Current as of 6/06/2023

Professor Elizabeth Croft is the Vice-President Academic and Provost at the University of Victoria (UVic) in British Columbia, Canada, a research-intensive comprehensive university leading the world in climate action, sustainability, rights of indigenous peoples, health equity, and international research collaborations. She is internationally recognised for her leadership in research and education innovation and for advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in academia and industry.

Professor Croft holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Waterloo, and a doctoral degree in robotics from the University of Toronto. She is an expert in the field of human-robot interaction. Her work advances the design of intelligent controllers and interaction methods that underpin how people and autonomous, collaborative systems can work together in a safe, predictable, and helpful manner. She has led large-scale collaborative research projects utilising robots alongside people in manufacturing and guided multidisciplinary initiatives with automotive and aerospace industry partners. Her outstanding contributions have earned Professor Croft considerable recognition, including the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Alan Blizzard Award, WXN’s Top 100 most powerful women in Canada award, and the Engineers and Geoscientists BC RA McLachlan Award.

Professor Croft is a fellow of the American Society of Engineers, the Institute of Engineers Australia, Engineers Canada, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

Professor Croft is an internationally respected academic in robotics. She is globally recognised for her contributions to engineering education and is a national and international leader in recruiting women into engineering. As Dean of Engineering, she has directed major initiatives to advance research in areas of critical economic and environmental importance and delivered multimillion-dollar advanced research and educational platforms. She has introduced new industry-relevant curricular and co-curricular learning opportunities to attract, train and grow the next generation of engineering leaders in Australia.