Dr. Carlos ‘Lobo’ Cruz-Noguez

MCAA Endowed Chair of Masonry Structures – The Masonry Centre
Professor – University of Alberta

Dr. Carlos ‘Lobo’ Cruz-Noguez is a Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Alberta, specializing in the analysis and design of damage-resistant concrete and masonry elements, large-scale and component testing, finite-element modeling, and the application of innovative materials in resilient structures. He holds a PhD in Structural Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. In 2017, he was appointed as the Masonry Contractors Association of Alberta (MCAA) Endowed Chair, and in 2018, Dr. Cruz-Noguez established The Masonry Centre at the University of Alberta. The Centre conducts research in structural engineering, composite materials, lean construction, reliability, building science, automation, and robotics. Since 2024, Dr. Lobo serves as the Associate Dean (Education) of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at the University of Alberta, where he specializes in the creation of interdisciplinary programs. 

Dr. Rafiq Ahmad

Associate Professor – University of Alberta
Faculty Associate – Nasseri School of Building Sciences and Engineering

Dr. Rafiq Ahmad is a trailblazing innovator in Smart Systems, Robotics, and Sustainable Technologies, inspiring change as an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta. Honored with Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 Award (2022) and the ASTech Award for Digital Technology Innovation (2023), he is celebrated for his transformative contributions to engineering technologies and society. With a strong background in digital and automated technologies and global vision, Dr. Ahmad pioneers AI-driven engineering solutions to revolutionize smart manufacturing, construction, and space exploration, shaping a smarter and more sustainable future.

Jon Scott

President – StrongPrint3D

Jon Scott is an engineer and entrepreneur who unites 20 years of expertise in product development for 3D printing. After graduating from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia in 1979, he earned his name on 14 patents and has directed two startup companies for consumer products. In 2020, Jon founded StrongPrint3D Construction to lead large-scale additive manufacturing toward printing building applications. Collaborating with Twente Additive Manufacturing, he created the Intrepid 3D printer, a device capable of building 400 sq-ft exterior and interior walls, and through his leadership for StrongPrint3D, he has built a farm stand, a house and other items.

Ed Macnab

CEO – 3D Printed Homes Corporation (3DPHC)

Ed Macnab’s career has been anything but ordinary, from working in the 1970s oilpatch and the construction trades to venturing into electronics and capital investment and serving as COO of Canada’s fastest-growing company in 1999. A late-career move into IT-managed services allowed him to travel the Pacific Rim and Latin America as a Senior IT Project Manager. As one of the four founders of 3DPHC and its CEO, Ed has become an activist for housing affordability and the Construction 3D Printing industry. He is dedicated to fighting the inevitable roadblocks to widespread acceptance of 3D-printed homes until they are commonplace in Canada.

Dr. Cagri Ayranci

Professor – University of Alberta

Dr. Cagri Ayranci is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta, specializing in braided composite materials, shape memory polymers, and their composites. He earned his Undergraduate and Master’s degrees from the University of Ottawa and his Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. Previously, Dr. Ayranci worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of British Columbia, focusing on shape memory polymers and their composites, lightweight armor design for military applications, and braided composites. He has a great interest in the formation of sub-micron(nano) diameter (solid, hollow, and core-shell) fibres and fibre mats using the electrospinning technique. A large portion of his work is dedicated to the design, manufacture, characterization and modelling of multifunctional composite materials produced using Additive Manufacturing.

Dr. Kaouther Ben Azouz

Professor – College of Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec)

Dr. Kaouther Ben Azouz is a Professor and engineer at the College of Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec). She has an extensive experience in the fields of rheology, civil engineering, environment, teaching and research. Kaouther holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Rheology speciality), from the Haute-Alsace University (France) and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the Strasbourg University (France). After that, she completed a post-doctoral internship at Laval University and worked at the Quebec Ministry of Transport. She has also worked as a professor and researcher in France. She is currently a researcher at the RI3D-FRQNT consortium, for innovation in sustainable building 3D printing. Kaouther is passionate about advancing knowledge and finding innovative solutions to civil engineering and environmental challenges.

Dr. Asia Shvarzman

Adjunct Professor – University of Manitoba

Dr. Asia Shvarzman is a recognized expert and inventor in construction materials and decarbonization, renowned for her ability to bridge research, academia, and engineering in the pursuit of sustainable innovation. With over 14 years of experience leading Research and Innovation Divisions at construction firms, Dr. Shvarzman has become a key figure in the development of high performance, low-carbon materials. Simultaneously, she has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Manitoba for the past nine years, contributing to the education of future leaders in the field. Her groundbreaking work includes the development of advanced low carbon cement and concrete products, optimization of 3D concrete printing, and the creation of ink formulations. She is also pioneering geopolymer technology and exploring self-healing and multifunctional construction materials.