Dr. Michelle Chrétien is the associate vice president, Research & Innovation at Conestoga College. Previously, she was the inaugural director of the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies at Sheridan College. Prior to joining the public sector in 2018, Michelle spent 12 years at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada in various roles including global program manager (electronic materials), senior R&D manager (materials science), and program manager (strategic partnerships). Michelle is passionate about the commercialization of innovation and helping companies innovate, solve problems, and achieve their business and technology goals. Michelle received her BSc in Chemistry from Dalhousie University and PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Ottawa. Her extensive experience leading applied research in 3D printing, automation, robotics, simulation, and printed electronics has resulted in new capabilities and infrastructure to support innovations in advanced manufacturing and beyond.

Michelle has published 23 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and been granted 90 U.S. patents on novel materials and manufacturing technologies. Michelle serves on the Board of Directors of the NSERC Green Printed Electronics Network and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging. She is also President of the IntelliFLEX Innovation Alliance and an appointed member of the Mitacs Research Council. Michelle is a past board member for the Altitude Accelerator and still serves as an advisor and mentor for various incubators and entrepreneurship hubs.