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This award is presented to a chemist as a mark of distinction and recognition for excellence in their work in equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
View the Terms of Reference and list of Past Winners
The 2026 winner of the Gilead Award for Excellence in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is:
Lisa Willis, MCIC
University of Alberta
Dr. Willis is an award-winning scientist and Canadian leader in EDI. Her comprehensive approach to EDI includes developing tools and strategies to help people integrate EDI into regular practise and creating the necessary systemic change that will allow people from marginalized communities to thrive. Dr. Willis influences policy and culture in STEM through a combination of seminars, workshops, consulting, and reviewing activities. Her seminal EDI publication “Twelve principles trainees, PIs, departments, and faculties can use to reduce bias and discrimination in STEM” was published in ACS Central Science and has garnered over 10,500 downloads since its publication in 2020. She also facilitates new pathways to STEM careers through her work with the Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology (WISEST), for which she is Co-Chair (Academic).