November 27, 2024
Honouring alumni impact and innovation
Waterloo Engineering recognizes outstanding achievements in professional, academic and community contributions at annual awards dinner
The Waterloo Engineering community gathered to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of three distinguished alumni during this year’s Engineering Awards Dinner.
Hosted by Dr. Lisa Aultman-Hall, Professor and Chair of Systems Design Engineering, the event highlighted the exceptional contributions of leaders in thermal management, community service, and computational fluid dynamics, showcasing the broad impact of Waterloo Engineering alumni on technology, society, and innovation.
The recipients of this year’s awards are:
Dr. Gamal Refai-Ahmed — Alumni Achievement Medal for Professional Achievement
Dr. Gamal Refai-Ahmed (MASc ‘91, mechanical engineering; PhD ’95, mechanical engineering) is a global authority in thermal management for high-performance computing.
Dr. Gamal Refai-Ahmed, Waterloo Engineering Alumni Achievement Medal winner
At Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Inc., he leads advancements in thermal solutions that enhance computing performance and broaden the technology’s reach across sectors.
With over 120 publications and more than 130 patents and patents pending, Dr. Refai-Ahmed’s work has profoundly influenced high-performance computing and electronics, earning him top honors in his field. His leadership continues to drive transformative technologies for the computing, telecommunications, and electronics industries.
Belinda Elysee-Collen — Alumni Achievement Medal for Community Service
Belinda Elysee-Collen (BASc ‘92, chemical engineering) has distinguished herself through professional achievements and an unwavering commitment to community service.
Belinda Elysee-Collen — Alumni Achievement Medal winner
A leader at Dempsey Corporation, she champions food waste reduction while fostering industry relationships.
In addition to her professional work, Elysee-Collen volunteers with the Canadian Food Innovation Network, serves as past president of the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology, and mentors women in STEM through Women in Food Industry Management.
As a Class Rep for her chemical engineering alumni network and a lifelong Girl Guides of Canada member, Elysee-Collen exemplifies dedication to community. Currently serving as president of the Mississauga Masters Swim Team, she embodies leadership in both her career and volunteer roles.
Dr. Clovis Raimundo Maliska — Alumni Achievement Medal for Academic Excellence
Dr. Clovis Raimundo Maliska’s (PhD ‘81, mechanical engineering) pioneering work in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has revolutionized industries in South America, Europe, and North America.
Dr. Clovis Raimundo Maliska — Alumni Achievement Medal winner
Joining the University of Waterloo from Brazil, where CFD was scarcely recognized, Clovis advanced its applications through groundbreaking research and leadership.
He has supervised 51 master’s and 24 PhD students, authored two widely used textbooks—one with over 14,000 downloads in English translation—and founded a company now serving 16,000 clients globally. Recognized with the rank of Commander in Brazil’s National Order of Scientific Merit, Dr. Maliska’s contributions continue to shape the future of CFD worldwide.
Banner image (L to R): Gamal Refai-Ahmed, Lisa Aultman-Hall, Belinda Elysee-Collen, Clovis Raimundo Maliska
