Marc joined Niagara College in 2011, having previously served on its Board of Governors from 2006-2011, and has been a steadfast champion for college applied research, advocating for how it enhances the innovation and growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) locally and across Canada.

Marc spearheaded the development of NC’s five Innovation Centres in Advanced Manufacturing, Business and Commercialization, Food and Beverage, Healthy Aging and Wellness, and Horticultural and Environmental Sciences, and was instrumental in the creation of two NC-led multi-institution networks: the Greenhouse Technology Network and the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI).

During his leadership, the College consistently ranked among Research Infosource Inc.’s Top 50 Research Colleges in Canada – with steady top 10 rankings and achieving the No. 1 spot in 2019, 2023 and 2024 – and received multiple applied research awards at the national and international levels.

Marc also led Government Relations at the College, served as President of the Niagara College Learning Enterprises Corporation (NCLEC), overseeing the Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery, Teaching Cidery, and Teaching Distillery, and helped introduce the Photonics program at the College.

“The impact of Marc’s leadership at Niagara College and across the college sector will be felt for years to come, both locally and on a national scale,” said NC President Sean Kennedy. “Marc leaves an incredible legacy built on championing applied college research and shaped by the continuous pursuit of innovation to strengthen industry, community and the economy.”

Marc holds a BSc in Physics and MSc in Nuclear Physics from McGill University, and a PhMCin Plasma Physics from the Institut National pour la Recherche Scientifique. He furthered his research program through four postdoc years in France and at the University of Michigan, in addition to serving as an Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of Toronto from 1998 to 2008.

His visionary leadership and advocacy work has shaped national policies and practices in science and innovation.

He has made several appearances before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research over the years, including in June 2026 when he provided expert testimony as part of the Committee’s study on Canada’s dual-use and defence research needs.

Marc was influential in the development of Tech-Access Canada, a not-for-profit organization that supports the pan-Canadian network of 70 Technology Access Centres (TACs) that assist entrepreneurs in developing new innovative products and solutions using technology.

He was the Chair of the College Applied Research Taskforce, a partnership between Colleges and Institutes Canada, Polytechnics Canada, Tech-Access Canada and Synchronex. In 2022-23, on behalf of the Taskforce, he made submissions to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance that called on the government to accelerate business-led research and development through increased investment in the Tri-Council College and Community Innovation program. As a result, Budget 2023 included $108.6 million over three years to expand the program, administered by NSERC.

Marc also spent several years as Chair of the Heads of Applied Research for all 24 Ontario colleges and Chair of Colleges and Institutes Canada’s National Research Advisory Committee, playing a pivotal role in shaping research policies and fostering collaboration across the country.

In 2024, he was recognized for his leadership in college innovation and applied research with the Trailblazer Award in Innovation Policy at the Canadian Science Policy Centre Conference (CSPC) in Ottawa.

Marc is a Senior Member of SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics. He co-founded and led several organizations in the industry, including the Ontario Photonics Technologies Industry Cluster (OPTIC), the Ontario Photonics Education and Training Association (OPETA), and the Global Photonics Education Network (GPEN).

He also chaired the Board of Scientists in School, and co-founded the Science and Technology Awareness Network (STAN) with Bonnie Schmidt (Let’s Talk Science) and Jeff Crelinsten (Research Money).

“On behalf of the Niagara College community, we congratulate Marc on his extraordinary career and thank him for his transformational contributions to our college,” said President Kennedy. “We will miss Marc’s guidance and strategic insight, his friendship and signature humour, and we wish him all the best in this next chapter of his life.”