Indira Samarasekera
- January 9, 2024
- Engineer
Quick Facts
Indira Samarasekera Biography
| Name | Indira Samarasekera |
| Birthday | Apr 11 |
| Birth Year | 1952 |
| Place Of Birth | Colombo |
| Birth Country | Sri Lanka |
| Birth Sign | Aries |
Indira Samarasekera is one of the most popular and richest Engineer who was born on April 11, 1952 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Indira Vasanti Samarasekera OC , (née Arulpragasam; April 11, 1952), is the former president and former vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta. She has been a member of the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, which advises on appointments to the Senate of Canada, since 2016.
She succeeded Roderick Fraser as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta on July 1, 2005, and served two terms, ending June 30,
- She was the first female president of any university in Alberta.
In an interview with the Edmonton Journal on October 21, 2009, Samarasekera raised her concerns regarding the fact that 58% of university undergraduates in Canada were female. She commented, “I’m going to be an advocate for young white men, because I can be. No one is going to question me when I say we have a problem”, and “We’ll wake up in 20 years and we will not have the benefit of enough male talent at the heads of companies and elsewhere.” A group of students responded by putting up posters satirizing her comments. Campus Security took down the posters within 24 hours and warned the students responsible of possible disciplinary action.” Samaraskera responded by noting that she appreciated satire as a form of freedom of speech, but hoped that such debate be held in a cordial and respectable manner.
In July 2009, the University of Alberta purchased Samarasekera’s private residence for $930,000, representing approximately $180,000 profit for Samarasekera, and the home was renovated by the University. University administration was criticized by some for the initiative, given budget shortfalls at the time. Brian Heidecker, chair of the University of Alberta’s Board of Governors, said the purchase gave the university a strategic advantage, noting that the residence would serve as a strong inducement when recruiting future presidents. Samarasekera continues to live at the home and pays rent based on fair market value.
In 2000, she was appointed UBC’s vice-president of research. During her time in that role, the university’s research funding from government, private donors and industry more than doubled, from $149 million to $377 million.
Indira Samarasekera Net Worth
| Net Worth | $5 Million |
| Source Of Income | Engineer |
| House | Living in own house. |
Indira Samarasekera is one of the richest Engineer from Sri Lanka. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Indira Samarasekera 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)
Samarasekera received her B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sri Lanka in 1974 and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis as a Fulbright Scholar in 1976. In 1977, she immigrated to Canada, where she received her PhD in Metallurgical Engineering at the University of British Columbia in 1980. That year, she began working in the Department of Metals and Materials Engineering at UBC with a focus on the continuous casting and hot rolling of steel. She was only the second woman appointed to the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Engineering.
In 1991, Samarasekera was awarded NSERC’s the E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship, an award that recognizes promising young Canadian researchers. In 2002, Samarasekera was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2012, she received Canada’s Public Policy Forum Peter Lougheed award for leadership in public policy, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2014, she was named a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Engineering.
Samarasekera was appointed to the board of directors for Scotiabank in 2008, and for Magna International in 2014. She was appointed chair of the Worldwide Universities Network in 2012, serves on the CEO of the Year Advisory Committee and has served as both board member and chair of the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT).
Height, Weight & Body Measurements
Indira Samarasekera height Not available right now. Indira weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.
Who is Indira Samarasekera Dating?
According to our records, Indira Samarasekera is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, Indira Samarasekera’s is not dating anyone.
Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Indira Samarasekera. You may help us to build the dating records for Indira Samarasekera!
Facts & Trivia
Indira Ranked on the list of most popular Engineer. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in Sri Lanka. Indira Samarasekera celebrates birthday on April 11 of every year.