Ellen MacKay, RTTP, is the Director, Innovation Development at Lakehead University, managing all technology transfer activities and the Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Economic Development for the past 10 years.
In 2018, Ellen launched Lakehead’s first business incubator, Ingenuity, which supports businesses through an accelerator program and entrepreneurial skills training. Ingenuity has hosted over 2500 participants and 100+ workshops/events. Through a five-year, in-depth self-study process, Ellen spearheaded the initiative to recognize Lakehead University as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) university through the University Economic Development Association. Receiving this designation in the fall of 2023 recognized the efforts of Lakehead in the areas of economic development. Ellen will oversee the five-year implementation of goals in order to maintain the designation.
Ellen is committed to mentorship and to giving back to the profession, regularly presenting at domestic and international conferences, including in Ireland, Greece, Finland, Italy, Canada and the US. Ellen is also engaged with the Canadian Technology Transfer Professional network, as well as the Ontario Research and Commercialization Alliance. In 2022, Ellen led a university-wide effort to create and implement an institutional Commercialization Policy.
Committed to the local community, Ellen serves on volunteer Boards, including the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute and the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre. Additionally, Ellen leads the Ingenuity Advisory Board, composed of leaders from local and regional entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems. As a proud educator, Ellen frequently guest lectures to ensure that students are educated about their own rights and to help them think entrepreneurially.