EllisDon Board Member Melissa Chee Named Ecosystem Builder of the Year

Melissa Chee, a member of EllisDon’s Board of Directors, has been named Ecosystem Builder of the Year at the ChipsNorth Executive Summit held in May 2026; a national recognition of her instrumental leadership and transformative impact to catalyze Canada’s advanced computing and semiconductor ecosystem, which are critical technologies to nearly every industrial and consumer sector around the world.

Building on a 25-year career scaling global technology companies and start-ups, Melissa currently serves on national public sector and corporate boards driving industrial transformation through advanced technologies and inclusive innovation. Most recently, Melissa served as the CEO of ventureLAB, a leading global innovation hub that was instrumental to shaping Canada’s investment and policies in advanced computing, semiconductors and artificial intelligence through the founding of the Hardware Catalyst Initiative, Canada’s first and only national hub for semiconductor and hardware companies, and Canada’s Semiconductor Council. Through her leadership across the ecosystem coast to coast, Melissa advanced Canada’s capacity in talent, global competitiveness, innovation and supply chain resilience critical to the digital infrastructure for defence, healthcare, energy and other industrial sectors to shape a more connected, resilient semiconductor ecosystem in Canada.

“Some of our most critical infrastructure today is digital, from data centres to telecommunications to semiconductors,” said Melissa Chee, Member of the Board of Directors, EllisDon. “What’s increasingly important is how we connect the tangible and intangible—bringing together physical infrastructure, data, and innovation to build resilient, future-ready systems. That intersection is where long-term value is created, and where organizations can unlock new opportunities by thinking more holistically about how these systems come together.”

Her perspective is especially relevant as EllisDon continues to expand its work across data centres, national defence, and other mission-critical sectors where technology, infrastructure, and long-term performance are deeply interconnected.

“Melissa brings a depth of experience that is incredibly valuable as we continue to deliver leading work in complex, technology-driven sectors like data centres and national defence,” said Kieran Hawe, President & CEO, EllisDon. “Her understanding of how these ecosystems evolve, and what it takes to build them, strengthens how we approach this work today and help ensure we continue to lead as these sectors grow.”

As EllisDon takes on increasingly complex projects, its leadership approach is shaped not only by construction expertise, but by insights from adjacent industries that are redefining how infrastructure is conceived and delivered. Melissa’s background in advanced computing and semiconductors brings a distinct lens to these conversations, helping to connect emerging technologies with real-world applications in the built environment.

Melissa also brings a forward-looking view of how sectors such as defence, health, and education are evolving which encourages more integrated thinking across traditionally separate domains. That perspective is critical as EllisDon delivers projects in environments defined by precision, performance, and long-term resilience.

Melissa’s recognition at ChipsNorth underscores the strength of the leadership guiding EllisDon forward; bringing together diverse expertise to navigate complexity, unlock new opportunities, and shape the future of infrastructure in a rapidly evolving world.

Congratulations, Melissa. We’re proud to have your perspective helping guide EllisDon’s journey.