Dear member,
The Awards and Recognition Committee has reviewed nominations for the first year of the Research Officer/Research Council Officer (RO/RCO) Awards and Recognition Program. The Committee is pleased to present awards to the following members:
- An award for Contributions to the RO/RCO Community to Khaled Mnaymneh
Khaled is a senior research officer at NRC and an adjunct professor at Carleton University. He combined his deep expertise in quantum with his passion and his exceptional communication skills and made significant contributions, not only at NRC but to the community.
Khaled gave talks on quantum physics to NRC colleagues, to graduate students, and even to high school students, which greatly encouraged the audience’s curiosity and critical thinking. Khaled’s lecture titled “Quantum weirdness” at Colonel By Secondary school was praised for being able to explain such a complicated concept with simple terms. The school council is asking him back again this year. Not only does he give annual presentations to first-year students on academic pathways, research skill development and career planning, but he also mentors, trains, and support his postdoctoral researchers to thrive in science and technology.
- An award for Appreciation of an Exceptional Effort to Dr. Mohamed Houache.
Mohamed Houache consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication to supporting his peers and the NRC community well beyond his formal research responsibilities. As Co-Chair of the Early Career Advisory Committee (CEI-NRC) and a member of the Early Career Research Network Steering Committee (ECRN-SC), he provides strategic guidance to strengthen NRC’s early career researcher community. He actively contributes to initiatives that enhance networking, collaboration, and visibility for early career researchers, ensuring equitable opportunities and fostering an environment where emerging talent can thrive. Through these roles, he advises management on community needs and facilitates cross-network collaborations, creating lasting organizational impact. In mentorship, Mohamed has a strong and inclusive approach, co-supervising graduate students from the University of Ottawa, guiding their research, professional growth, and integration into NRC’s scientific community.
Safety and workplace well-being are also central to Mohamed’s contributions. As a Building Emergency Officer (BEO) and member of the Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (COSH), he actively participates in safety planning, training, and knowledge sharing.
Mohamed’s scientific leadership extends to the broader research community. He has guest-edited multiple high-profile MDPI special issues on cutting-edge topics such as next-generation lithium-ion batteries, solid-state battery materials, and high-energy-density lithium batteries, creating platforms for peers to disseminate their research and foster collaboration. Additionally, he serves as a peer reviewer for numerous journals (e.g., Batteries, ACS, Scientific Reports).
- An award for Promoting Human Rights to Anya Pejemsky.
Although Anya has only been an employee for a short time (under 2 years), she has consistently been an advocate for an inclusive workplace. Upon employment she quickly sourced and joined the 2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusion community. Anya has been a force to encourage promotion of EDI and inclusion in the aerospace community and has advocated for their first Pride Day at the flight research lab. Anya currently serves as a member of NRC's Pride Working Group.
- An award for Appreciation of an Exceptional Effort to Mark Witzel.
Mark is being recognized for his visionary leadership and transformative contributions to the RO/RCO and NRC communities.
Mark recognized the profound impact artificial intelligence (AI) would have on industry and daily life - before the official announcement of ChatGPT. Demonstrating remarkable foresight, he actively studied AI advancements and monitored their development. At the very onset of ChatGPT’s public release, Mark acted swiftly to raise awareness among NRC management, ensuring the organization was prepared to understand and respond to this technological shift.
Recognizing his expertise, IRAP management tasked Mark with leading all AI-related activities within the organization. In this role, he conducted in-depth studies on AI and its potential impact on Canadian industry. He then developed and delivered internal educational programs to raise AI awareness among NRC employees and designed initiatives to support AI development and adoption by Canadian companies.
One of Mark’s most impactful accomplishments has been his instrumental role in creating and launching the IRAP AI Assist program. This initiative has already helped thousands of Canadian companies explore and adopt AI, strengthening their competitiveness and innovation capabilities. Additionally, Mark’s leadership in establishing NRC AI initiatives and policies has had a lasting influence, directly impacting virtually every NRC employee and positioning the organization as a leader in responsible AI adoption.
Mark’s contributions have enabled Canadian companies to leverage AI for growth and innovation, fostered a culture of technological awareness and readiness across NRC and strengthened collaboration and knowledge sharing within the RO/RCO community.
- An award for Recognition of Leadership and Advancement of PIPSC RO/RCO to Rokib Hassan.
Hassan has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) RO/RCO community. Within PIPSC, Dr. Hassan serves as a Member of the NRC-RO/RCO Group Executive, the Science Advisory Committee, and the Ottawa East Branch. As Chair of the Organizing Committee for the Decarbonization and Sustainability in Construction Lecture Series, Dr. Hassan has created knowledge-sharing platforms that empower researchers and partners to address climate challenges.
Beyond the NRC, Dr. Hassan’s influence spans national and international standards development. He serves on numerous high-profile CSA Group, UL Standards, and Canadian General Standards Board committees, shaping policies that protect communities, enhance safety, and support environmental resilience. His work with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs strengthens national climate adaptation and emergency preparedness strategies.
Dr. Hassan’s achievements have been recognized through prestigious honors such as the 2024 NRC Outstanding Achievement Award for Environmental Stewardship, the 2023 PIPSC President’s Achievement Award, and the 2021 Director General Innovation Award.
The Awards and Recognition Committee congratulate the award winners for their significant contributions, and for earning the recognition and admiration of their peers. The Committee will present each winner with a $100 gift card and a certificate.