Dr. Brian Veitch

In 2013, Dr. Brian Veitch was appointed as the Husky Energy Chair in Oil and Gas Research.

The $2.5-million endowment for the Husky Energy Chair in Oil and Gas Research was initiated in 2003 by Husky Energy. The current focus of the chair is to undertake an innovative research program in offshore oil and gas research, with particular emphasis on offshore engineering for harsh ocean and arctic environments.

Dr. Veitch grew up in St. John’s and graduated with a bachelor of engineering degree, followed by a master of engineering degree from Memorial University. He completed further graduate studies at Helsinki University of Technology, where he focused on naval architecture and ocean engineering. Dr. Veitch returned to Canada in 1996 to work with the National Research Council. In 1998, he was appointed to the Terra Nova Project Junior Research Chair at Memorial University, where he developed an applied research program on ocean environmental risk engineering. In parallel, he initiated an inter-disciplinary research program on offshore and maritime safety with the goal of improving the safety of life at sea. His work has garnered a number of awards, including the President’s Award for Outstanding Research at Memorial University and Transport Canada’s Marine Safety Award. He also helped launch several technology companies with his graduate students.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Veitch has held several administrative roles in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Research and Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador.