Dr. Veena Rawat is the President of the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC). An agency of Industry Canada, CRC is responsible for conducting applied research and development in communications and related technologies.
Dr. Rawat has 28 years of experience with Industry Canada in senior management positions, where she was responsible for managing programs related to spectrum engineering, involving standards development, access to spectrum for new radio services, and technical regulatory issues for all radio services.
Dr. Rawat also has extensive experience working with senior officials of Canadian organizations (i.e.: Radio Advisory Board of Canada, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, Electronic Federation of Canada), and has led Canadian delegations and negotiations at the international telecommunication organizations of United Nations (i.e.: International Telecommunications Union), the Organization of American States and with the United States Government (i.e.: Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications and Information Administration). From the mid-nineties through March 2003, she was co-Chair of the Canada/US Committee to negotiate spectrum use along the border.
Dr. Rawat has chaired many technical committees of Canadian and international organizations that deal with radio, spectrum and telecommunications issues and standards. In 2003, she became the first woman to chair the World Radiocommunication (WRC) Conference of the United Nations’ telecommunication organization which addressed issues impacting billions of investment dollars in the communications industry. She was awarded a gold medal by the Secretary General of the ITU for her chairmanship.
Her work has garnered her much recognition, including the Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) Woman of the Year Award, the CWC Trailblazer Award, and ITU’s gold and silver medals for her contributions in the international arena. She recently received the International Leadership in Government Award from the Wireless Communications Association International in the U.S., the Professional Woman Award from the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce in June 2005, the Trailblazer award from the Women's Executive Network announced in their list of Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 in November 2005, the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal, and Industry Canada’s Excellence in Leadership Award.
Her efforts and contributions have led to a significant increase in the representation and recognition of women in leadership roles in these national and international organizations. She continues to be involved in activities that encourage and increase the number of women in science and technology.
Dr. Rawat migrated to Canada from India in 1968 and was the first woman to graduate with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Queen's University in 1973.
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