Rachel Prudhomme, BEng, MSc, P.Eng., BPHE

Rachel Prudhomme worked in the municipal sector as a director for 17 years and previously in the private sector as an entrepreneur and a branch manager at a multinational consulting firm for 18 years and in education as a lecturer and then as dean for 12 years. As an entrepreneur, she completed projects in Ontario, Québec, South America and Europe.

Prudhomme has extensive governance experience, having received past appointments to several premier of Ontario’s Provincial Advisory Councils, including the Advisory Council on Women in Business and Industry, the Research Excellence Awards Board and the Mineral Sector Advisory Council. She also served on numerous boards and committees, such as a hospital board, municipal airport board and a world-class science centre board, to name a few.

Prudhomme was the first female to graduate in her engineering program and became the first full-time woman member of the faculty in science and engineering at Laurentian University. She is an advocate for women in STEM and has mentored several young women wishing to advance their careers.

In addition to her engineering degree, Prudhomme also holds a bachelor of health education, a master of science in applied physics, a master’s certificate in municipal leadership, a graduate diploma in public administration, and she has completed all coursework towards a PhD in engineering. She hopes to complete her PhD thesis as a retirement project. She enjoys learning languages and is fluent in English, French and Italian, has good abilities in Spanish and is currently learning Mandarin. She also appreciates the arts and enjoys classical as well as today’s Top 40s music. She is an accomplished pianist and has composed and performed the musical score for an award-winning play.