Innovation in Action: GVIC 2025 Showcases Student Brilliance and Industry Insight

On March 8, the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science hosted the George Vari Innovation Conference (GVIC). This annual student-led conference brings together brilliant minds, bold ideas, and boundary-pushing discussions.

With more than 100 students, faculty members, and industry professionals in attendance, this year’s conference on the theme Beyond Tomorrow: Exploring Innovation at Intersections offered a packed schedule of powerful conversation, practical workshops, and hands-on exploration of emerging technologies and big ideas. It was a celebration not only of innovation, but of the connections that turn student potential into real-world impact.

Now in its sixth year, GVIC continues to live up to its mission: to discover brilliance, foster futures, and develop connections. This year's event, organized by Palak Dedhia, Zoren Singh, and Alessia Di Nallo, featured speeches, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and vibrant networking opportunities.

Dean Sri Krishnan opened the conference with a welcome that honoured International Women’s Day and National Engineering Month. His remarks highlighted FEAS’s leadership in innovation, equity, and impact, setting an energizing tone for the day.

The keynote address by Civil Engineering alumna Minakshi Suri, Manager of Equity and Community Inclusion, urged attendees to consider the engineer’s role in designing for equity. Her message, focused on developing solutions that prioritize fairness and social impact, resonated deeply with students preparing to shape the future.

A standout panel featuring Victoria Ikede (Architecture 49), Alicia Lenny, P.Eng. (Enbridge Gas), and Dr. Mehrnaz Shokrollahi (RBC) tackled urgent and emerging issues in the field: Building Information Modelling (BIM), the ethical use of AI, data-driven optimization, and the rise of Digital Twins.

Throughout the day, attendees engaged in thought-provoking workshops led by industry experts.

• Ali Tharia (Tharia Inc) inspired with “Engineering to Global Leadership,” sharing candid lessons from his journey and emphasizing the value of building a trusted support network.
• Ashu Syal (Innovation Boost Zone) provided students with tools and pathways for venture formation in “Commercializing Your Projects.”
• Liam Bell (Conavi Medical Inc.) explored the intersections of engineering and medicine in “Intravascular Imaging Innovation.”
• FEAS PhD candidate Yasaman Ahmadiadl gave a thought-provoking talk on neural networks, unpacking their strengths - and vulnerabilities.

Special thanks to the George and Helen Vari Foundation, the dedicated GVIC committee, staff and faculty champions. With over 100 participants, GVIC 2025 proved that when students are given space to lead, extraordinary things happen.