Tech Stewardship Practice

Mark Abbott, P.Eng., MBA, currently serves as the Director of the Engineering Change Lab, which is in based in Toronto at the MaRS Discovery District, the world’s largest urban innovation hub. The Lab's mission is to act as a catalyst for evolving the engineering community to reach its full potential as stewards of technology for the benefit of all. Under his leadership these past seven years, over 150 organizations and 300+ individual leaders (CEOs, VPs, Deans, Directors) have collaborated using the Lab’s platform, advancing understanding and action to evolve engineering. Previously, Mark served as a member of the Executive Team at Engineers Without Borders Canada for several years. Before that, Mark spent fourteen years working for a heavy industrial consulting engineering firm based in Vancouver.

Mark Franklin, MEd, PEng, spent 10 years in engineering before shifting into career development. "People often ask me about my career change from engineering to career development. Really I never left engineering! In my work leading CareerCycles and OneLifeTools I “redeployed” my systems thinking and structured problem solving skills to focus on the 'wicked problems' of dissatisfaction and disengagement." Much of Mark's work is with engineers and others with technical professions, and leading employers who are looking for Tech Stewards (whether they use that term yet or not!). Mark has been involved in the Engineering Change Lab for several years.

HD McKay is currently the Sr Manager for the Tech Stewardship Program at the MaRS Discovery District. In the past she has been a research Librarian in higher education, a user experience designer working with startups to test highly focused MVPs, as well as facilitating cross-sector stakeholders to tackle complex social problems using innovation methods. She has applied her professional training in information studies and interaction design across trans-disciplinary projects. She brings 15 years of professional experience conducting mixed methods research; and designing, prototyping, delivering, and managing novel programs and services. She holds a Masters of Information Studies from the University of Toronto, a Graduate Certificate in E-Learning for adult learners from North Carolina State University - and has never stopped learning.

Throughout the program, we will introduce you to a diverse group of Tech Stewards with different professional backgrounds working in different sectors (industry, academia, government, professional associations, and civil society) - but all unified in their goal of helping shape technology for the benefit of all!