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Jason Ding – TEC Edmonton

When I was 18, I was incredibly lucky that my first volunteer experience was with the Edmonton Public Library board of trustees. I was able to connect with people from all over Edmonton.  Since then, I’ve sat as a Senator at the University of Alberta, worked as an Ombudsman, was the director of Student Group Services and served as Vice President of the Riverbend Community League. Each of these experiences gave me the opportunity to give back to the Edmonton community, while also expanding my skills and contacts.  In many ways, Edmonton thrives because of its ability to bring people from different backgrounds together.  Edmontonians want people to succeed and part of that is about connecting ideas, skills, and technology. That is why I relish my role at TEC Edmonton. As an Executive in Residence, I am able to work with people who have great ideas and help them transfer those ideas to business success.  

TEC Edmonton is a joint venture between the University of Alberta and The City of Edmonton and we primarily focus on three areas: technology transfer, business development, and entrepreneur development.  TEC Edmonton also annually hosts their VenturePrize competition which awards almost $350,000 to Edmonton entrepreneurs and students with incredible ideas. 

Before working at TEC Edmonton, I was a chartered accountant with two global accounting firms.  I enjoyed the work as a CA and the connections and skills I learned there were easily transferable to business development and technology transfer.  I originally went to the University of Alberta and received my Bachelor of Sciences. I enjoyed the field of study, but found lab work did not allow me to interact with people as much as I would like. Instead, I spent a lot of time with protein expressions and bacteria; I missed the human connection.  I returned to the University of Alberta and received my Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting.

So much of what I do now is about connecting people with the resources they need to be successful. There is something intensely satisfying about being a part of someone else’s success.   Edmonton is a city of success stories and I think we are going to continue to be a centre for entrepreneurs and a leader in technology development.