(Part of the ongoing WISENET Series)
Dr. Rawat is a notable trailblazer and spectrum ambassador. In 1968 she emigrated from India to Canada, where she became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Queen’s University in 1973. She is fluent in English, French, Hindi and Spanish. Dr. Rawat began her career 35 years ago with the Canadian federal government’s communications ministry, starting as an engineer before advancing into executive-level positions. Her experience spans the technology continuum — from bench-level engineering to taking a leadership position in a national R&D organization.
In 2004, Dr. Rawat became the President of the Communications Research Centre (CRC), the only federal government laboratory carrying out R&D in communications technologies. She currently manages a staff of 400 and an annual budget of over $50 million. Her work has garnered much recognition both nationally and internationally:
- Canada’s Leading Woman High Tech Entrepreneur
- Canada’s Most Powerful Women, Top 100, 2005
- Leadership in Government Award, 2005
- Canadian Woman of the Year in Communications, 2004
- Radio Advisory Board of Canada Award of Excellence, 2004
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Gold Medal, 2003
- Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal, 2003