Concordia to award 5 honorary doctorates at its spring 2026 convocation

The honorands include leaders in the fields of business, philanthropy, climate and public health, financial services, sports governance, bioengineering, and nanotechnology.

May 20, 2026

By University Communications Services

Concordia University is recognizing the accomplishments of five leaders who have made their marks in the fields of business, philanthropy, climate and public health, financial services, sports governance, bioengineering, and nanotechnology.

They will be awarded honorary doctorates during upcoming spring convocation ceremonies on June 15, 16 and 17 at Place des Arts’ Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. The honorands will join graduates from three Concordia faculties and the School of Graduate Studies who will be receiving their diplomas.

Concordia’s spring 2026 convocation: the honorands

diptych of a smiling man with gray hair in a dark blue suit beside a smiling woman with long gray hair in a light blue suit jacket with a white shirt and gold necklace

Diane Dunlop-Hébert and Norman Hébert

For their visionary leadership in business, sport, and civic life.

Diane Dunlop-Hébert is a passionate philanthropist and proud Quebecer and Canadian who has dedicated her life to advancing the role of women and children in society. A graduate of Concordia with a BComm, she became a member of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec before turning her energy to volunteer leadership in the not-for-profit sector, with a focus on sports governance. A tireless champion of equity and opportunity in sport, she served as president of Golf Canada and as a two-term president of Golf Quebec, in 2007 and 2008. She currently sits on the General Committee of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Scotland. Her impact, both in Canada and internationally, continues to elevate women in sport.

Norman Hébert is executive chair of Groupe Park Avenue, the family automotive business his father founded in 1959. Over more than four decades in the industry, he has chaired dealer councils for numerous manufacturers and held leadership roles within the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association. He served as chair of Concordia’s Board of Governors from 2012 to 2020 and is chair of the Advisory Board for Volt-Age, Concordia's $123-million Canada First Research Excellence Fund initiative advancing decarbonization and resilient communities. He also serves as chair of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Civil Law at the University of Ottawa and as chair of the board of directors of the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation. A Member of the Order of Canada appointed in 2017 for his leadership in the automotive sector, Hébert earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Concordia in 1977 and a law degree from the University of Ottawa in 1980.

Together, Diane and Norman have built a shared legacy of civic leadership, philanthropy, and community engagement in Quebec and beyond. Their deep and enduring connection to Concordia — as alumni, advocates, and long-time supporters — reflects a lifelong commitment to education, equity, and the vitality of their community.

Diane Dunlop-Hébert and Norman Hébert will address the John Molson School of Business convocation ceremony on Monday, June 15, at 12 p.m.

Smiling woman with long, dark brown hair, wearing a dark suit, sitting in a grey chair

Elin Waty

For her leadership in inclusive and innovative financial services.

Elin Waty is a leader in the financial services industry with more than 30 years of experience in life insurance across agency, bancassurance, marketing, operations, and strategic transformation.

She served as chief executive officer of Sun Life Financial Indonesia from 2015 to 2024, where she led major growth initiatives and established the country’s first dedicated shariah agency channel. She later became president commissioner and executive chair of Sun Life Indonesia, serving until September 2025.

In 2025, she founded EC2 (Empowering Catalyst), a company focused on leadership development, organizational transformation, and sustainable business practices. Through EC2, she supports organizations in building future-ready leadership and aligning profitability with social impact.

Her book, Segelas Kopi dan Segudang Cerita Karier, reflects on her professional journey and the lessons she has learned, particularly during periods of uncertainty. She donated all proceeds from the book to support education for children in remote areas of Indonesia.

Her contributions have also extended to industry leadership, serving as chair of distribution channels and insurance inclusion at the Indonesian Life Insurance Association, where she advocated for broader access to financial services.

Waty has received numerous honours, including recognition among the Top 100 CEOs and Top 100 Most Outstanding Women in the Financial Sector. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to leadership, mentorship, and inclusive growth.

Elin Waty will address the John Molson School of Business convocation ceremony on Monday, June 15, at 4 p.m.

Man with glasses, dark suit and grey hair, standing with his arms folded

Sal Guerrera

For business innovations and commitment to healthcare and community well-being.

Salvatore Guerrera is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SAJO, a project delivery and solution services company established in 1977. In the early years of the company, he was fortunate to be joined by Nick Tedeschi, a close friend and President of SAJO, whose steadfast partnership has accompanied the company’s evolution from its beginnings and continues to this day. Approaching nearly 50 years of existence, SAJO has evolved into an industry leader recognized for its excellence in project management, design-build, procurement, manufacturing, and construction. With operations spanning North America and global markets, SAJO delivers integrated, turnkey solutions for blue-chip clients who demand precision, innovation, and uncompromising quality.

