Shaping the Future Together: In Conversation with UBC President Benoit-Antoine Bacon
Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon
Through teaching and research, universities play a powerful role in the social and economic development of their cities and countries. They also have a responsibility to contribute to collaborative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.
The University of British Columbia is a key partner with the public, private and not for profit sectors helping to create a healthier, more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future for everyone.
Meet UBC President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, as he shares the university’s priorities and future plans in areas including biomedical innovation, new technologies, Indigenous engagement, sustainability, expanded housing, and more.
This event will feature remarks from Dr. Bacon, followed by a moderated Q&A session, providing an opportunity to gain insights into the next stages in the evolution of British Columbia’s largest public research university.
Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon
Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon started a five-year term as the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia on November 1, 2023. Since 2020, he has also been serving on the Board of Directors of Universities Canada.
Before joining UBC, Dr. Bacon served in several academic leadership roles, including as President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University in Ottawa, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at Queen’s University in Kingston, and as Provost and Vice-President (Academic Affairs) at Concordia University in his hometown of Montreal, where he was recognized with an award as Sustainability Champion.
His first academic appointment was at Bishop’s University, where he served in a number of leadership roles including Dean of Arts and Science and chief negotiator for the Association of Professors of Bishop’s University. He is a three-time recipient of Bishop’s Merit Award for exceptional performance in teaching and research.
Dr. Bacon holds a PhD in neuropsychology from the University of Montreal, after which he undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His research in the field of cognitive neuroscience focuses on the links between brain activity and perception in the visual, auditory and vestibular systems, as well as on multisensory integration.
Sharing his own lived experience, he advocates nationally for open conversations about mental health and substance use. These efforts have been recognized with a Transformational Leader Inspiration Award from the Royal Ottawa Hospital, and the Honorary Presidency of the Canadian Psychological Association.
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