Consequences

Speaker:                Howard Shearer, B.Eng. (Electrical) Chief Executive Canada, Hitachi Canada

Date/Time:            Jan. 19th, 12:30 – 1:20 pm.

Location:                BSB-136 (Burke Science Building), McMaster University.

Co-hosted with the Engineering Physics Department at McMaster University. Sandwiches, wraps, coffee, and tea will be provided on behalf of the Canadian Nuclear Society’s Golden Horseshoe Branch.

Summary

The Consequences of Decisions One makes in life’s journey have far reaching impacts on Society’s development, Quality of Life, as well as a nation’s Capacity to Build Wealth. Are there significant consequences to be borne from choosing a particular discipline? The appearance of multiple disruptive technology solutions is not only a result of frontier Research and Development in one discipline, but rather the integration of ideas, achieving multidisciplinary synergies across multiple verticals and in some instances multiple modalities. Silos are an inhospitable environment for success; no longer can one ignore that success can be realized only when the social as well as the technology ecosystem converge from a state of co-existence in a universal tug of war. In the Knowledge economy engineering studies are major catalysts in enabling students to frame the future. One should not impose limits on ambitions, but instead embrace the foundation engineering studies provide to explore and create disruptive solutions regardless of areas of study.

Biography

Howard Lincoln Shearer is the Chief Executive Canada, Hitachi Canada, and previously served in the position of Chairman of Hitachi Power Systems Canada Ltd. (April, 2012 – December 21st, 2013).  After joining Hitachi Canada Ltd. in 1984, he rose through the ranks to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Hitachi Canada Ltd. (2001-2012) and also served as a member of the board of directors of Hitachi Canada Ltd., a position to which he was appointed in 1999. Prior to this, he served as Vice-President & General Manager of HCL’s Semiconductor division. He is a change agent while being adept at strategy development, mobilizing, motivating, and inspiring multi-discipline, internal and external executive level teams to major success. Howard is a consensus builder, with a strong focus on team building.

His career spans 39 years in both the High Tech as well as Energy and Industrial sectors resulting in the accumulation of knowledge and experience in the areas of Semiconductors, Optical transmission, Power Generation (Coal, Gas, Nuclear, Renewables and Project Execution), Transmission & Distribution, Consumer (wholesale, retail), Rail Transportation, Medical Healthcare, IoT (Big Data Analytics) as it relates to Physical Security, Cyber Security, Maintenance (Predictive, Prescriptive, Preventive), Military and other industrial sectors. He has served on Private and Public Sector boards with an understanding of Regulatory, Compliance and Governance requirements in multiple verticals.

Sandwiches and wraps will be provided along with coffee, tea, and water. Vegetarian options will be available (no request necessary).

Please contact sharpejr@mcmaster.ca if you have any questions.