On July 18, Riya Ganguly will join the University of Alberta as the institution's first Associate Vice-President, Enterprise (AVP-E).
Ganguly will lead the development of a new Strategic Partnerships Office for the university. Ganguly will be responsible for generating partnerships and revenue opportunities to ensure that U of A will be an even stronger driver of economic growth, talent development and creativity in Alberta and beyond. The AVP-E will be key to promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the university and with external partners.The position reports to Catherine Swindlehurst, the university’s Chief Strategy Officer in the Office of the President.
“World-changing ideas are not new to the U of A. With our research strength, we have the opportunity to lead Canadian universities in translating ideas into economic, environmental and social benefits,” says Bill Flanagan, president of the University of Alberta. “We are excited to have Riya in this critical role creating connections between industry, community organizations and the U of A.”
Ganguly comes to the university with extensive experience building strategic partnerships, most recently as Vice President, Strategy & Innovation with Edmonton Global. She also previously served in innovation-related roles at multiple post-secondary institutions including Director, Strategic Partnerships with the University of British Columbia; Director, U of A Health Accelerator; and Innovation Coach at the U of A. Her diverse professional experiences will contribute to the university’s mission to lead with purpose and serve as an international steward of research and teaching.
Ganguly completed her MBA in Business Administration and Management from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University, holds a PhD in Physiology and Pathophysiology from the University of Manitoba, an MSc in Molecular Biology from York University and a BSc in Genetics from McMaster University.
“I’m so excited to take on this essential role and work alongside the problem-solvers and change-makers at the U of A,” says Ganguly. “This role creates a unique opportunity to steward innovation in a way that will create solutions for our society and for our planet.”