MCN has assembled a panel of distinguished judges from multiple disciplines led by Don Cowan Distinguished Professor Emeritus, School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo.
These judges will evaluate applications from nominees and award a winner and runners up in each category
Carmen Austrup
Carmen Austrup is a national marketing manager at IBM Canada and an instructor at the Humber College business school. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo and a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario.
A driven marketing professional with diverse international experience, Carmen has been recognized by IBM for her creative, analytical, and management skills. Carmen has been a forerunner in yielding innovative marketing programs for a c-suite audience, as a result of her previous role and expertise at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She has experience in both large corporate environments and medium size companies, which complement her unique delivery as an instructor in both a real and virtual classroom environment. Her teaching capabilities have also been recognized in the academic community.
Carmen is an avid runner, triathlete, and improv comedy performer locally. She is involved in numerous community programs and non-profit organizations and in the past served on the Board of Directors for Muskoka Community Network.
Don Cowan
Donald Cowan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo.
He received his education at the Universities of Toronto (BASc − 1960, Engineering Physics) and Waterloo (MSc − 1961 and PhD − 1965, Applied Mathematics). His current academic specializations include software engineering, software applications, and web-based information systems. His recent research has focused on the design and implementation of the Web Informatics Development Environment (WIDE) toolkit, which has been used to produce over 50 operational web-based information systems in the areas of community information, economic development, environment, cultural heritage and health. Donald Cowan is the founding Chairman of the Computer Science Department in the Faculty of Mathematics (1967) at the University of Waterloo (now the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science). He is the author or co−author of over 230 refereed papers and 15 books in computer science, computer/communications, software engineering, education, environmental information systems and mathematics. Donald Cowan is a co-founder of several University of Waterloo spin−off companies; the most noteworthy ones being WATCOM, now iAnywhere Solutions and part of Sybase, and LivePage Corporation, now part of Oracle Corporation.
Among several honours, Donald Cowan has received the Brazilian National Order of Scientific Merit − Grand Cross, Brazil's Highest Scientific Honour (2007) in recognition of his research and the more than 40 years he has helped with the development of Brazilian Computer Science. He also received the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision (2006) from the University of Waterloo in acknowledgement of his work with and supervision of over 120 graduate students during his academic career. In 2009 he received the Waterloo Award, the City of Waterloo's highest civic honour, for his contributions to the City of Waterloo.
Kenneth Donald
Kenneth Donald is an accomplished consultant and senior executive with extensive background in information technology and supply chain management. He is known for his approach to implementing innovative business solutions and delivering exceptional results. Over the past 25 years he has worked for organizations large and small, national and international, while retaining responsibility for both operating management and information technology departments.
As a consultant, Kenneth has provided systems solutions services and supplier management services to companies in the automotive, aerospace and medical industries. He has also provided technical consulting on systems solutions to legal and medical professional practices in Muskoka.
During his automotive career his business unit received four consecutive supplier awards from Toyota Motor Sales, culminating in 2004 when it received the Toyota Motor Sales Supplier Excellence Award (also known as "Supplier of the Year"). He was also a founder member of Honda Access America supplier committee (HAASC) and led the development and introduction of the HAASC supplier website and portal. Other project accomplishments include the selection and implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning systems at numerous employers.
A former founding member and Chair of the Muskoka Community Network broadband initiative for the District of Muskoka and environs, Kenneth is a current member of the Events Tourism Committee for the Town of Huntsville. In December 2009 he received a Community Recognition Award from the Town of Huntsville for his community volunteer activities.
Steve Inniss
Originally from Toronto, Steve Inniss has more than 25 years experience as a senior executive, including President & CEO, North America and Global CMO in the information technology, staffing and wireless industries. As President of a group of public information technology services companies, he managed strategic technology practices on behalf of some of the world's largest organizations. And, as President of a RIM Partner organization, Steve helped develop business continuity, emergency preparedness and mobile computing practices for Banking & Finance, Property Management and Education organizations.
An individual who has always strongly supported communities where his businesses made their profits, Steve has been a driving force in initiatives such as the twinning of the cities of Chicago and Toronto, working directly with Mayors Daley and Eggleton. As a result of the success of this initiative, Steve was given the honour of keynoting the ceremony and greeting the Mayors from over 200 cities of the world on the floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. He also assisted the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with business investment attraction and was recognized by the State Governor.
A former Chair of Muskoka Community Network, and involved with numerous other community programs and non-profit organizations, Steve has his Master's degree in Marketing from the University of Chicago. His current mission involves changing the face of commuting in North America, with a new company: savedbybikes.com.
