Executive Leadership Forum Featuring Industry, Academia & Government Executive Perspectives - Panel Discussion
Executive Leadership Forum
Featuring Industry, Academia & Government Executive Perspectives
Monday, September 28, 2026 | 8:00 – 10:45 a.m. | Quebec City Convention Center, Canada (Room 309AB)
Chair: Dr. Navin Manjooran, Chairman, Solve | Immediate Past President, ASM International
Moderator:
Renee Parente, AMD, Chief of Staff and Program Management Director for Technology & Product Engineering / ASM International EDFAS President
EMCEES:
Sofía González Espinosa, Instituto Tecnológico de Morelia, Mexico, ASM Student Board Member
Andrew J. Gillespie, Purdue University, ASM Student Board Member
Wenchi Liu, Northwestern University, ASM Student Board Member
AI and Materials Science and Engineering
Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries around the globe—but what does it mean for materials science and engineering beyond the headlines? Join leaders from industry, academia, and government for an executive-level conversation about the real impact of AI across the materials ecosystem, from discovery and R&D to qualification and manufacturing. The panel will explore where AI delivers measurable results today, where hype has outpaced reality, and the challenges organizations are encountering along the way. Most importantly, we will look ahead at emerging opportunities and what materials leaders need to do now to harness AI effectively and avoid being left behind.
Panelists:
- Dr. Andre McDonald, FASM, University of Alberta, Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering / Memorial University, Incoming Vice-President of Research and Innovation
- Mr. Tyler Nester, NASA, Acting Moon to Mars Chief Engineer
- Dr. Eli Ross, Pratt & Whitney, Technology Manager for Materials & Processes Engineering
- Dr. Jason Sabastian, Questek Innovations LLC, Executive Vice President, Market Operations
- Mr. Sridhar Swamy, AMD, Senior Director of Data Science Strategy
- Dr. JC Zhao, FASM, University of Connecticut (UConn), Dean of College of Engineering
Future of Materials Science & Engineering– Funding, Investment and Strategic Partnerships
The materials science and engineering community is facing a period of significant change driven by shifting government priorities, evolving industry needs, workforce challenges, global competition, and rapidly advancing technologies. As funding priorities evolve across government, industry, and academia, organizations must adapt their approaches to secure the resources needed to advance materials research, technology development, and workforce initiatives. This panel brings together leaders from industry, academia, and government to discuss emerging funding models, public-private partnerships, collaborative research programs, and strategies for aligning investments with national and commercial priorities.Panelists will share how their organizations are navigating a changing funding landscape, identifying new sources of support, and building the partnerships necessary to accelerate innovation. Attendees will gain practical insights into successful funding strategies, opportunities for collaboration, and actionable approaches to sustaining growth and competitiveness in materials science.
Panelists:
- Mr. Burak Akyuz, FASM, Applied Technical Services(ATS), Vice President – Testing
- Dr. Andrew Ang, Swinburne University of Technology , Co-Director of Space Technology and Industry Institute & Director of Microscopy and Advanced Analytical Facility / ASM International TSS President
- Dr. Ellen Cerreta, FASM Los Alamos National Laboratory, Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences
- Dr. Kathy Lu, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department Chair, Distinguished Professor, Engineering Leadership Endowed Scholar
- Dr. Gary Pickrell, Virginia Tech, Professor in Materials Science and Engineering; Associate Director of the Center for Photonics Technology in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
- Dr. Marie-Pierre Ippersiel, PRIMA Quebec, President and CEO