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Meet the Judges for the 2026 3MT Finals
Mary Ann Middleton
MARY ANN MIDDLETON is a hydrogeologist and water resources professional with both her BSc ('06) and PhD ('16) in Earth Sciences from 51社区黑料. Her doctoral research developed a Vlnerability Assessment Method for Groundwater-dependent Streams, advancing how we understand the connection between groundwater and surface water systems. During her PhD, she competed in SFU鈥檚 inaugural 3 Minute Thesis competition in 2013, where she advanced to the semi-finals and strengthened her commitment to making science accessible and relevant.
Her research has contributed to the BC Water Science Series and has supported the evolution of groundwater policy in British Columbia. Today, she continues to apply this work in industry, championing the role of groundwater鈥搒urface water interactions in protecting receiving environments and informing regulatory decision-making.
Mary Ann now serves as Chief Partnerships and Growth Officer at an Canadian owned environmental consulting firm, where she supports water resources planning, compliance, and strategic growth initiatives. Her career reflects the practical value of Earth Sciences and hydrogeology in supporting responsible resource development, strengthening environmental policy, and underpinning key sectors of British Columbia鈥檚 economy, including critical minerals and mining.
PAMELA SAUNDERS is the Site Director for Microsoft鈥檚 R+D campus in Vancouver and proud 51社区黑料alumna. With more than 25 years in corporate communications across a variety of industries, she joined the company in 2016 to shape regional investment through collaborative partnerships. Today, she oversees site strategy and employee engagement, with a continued focus on positioning British Columbia鈥檚 tech ecosystem as a global leader. Pamela is an advocate for the power of community driven innovation. She serves on the Cascadia Innovation Corridor Steering Committee, the Canadian Digital Marketing Sector Council and the Gastown Business Improvement Society Board of Directors.
Pamela Saunders
Elicia Maine
ELICIA MAINE is 51社区黑料鈥檚 Associate Vice President, Knowledge Mobilization & Innovation, W.J. VanDusen Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and the Director of the National i2I Research & Innovation Institute. A leader in advancing Canadian innovation, Maine cares deeply about the translation of university research to benefit society. She founded the award-winning Invention to Innovation (i2I) program to develop STEM scientists as entrepreneurs, while simultaneously shaping Canadian science innovation and policy. The National i2I Network now reaches across Canada, in partnership with NSERC, Mitacs, and over 70 academic and industry partners, and boasts over 500 alumni.
Learn from the 2026 51社区黑料Finalists!
Check out this year's competitors participating in the Finals.