Under Mr. Guerrera’s leadership, SAJO has built a reputation for its multidisciplinary approach and advanced technological capabilities, positioning the company as a trusted partner to some of the largest and most respected North American and European retail brands.

From the outset, Mr. Guerrera built his firm on deeply held values: equity, integrity, honesty, environmental responsibility, and a commitment to making decisions with longevity in mind — choices intended to endure and support the company’s evolution over time. These principles continue to shape SAJO’s culture and guide its long-term vision.

Beyond his business achievements, Salvatore Guerrera is widely recognized for his extensive philanthropic engagement. Deeply committed to healthcare, education, and community well-being, he has devoted decades of service to advancing cancer diagnostics and treatment, as well as supporting individuals with developmental disorders.

His passion for the arts is equally notable, reflected in his longstanding support for Québec and Canadian cultural institutions and artistic initiatives, as well as in a series of publications and commissioned documentaries.

In recognition of their leadership, philanthropy, and contributions to Canadian society, Salvatore Guerrera and his wife, Diane Proulx, were appointed Members of the Order of Canada in 2017.

Beyond his professional and philanthropic commitments, Mr. Guerrera is a devoted husband, father of two adult children, and a proud grandfather. He is a man of vision who listens, observes, learns, and embraces change with curiosity and optimism. He remains inspired by the possibilities of innovation and human potential.

Salvatore Guerrera will address the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science convocation ceremony on Tuesday, June 16, at 10 a.m.

Smiling woman wearing glasses and a pink headscarf

Jackie Ying

For her pioneering contributions to bioengineering and nanotechnology.

Jackie Y. Ying was born in Taipei and raised in Singapore and New York. She earned a Bachelor of Engineering, summa cum laude, in chemical engineering from The Cooper Union in 1987, and completed her PhD at Princeton University in 1991 as an AT&T Bell Laboratories PhD Scholar.

Ying has built a career at the intersection of bioengineering and nanotechnology, holding distinguished positions at some of the world’s leading research institutions. She served as professor of chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and as executive director of the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at A*STAR in Singapore. She is currently chief research and innovation officer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Saudi Arabia.

Ying serves on the Board of Trustees of Princeton University, the Board of Directors of Saudi Arabia’s Research, Development and Innovation Authority, the Advisory Board of the Saudi Authority of Intellectual Property, and the Strategic Committee of the Saudi Ministry of Education’s University Affairs Council.

A prolific researcher, she has authored more than 400 articles, accumulating over 54,600 citations and an h index of 111. Her contributions to nanomaterials and bioengineering have been recognized with numerous honours, including the Mustafa Prize, the King Faisal Prize in Science, the World Economic Forum Young Global Leader designation, and MIT’s Technology Review Inaugural TR100 Young Innovator Award. She has been elected to the US National Academy of Engineering, the US National Academy of Inventors and the German National Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina. In 2025, she was named to the inaugural Forbes 50 Over 50 Global List of Women Trailblazers.

Jackie Ying will address the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science convocation ceremony on Tuesday, June 16, at 3 p.m.

Smiling woman with short grey hair, wearing a pale green blazer

Gina McCarthy

For her leadership on climate action and public health.

Gina McCarthy is one of the United States’ most respected voices on climate change, environmental policy, and public health. Appointed by President Joe Biden as the first-ever White House National Climate Advisor, she led the Climate Policy Office and helped drive the most ambitious climate action in U.S. history. Her commitment to bold initiatives across the Biden administration, supported by the climate and clean energy provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, restored U.S. climate leadership on the global stage.

McCarthy is known for her pragmatic, collaborative approach to environmental policy. She has worked closely with states, communities, businesses, and labour leaders to develop solutions that both protect public health and grow the economy. Today, she continues this work as chair of the America Is All In coalition and as senior fellow at the Fletcher School’s Climate Policy Lab at Tufts University.

Previously, McCarthy was president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council and professor of the practice of public health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as well as a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

From 2013 to 2017, McCarthy was administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama, where she strengthened national air and water protections while advancing global climate accords, including the Kigali Amendment and the Paris Climate Agreement.

She holds a BA from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and an MSc from Tufts University.

This honour was conferred in a special ceremony on April 17. Gina McCarthy will deliver a video message to graduates at the Faculty of Arts and Science convocation ceremony on Wednesday, June 17, at 3 p.m.