The Germinator is where we explore ideas about commercialization, entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, innovation, and any other pathway that takes science/engineering/technology from the lab/workshop and into people’s hands. This is NOT a course, and ALL are welcome to attend, students, faculty, staff, members of the general public. You don’t need to have prior knowledge or experience, your curiosity is all that is needed.
Throughout the year, I will bring guests to join me virtually (via Zoom), to share their stories and experiences with commercialization, entrepreneurship and innovation. If you would like to suggest possible guests you think others would like to hear from, feel free to connect with me at alon.eisenstein@ubc.ca
The Germinator is coordinated and offered by UBCO School of Engineering’s Dr. Alon Eisenstein.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of ETSI-BC
The 2025 – 2026 Program is now happening!
Below you will see the scheduled dates for this year’s series. Information will be updated regularly as guests are confirmed.
This year, I will host all of the conversations on Tuesdays, 2-3pm, via Zoom.
Each event requires advanced registration through the links provided next to each of the guests.
To be notified of future events, you can add yourself to our mailing list:
Future events
December 2, 2025
In conversation with…
Ken Chau, Associate Director, Innovation, and Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering, UBC Okanagan
about The Art of Germination: Growing Ideas, People, and Possibility
Kenneth Chau is a professor, entrepreneur, and builder of people. Known for his creative approach to leadership and innovation, Kenneth has founded multiple companies from within academia and mentored countless students and colleagues into leadership roles of their own. His work sits at the intersection of engineering, entrepreneurship, and human development, where ideas take root and people grow alongside them. Guided by curiosity, intuition, and a belief that joy and authenticity fuel innovation, Kenneth’s initiatives have cultivated ecosystems where bold ideas and compassionate leadership thrive. He continues to explore how institutions can nurture not just invention, but transformation.
January 13, 2026
In conversation with…
Chris Dougherty, P.Eng, CEM, Strategic Energy Management Coach, Prism Engineering Ltd.
about Engineering a Purpose-Driven Career in Energy Management
Chris Dougherty is a Professional Engineer and Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Coach with Prism Engineering. He has spent the last decade working in British Columbia’s industrial sector, helping organizations save energy, cut costs, and lower emissions. At Sleeman Breweries, Chris embedded SEM practices into daily operations, unlocking major utility savings, securing third-party incentives, and earning a Clean Energy Champion award from BC Hydro while driving lower emissions at the Okanagan Spring Brewery.
Chris believes that lasting energy savings come not just from technology, but from people. His focus is on building cultures where employees see energy efficiency as part of their everyday work, rather than an extra task. Today, he supports industrial and commercial organizations across Western Canada in designing energy programs that stick, blending technical expertise with a people-centered approach.
January 27, 2026
In conversation with…
Paul Heidebrecht, Director, Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement
about What do engineering and entrepreneurship have to do with peace?
Paul Heidebrecht is the inaugural Director of the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement, and teaches Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo. He is also a member of the Waterloo Innovation Ecosystem Council and a Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs.
His research interests include the intersection of peacebuilding and social innovation and technology and ethics. In recent years he has leveraged academic preparation and professional experience in both engineering and the humanities to help spark the emerging field of PeaceTech—generating critical insights on the social impact of technology, while using technology to augment the efforts of civil society organizations, social-purpose businesses, and governments to advance peace and justice.
February 10, 2026
In conversation with…
Stephanie Gnissios, Cofounder & COO, Climate Risk Services
about Building Impactful Ventures in Climate Risk & Resilience
Stephanie Gnissios is an engineer and entrepreneur, Co-Founder and COO of Climate Risk Services, a boutique climate risk advisory firm and SaaS analytics provider. Climate Risk Services was founded in 2019 and serves the financial sector with a focus on emerging & development markets; along with corporates in mining/food/beverage/agriculture. With over 15 years of international experience, Stephanie’s expertise spans engineering & project management, portfolio management, impact measurement, and risk management with a particular focus on helping companies incorporate social, environmental, and climate impact into their business models and financial strategies.
Stephanie is also an advisor to early-stage ventures, establishing and co-delivering the ENgage Mentorship Programme for Oxford University’s startup ecosystem and serving as an entrepreneur-in-residence for Foresight Canada. She is a licensed Professional Engineer and certified Project Management Professional, with an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford and specialized training in impact measurement.
