2025 Outstanding Mentor Award Recipient
This award is presented to an APEGA member who has excelled as a mentor and who has supported and contributed to the ongoing development of their mentees or proteges.
Dr. Josephine Hill, P.Eng.
Catalyzing Change Through Mentorship
Dr. Josephine Hill, P.Eng., has dedicated more than 22 years to advancing engineering mentorship while producing sustainable research, leaving an indelible mark on the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering.
She is a globally recognized expert in catalysis. Catalysts are materials that increase the rate of a reaction, making industrial processes more sustainable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly. Dr. Hill’s research excellence is matched in her commitment to mentorship, showcased through the individualized guidance and opportunities she gives her students (at both the undergraduate and graduate level), postdoctoral fellows, and colleagues. Her mentoring approach emphasizes communication, goal-setting, and professional development, fostering a collegial environment and a global community of alumni working in academia and industry.
“As professional engineers, we can change the communities around us through not only technological advancements but also education. We have a responsibility to provide the public with objective information so that evidence-based decisions can be made. In fun ways, we can share the joy, wonder, and importance of engineering in our daily lives.”
Beyond academia, Dr. Hill has championed equity, diversity, and inclusion by mentoring early-career colleagues and advocating for systemic change in STEM. Middle and high school students have also benefitted from her guidance through programs that pair girls with female engineers and scientists, such as Cybermentor and Operation Minerva. In addition, Dr. Hill has delivered several presentations promoting equity and inclusion for organizations such as Nova Chemicals, Shell Canada, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Her students’ successes showcase her effective mentoring efforts, and Dr. Hill’s tireless advocacy for equity-deserving groups grows inclusivity and innovation across academia and industry.
Notable Achievements and Recognition
- Chair, Chemical Institute of Canada (2024–present)
- Fellow, The Engineering Institute of Canada (2020)
- Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering (2018)
- APEGA Research Excellence Summit Award (2017)
- Minerva Mentoring Award, Alberta Women’s Science Network (2008)
- Member, APEGA (2000)