We are so proud to share that Sri Lankan Foundation’s Life Time Achievement Winner of 2016, Professor Janaka Ruwanpura, vice-provost and associate vice-president research (international) – equivalent to Pro-Chancellor of International and Research, has been nominated and selected as one of 75 finalists for this year’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards.
Canadian Immigrant magazine has opened the online voting portal and is inviting all to vote for your favorites among the shortlist of 75 finalists at:
https://canadianimmigrant.ca/canadas-top-25-immigrants
Presented by Western Union, this coveted award recognizes and celebrates the untold stories of Canadian immigrants who have made a significant contribution to Canada, in a variety of professions and from coast to coast. The past winners have been examples of true nation builders, from entrepreneurs to artists, academics, community volunteers, sports heroes, philanthropists, inventors and visionaries, from across Canada. Their motivations, circumstances and timing for coming to Canada are as varied as their backgrounds. Nonetheless, each of the winners’ stories shares a common theme: rising to a challenge and using that opportunity to make Canada a better place for all.
The public can now vote for Prof. Ruwanpura online up to June 10, 2022.
Here are the instructions on how to vote:
1.Click:https://canadianimmigrant.ca/canadas-top-25-immigrants/vote?fbclid=IwAR1zvalrSRPiadCrznoiX6JmizGJ0uXawvioyijOfjDVDbSRwABMjYYcZpg
2.Click the small box “Vote Now” below Janaka’s picture (to easily find his picture, hit CTRL+F on your keyboard and search for “Janaka”)
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page
4. Enter the email address inside the grey box and click “VOTE NOW” (red button)
5. You will then receive a confirmation message indicating your vote has been submitted
About Prof Janaka Ruwanpura:
An outstanding educator, prolific scholar, impactful, award-winning academic leader and administrator, Janaka Ruwanpura, Ph.D., P.Eng, PQS, MRICS, FCSCE, NAC, is the vice-provost and associate vice-president research (international) and a tenured professor at the University of Calgary. Ruwanpura has been an influential educator and scholar in construction engineering and project management, and an innovator in global engagement. He has published over 180 referred technical papers, supervised 100+ graduate students, and produced 30+ best practices and tools, including commercialized products. He has been a prominent keynote speaker and panelist for both engineering and internationalization organizations around the world.
Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Ruwanpura holds degrees from the University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka), Arizona State University and the University of Alberta.
Previously, Ruwanpura served as the Canada Research Chair in Project Management Systems, director of University of Calgary’s Centre for Project Management Excellence, and was the fourth Canadian inducted into the National Academy of Construction in the United States. He is a professional engineer and professional quantity surveyor in Canada.
Ruwanpura has generously shared his expertise with numerous professional and community organizations. He served as the convener and co-leader for the International Institute for Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction, a 20+ multi-university global consortium. He was elected as the chair of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) Commission on International Initiatives (2019), the first Canadian to chair any commissions or councils of APLU. Ruwanpura is a board member of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) and also volunteers his time with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, the Immigrants Society of Calgary and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, among others.
Ruwanpura has won international, national, provincial and municipal awards for his academic accomplishments and leadership for teaching, research, innovation, service, leadership and internationalization. A few recent awards include the Distinguished Alumni Award (Arizona State University), City of Calgary’s International Achievement Award and CBIE’s Board of Directors Leadership Award for Internationalization.
LinkedIn Profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janaka-ruwanpura-phd-peng-6a118a5/
University of Calgary Profile: https://ucalgary.ca/international/about-us/contacts/vice- provost-and-associate-vice-president-research-international
