June 2, 2025
Six honorary doctorates recognized at Spring 2025 Convocation
Waterloo recognizes six outstanding individuals for their substantial contributions to academia and industry
The University of Waterloo is pleased to award six honorary doctorates at Spring 2025 Convocation, the highest honour conferred by the University.
Honorary doctorates recognize individuals with outstanding achievement, whether academic or through service to society. This year’s recipients have made significant developments and contributions to their fields in engineering, healthcare, finance and science.
“Our honorary doctorates exemplify the outstanding achievement, excellence and service our University values and to which we aspire,” says Dr. Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. “Their leadership in their respective fields, exceptional service and contributions to society serve as inspiration to our new Waterloo graduates as they seek to make an impact on their communities and the world.”
Learn more about this year’s honorary doctorates and their outstanding accomplishments:
Armughan Ahmad
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Armughan Ahmad is a global technology executive, investor, and board director, recognized for his leadership in artificial intelligence and digital transformation. He currently serves as executive chairman of RxFood AI and General Partner at Vision Studio Ventures, a venture capital firm backing early-stage AI founders. He also advises ServiceNow, TELUS, and OMERS as a senior AI strategist. Previously, Armughan was chief executive officer of Appen, a publicly traded company providing AI training data to leading technology firms including Google, Microsoft, Meta and Nvidia. He has also held senior leadership roles as president of KPMG Digital and Dell EMC, where he led global Data Center Cloud and High-Performance Computing business, and at HP and 3Com. Ahmad serves on the board of Trillium Health Partners and is the co-founder and board director of CILAR (Coalition of Innovation Leaders Advancing respect), advancing AI skills development and inclusive economic growth.
Neil Cawse
Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa
Dr. Neil Cawse is the founder and chief executive officer of Geotab, the world’s largest commercial telematics company. An engineer by training and entrepreneur by instinct, he founded Geotab in 2000 to help businesses make better decisions through vehicle data. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a global leader and is recognized among the fastest-growing technology companies in North America. Known for his long-term thinking and hands-on approach, Cawse continues to guide product design and engineering for Geotab. In 2015, he was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Gina Cody
Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa
Dr. Gina Cody is an engineer and business leader who has helped shape Canada’s cities and communities through decades of work in the private sector. As executive chair and owner of CCI Group Inc., she led complex engineering projects for major developers, financial institutions and public agencies across the country. Cody was the first woman to earn a PhD in building engineering from Concordia University, and she remains a strong advocate for inclusion in STEM. Her leadership and generosity led Concordia to name its Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science in her honour, recognizing both her professional achievements and commitment to the next generation.
Paul Corkum
Doctor of Science, honoris causa
Dr. Paul Corkum is a pioneering Canadian physicist renowned for his foundational contributions to attosecond science –the study of ultrafast phenomena on the scale of attoseconds (10⁻¹⁸ seconds). He earned his PhD in theoretical physics from Lehigh University in 1972. He joined the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in 1973, where he transitioned to experimental physics and developed groundbreaking models of atomic ionization. His recollision model enabled the generation of attosecond laser pulses, allowing scientists to observe electron dynamics in real time. Corkum holds a joint chair in Attosecond Photonics at the University of Ottawa and the NRC. His numerous accolades include the 2022 Wolf Prize in Physics and the 2025 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research.
John English (BA ’67)
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Dr. John English is one of Canada’s most acclaimed, best-selling historians and experts in international relations. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and has the Order of Merit of Germany. English was the member of Parliament for the federal riding of Kitchener from 1993 to 1997, serving with distinction as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo, and was for four decades an outstanding member of Waterloo’s history department and founding executive director of the Centre for International Governance Innovation. He is now a Senior Fellow at Trinity College at the University of Toronto and chairs the Canadian International Council.
Tim Jackson (BA '92)
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Tim Jackson is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, not-for-profit leader, and community builder. He is the president and chief executive officer of Shad, Canada’s premier high school student summer program. He co-founded Tech Capital Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm and led the Accelerator Centre, an incubator for technology startups. He was executive president at the MaRS Discovery District, one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs. As a University of Waterloo Accounting graduate, Jackson has a long history of service at Waterloo. He held the position of vice-president, University Relations in addition to five years on the Board of Governors and seven years as chair of the Student Venture Fund investment committee. Tim was recognized with the prestigious title of Fellow Chartered Public Accountant for his exceptional service to the profession and his community.
