Dr. Gaston Gonnet
Board Chair
Dr. Gaston H. Gonnet is a distinguished Uruguayan–Canadian–Swiss computer scientist and
entrepreneur, renowned for pioneering work in computer algebra and digital text processing.
After earning his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo in, he co-founded
Waterloo’s Symbolic Computation Group. Later, Gonnet co-founded Waterloo Maple Inc.,
earning the 2011 ACM Richard D. Jenks Memorial Prize for Software Engineering Excellence.
In 1984, he spearheaded the New Oxford English Dictionary project at Waterloo, producing the
first searchable electronic edition and subsequently establishing OpenText Corporation, where he
was co-founder and served as board chair until 1994. A professor emeritus at ETH Zurich,
Gonnet also developed the Darwin programming language for biosciences, which evolved into
the OMA ontology database. Since 2018, he has been Chief Scientist at PolyML. Gonnet holds a
Doctorate Honoris Causa degree in recognition of his influential contributions to both computer
science and digital humanities.
Chameli Naraine
Board Member
Chameli is the former President and CEO of Symcor, where she led a sweeping digital
transformation. Over more than a decade, her pivotal role steered the strategic
trajectory of the company. Her expertise spans innovation, technology, operations, and
risk management, underpinned by a strong track record of values-based and results-
oriented leadership.
Outside the boardroom, Chameli is the founder of the Naraine Family Foundation, which
focuses on advancing education, health, and wellness initiatives for women and children
in Canada, India, Honduras and Kenya. She has been recognized with numerous
honours, including Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Ascend Canada’s Pan-
Asian Leader of the Year, and The Trailblazer Award from Women’s College Hospital.
Chameli holds degrees in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University and Operations and
Materials Management from Conestoga College.
Tim Snider
Board Member
Tim Snider is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of PolyML, a technology
company focused on machine learning and advanced data analytics. With an MSc in
Computer Science from McMaster University (1979), Tim has spent decades at the
forefront of computing innovation. Early in his career, he co-founded Innovus, a
pioneering biotech software company, alongside fellow McMaster graduates. He later
contributed to the New Oxford English Dictionary project at the University of Waterloo, a
collaboration that seeded the formation of Open Text, now a global enterprise
information management company.
Continuing his focus on scalable data systems, Tim co-developed JoinT technology,
one of the earliest column-oriented databases for analytical queries, in partnership with
Gaston Gonnet and Mariano Consens. His work continues to bridge the gap between
foundational computing and modern AI.
Mardi Witzel
Board Member
In her role as the President and CEO of PolyML, Mardi is responsible for setting the
organization’s strategy and executing the growth plan. She is recognized as an expert in
the field of AI Governance, previously having served as a member of the Province of
Ontario’s Expert Working Group for a Trustworthy AI Framework.
Mardi spent her early career with NCR Corporation, holding divisional management
roles in product management, marketing and progam management. Today she writes
on policy issues relating to AI, ESG and the challenges of innovation and sustainability in
the digital economy. Mardi is currently serving a third term as a Public Representative
on the Chartered Professional Accountants Ontario (CPA Ontario) Council and previously
served as Chair of the Muskoka Watershed Advisory Group and Chair, KidsAbility
Foundation Board.
Mardi holds a degree in Political Studies from Queen’s University and an MBA from
Wilfrid Laurier University.