Micheline Bouchard was building bridges with a Meccano set when she was six years old. By the age of 14, she knew she wanted to attend the then-male-dominated École Polytechnique in Montreal. That same determination has followed Bouchard throughout her brilliant career as scientist, engineer, administrator, business leader, member of the Order of Canada and, above all, a woman of vision, accomplishment and hope.
Before she became corporate vice-president and general manager of Motorola Inc., Bouchard was president and CEO of Motorola Canada Ltd., and before that, she left her mark at Hydro-Quebec, Hewlett-Packard, the DMR Group and the CGI Group.
She has been elected president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the most prestigious engineering body in the country, and earned many honours from the business world, the public sector and educators. Last year, the Canadian Engineering Academy awarded her the Gold Medal, the highest honour for a Canadian engineer, for her inspiration to others. She particularly encourages young women to embrace the engineering profession which, in today's age of computer and communication technology, has become increasingly open to women.