As an Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School and Research Fellow at the Smith School of Enterprise & Environment, Stephanie continues to drive thought leadership at the intersection of climate, strategy, and innovation, shaping the future of sustainable enterprise.
March 3, 2026
In conversation with…
Mark Abbott, P.Eng., MBA, Director of Tech Stewardship Initiative and the Director of the Engineering Change Lab
about Tech Stewardship and the Future Of Engineering
Mark Abbott, P.Eng., MBA, is an Ashoka Fellow who currently serves as the Director of Tech Stewardship Initiative and the Director of the Engineering Change Lab (ECL), which are multi institutional efforts focused on systemic transformation. Previously, Mark was a senior leader at MaRS Discovery District and a member of the Executive Team at Engineers Without Borders. And before that, Mark spent fourteen years working for a heavy industrial consulting engineering firm based in Vancouver.
March 17, 2026
In conversation with…
March 31, 2026
In conversation with…
Past Events (recordings available for some)
September 23, 2025
In conversation with…
Michael McCafferty, Advisor to Entrepreneurs
about Going From Boom to Bust and Back Again—7 Startups, 7 Wild Rides
Lessons for Startup Founder/CEOs on Loving the Chaos—and Surviving It
In Startups for Love & Money, this street-smart entrepreneur and creator of the world’s first CRM software, TeleMagic, shares a brutally honest, often hilarious, and always insightful look at what it really takes to build something from nothing. He bootstrapped a global software company with no VC backing, cashed out for big money, and traded stress for Ferraris, biplanes, fantasy homes, global travel, and all the toys. Then? He walked away—to coach over 100 startup founders through their own journeys.
October 7, 2025
In conversation with…
Keith MacIntyre, CEO & Founder, skiKrumb Trackers
about Learning to Lead with the Story, Not the Tech
Keith MacIntyre is the CEO and Founder of skiKrumb Trackers, an award-winning Kelowna-based startup building the world’s first radio GPS tracker designed specifically for ski resorts. With over 20 years of experience in engineering, software development, and leadership, Keith has worked across sectors including defense, aerospace, and health tech before venturing into consumer technology.
At skiKrumb, he has led the company from concept through to commercialization, securing partnerships with leading ski resorts across Canada. As a technical founder, Keith has navigated the challenges of translating deep technical innovation into compelling stories for investors, funders, and customers alike. Passionate about entrepreneurship and mentorship, he regularly shares insights on scaling technology ventures, building resilient teams, and balancing technical precision with market realities.
October 21, 2025
In conversation with…
Scott Stirrett, Founder of Venture for Canada, Author of The Uncertainty Advantage
about The Uncertainty Advantage: Six Pillars for Thriving in a Changing World
Scott Stirrett is the Founder of Venture for Canada (VFC), a national charity that has supported over 10,000 young Canadians in developing the entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive in an uncertain economy. Since launching VFC in 2013, he has raised over $80 million and partnered with major funders including Employment and Social Development Canada, RBC Foundation, and TD Bank.
Scott is the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a guide for young professionals navigating today’s rapidly changing world, endorsed by leaders like Andrew Yang, Eric Ries, and Sukhinder Singh Cassidy. A former Goldman Sachs employee and graduate of Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, Scott has been recognized as a TELUS LGBTQ Innovator of the Year and an Ashoka Fellow. Originally from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, he serves as Co-Chair of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights and on the board of the Speech and Debate Canada Foundation.
November 4, 2025
In conversation with…
Calvin Cheng, Deep-Tech Venture Builder, Director of Applications and Customer Success at Lumotive
about Going from Lab Bench to Global Market: Lessons in Scaling Deep-Tech Hardware Startups
Calvin Cheng is Director of Applications & Customer Success at Lumotive, a leading company in LiDAR and light-control metasurface technologies. He is an accomplished entrepreneur and technology executive with extensive experience in guiding advanced materials and photonics innovations from early research to global commercialization.
As co-founder and former CTO/COO of Edgehog Advanced Technologies, he secured multimillion-dollar funding, established manufacturing capacity, and scaled products into international markets.
Dr. Cheng holds a PhD in Materials Chemistry from the University of Toronto and a BASc in Biomedical Engineering. With over a decade of leadership at the intersection of science, engineering, and business, he is committed to advancing deep-technology commercialization and supporting the development of future innovators.