn some to the key concepts and fundamentals of the Financial Services industry. A program that efficiently leads students through the key industry concepts will fill a void that he has seen over the past few years.” He told the board that he will definitely encourage new employees to consider such a program.

“I am impressed with the active role WatRISQ is taking to promote excellence in risk management by hosting research seminars, conferences and workshops," says David Panko. "Recent regulatory changes such as Basel III and Dodd-Frank have placed a strong focus on financial risk management, and the upcoming WatRISQ online program will be extremely valuable for new candidates entering the industry.”

Panko also plans to give a talk on-campus, entitled “Evolution of Market Structure and Role of HFTs” in September. He will bring his TD securities team as panelists for the talk. All are welcome.

For additional details please check the WatRISQ website.

Photograph by Vera Korody.

 

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Reminder: purchase order requisitions online

“Procurement & Contract Services is encouraging our requestors on campus to use our electronic purchase requisitioning system, Ereq, for Purchase Order requests," writes Senior Buyer Christine Wagner.

"Ereq is faster, environmentally friendly, and convenient; we also have research approval workflow built into it."

Anyone wanting a demonstration of using Ereq can send an email to procure@uwaterloo.ca and they will be in contact with you.

Each year, the Procurement & Contract Services department works with thousands of requests to purchase millions of dollars worth of goods, services and equipment. The department's goal is "to provide quality goods and services for the University of Waterloo in a co-ordinated "best buy" situation." The University's Board of Governors has delegated purchasing authority to the department as per Policy 17.

Along with purchasing authority, Procurement & Contract Services is responsible for ensuring that all University acquisitions and contractual arrangements are in accordance with various trade agreements and follow federal and provincial rules and regulations.

"P&CS is also asking all departments to return their paper purchase requisition supply to ECH 203A," concludes Wagner.

 

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