 Mark Pecen
Vice President, Advanced Technology for Research in Motion Limited (RIM)
Biography
Mark Pecen serves as Vice President, Advanced Technology for Research in Motion Limited (RIM), makers of the BlackBerry wireless devices, systems and services. He is responsible for long-term corporate strategy for advanced wireless technology investments and customer collaboration on future technology commercialization and deployment.
Dr. Pecen is the founder of the RIM Wireless and Networking Advanced Research Centre and founder of RIM CTO Board. Current priorities include development of technologies for the evolution of existing and creation of Next Generation wireless systems. His labs are active in applied information theory, cross-layer wireless network design and protocols, mobility management, radio link control, statistical analysis and simulation and modeling of wireless systems. Prior to joining RIM in 2005, Dr. Pecen held the title Distinguished Innovator and Science Advisory Board Associate (SABA) member, representing the top 1% of technology leaders at Motorola, Inc.
Since 1988, he has invented a number of technologies adopted in global standards for the Global System for Mobile telecommunication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) and various Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) standards. He serves on the boards of several technology-focused industrial, academic and governmental associations in North America and Europe and is the board chairman of Quantum Works, a consortium that funds and manages applied research into quantum computing across a network of universities in Canada. Dr. Pecen holds more than 70 patents in the areas of mobile communication, networking and computing. He has a B.Sc in electrical engineering and an M.Sc and PhD in computer science from University of Pennsylvania. In addition, he has a MBA from Wharton School of Business and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
 John D. Tennant
Biography
John Tennant has represented Canada internationally in a variety of official roles and, most recently, built and led one of Canada’s premier regional economic development partnerships. His rich and varied experience spans international relations; trade, investment and technology; economic development; government relations; and corporate governance.
From 2002 to 2008, John was Chief Executive Officer of Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc (CTT Inc), the public-private regional economic development partnership for Ontario’s Waterloo Region, including the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. Under John’s leadership, Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc became widely admired for its success as the collaborative entity marketing the Waterloo Region to the world, attracting new businesses and charting directions for the Regional economy. Canada's Technology Triangle Inc, together with the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, earned the Canadian Urban Institute's 2009 Global City Award for transforming the Region into a global centre of excellence. As well, Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc was named a Top 10 Canadian Economic Development Agency in 2008, while the City of Waterloo was selected as the Intelligent Community of the Year in 2007. In March 2009, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce honoured John with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in attracting new business to the community.
In what proved to be the culmination of a distinguished foreign service career with Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the Canadian Cabinet appointed John as Canadian Consul General in Detroit where he served from 1998 to 2002, with responsibility for Canada’s relations with Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. There, he was a key point person on Canada-US border issues (including at the time of the tragic 9/11 events), an advocate for Canadian trade, economic and environmental interests, and a leader in the further development of the immense bilateral trade and investment linkages with that vital region. Earlier US assignments were in New York and Chicago. In addition, he represented Canada in Japan, West Africa, Central America, the Eastern Caribbean and Australia. In Ottawa, John was Director General for Asia Pacific between 1990 and 1994.
In 2007 and 2008 John completed the Directors Education Program jointly developed by the Institute of Corporate Directors and the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He has since been granted the ICD.D certification by the Institute of Corporate Directors.
John’s roots are in southern Alberta. He was born in Medicine Hat and brought up in Lethbridge. He received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University in Montreal. While pursuing his education, John worked part-time as an on-air news reporter for CJOC Radio and CJLH-TV in Lethbridge and CKGM Radio in Montreal. |
