Gisele Roberts Honoured with National Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer

(May 1, 2026) — Laurentian University is pleased to announce that Gisele Roberts, the Director of Research and Innovation, has been awarded the Canadian Award from the Association of University Technology Managers. This prestigious national honour recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to the Canadian technology transfer community.

With over fifteen years of experience in research administration and innovation support, Gisele Roberts has been a driving force in strengthening the innovation ecosystem within Greater Sudbury and across Northern Ontario. As the Director of Research and Innovation, she leads the institution’s commercialization efforts and builds vital partnerships between academia and industry to ensure that research outcomes result in real-world benefits.

“Gisele represents the very best of Laurentian University’s commitment to innovation and community partnership,” said President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Lynn Wells. “Her leadership in technology transfer has not only advanced our institutional goals but has also created tangible economic opportunities across Northern Ontario. We are incredibly proud to see her years of dedicated service recognized on a national stage.”

Throughout her tenure at Laurentian University, Roberts has achieved several significant milestones that have shaped the University’s innovation landscape:

• Negotiated the first licence agreement for the University, which resulted in the institution’s first revenues from commercialization and its first issued patent.
• Led the creation of the Northeastern Ontario Resource Alliance, an organization that continues to flourish today as the Sudbury Innovation Alliance.
• Spearheaded the proposal for the first joint entrepreneurship program in Sudbury, established in partnership with Cambrian College and Collège Boréal.
• Served as a member of the steering committee for the Cliff Fielding Research, Innovation and Engineering Building and led the development of the Jim Fielding Innovation and Commercialization Space and The Foundry programming.

“I am honoured to receive this award and to be recognized by the AUTM community, which has been such an important part of my professional journey. My career has been shaped by colleagues who have supported and mentored me for almost 20 years. As someone who thrives on connecting innovators to resources and advancing the outcomes and impact of research, I remain committed to supporting a community that empowers the professionals working toward that goal,” said Gisele Roberts, Director, Research and Innovation Services.

About AUTM 

AUTM is the non-profit leader in efforts to educate, promote and inspire professionals to support the development of academic research that changes the world and drives innovation forward. The community comprises more than 3,000 members who work in more than 800 universities, research centers, hospitals, businesses and government organizations around the globe.