The 2026 Recipients

Don Murray is honoured with the Outstanding Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptional contributions to technology, education, and community over more than three decades. As co‑founder and CEO of Safe Software, Don helped develop FME, the globally recognized standard for spatial data integration and technology used by tens of thousands of organizations across more than 100 countries. Under his leadership, FME has supported mission‑critical work including disaster routing for emergency responders, infrastructure planning, environmental monitoring, and humanitarian efforts such as landmine‑removal mapping.

Don co‑founded Safe Software in Surrey, B.C., and has guided its growth through major economic cycles while remaining profitable, independent, and deeply values‑driven. Today, the company employs more than 270 people and has positioned B.C. as a hub for global geospatial innovation.

Known for his humility and belief that “business is a team sport,” Don leads with a people‑first philosophy, championing diversity and inclusion, instituting pay transparency early, sharing 20% of annual profits with employees, and fostering a culture where great ideas can come from anywhere. In 2024, Safe Software also earned B‑Corp Certification, reflecting its commitment to social responsibility and sustainable business.

Don’s impact extends far beyond the tech sector. He has been a steadfast partner to SFU, mentoring students, championing co‑op and work‑integrated learning, hiring hundreds of alumni, and supporting programs such as the SFU Technovation Challenge, which equips young women to develop tech‑based solutions to community issues. He has also led significant philanthropic efforts, guiding Safe Software’s support for more than 50 charities across Canada.

Janie Chang is a bestselling novelist championing diverse stories, characters, and voices in Canada and beyond. Drawing on deep knowledge of her Chinese heritage—and an upbringing shaped by travel and family storytelling—her historical fiction blends meticulous research with richly imaginative world-building, celebrating culture, memory, and women’s lives.

Janie completed an interdisciplinary degree at SFU, majoring in computing science and minoring in French. Following a career in systems engineering and marketing, she turned to writing through the SFU Writer’s Studio in 2011, a pivot that helped launch her literary career.

She has since published five novels: Three Souls (2014), Dragon Springs Road (2017), The Library of Legends (2020), and The Porcelain Moon (2023), and The Fourth Princess (2026), several reaching national bestsellers lists and her debut receiving nominations for both the BC Book Prize and the International Dublin Literary Award.

Across her books, Janie crafts strong female protagonists and narratives that nurture empathy and understanding, inviting readers to delve into diverse stories they may not otherwise encounter.

Janie has shown exceptional dedication in giving back and uplifting the literary arts community. In 2015, she founded Authors for Indies, a volunteer-run movement that evolved into Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, celebrating and strengthening independent bookstores nationwide. She remains thoughtfully involved with SFU and the Writer’s Studio by mentoring emerging authors, leading workshops (often donating fees to scholarships), and bringing in industry speakers to broaden access for students. Since 2021, she has also served on the Authors Committee for the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, helping shape one of North America’s top awards for women and non-binary writers.

Through her storytelling, mentorship, and generosity, Janie’s legacy is a stronger literary ecosystem in Canada, one where diverse voices and stories can flourish.

Igor Faletski’s path to becoming a tech leader and entrepreneur began at SFU’s School of Computing Science, after immigrating to Vancouver from Russia as a teenager. While at SFU he met future co-founder of Mobify, John Boxall, on his first day. While on academic exchange in Prague, Igor and John were impressed with the mobile technology they found available, and they launched “Mobile Mondays,” a meetup for students excited about the possibilities of mobile computing. Originating from Igor’s frustration at regularly missing his bus, they developed an SMS tool developed to deliver TransLink bus times, and this would evolve into Mobify, a global digital commerce platform later acquired by Salesforce.

Under Igor’s leadership, Mobify helped major brands like Starbucks, L’Oreal, lululemon, and Under Armour deliver fast, modern mobile experiences well before they became industry standard. Following the acquisition, Igor held senior product leadership roles within Salesforce Commerce Cloud, contributing to strategy at a global scale. He is now the CEO and co‑founder of Superpilot, an AI startup focused on transforming commerce marketing.

A thoughtfully involved SFU alumnus, Igor has supported co‑op pathways for students, served on the Faculty of Applied Sciences External Advisory Board, and given philanthropically to help advance student experience and EDI, encouraging student to explore new technologies and build inclusive solutions.

Innovative, principled, and collaborative, Igor exemplifies the visionary leadership that lifts both industry and community—rooted in SFU and built for global impact.

Dr. Janna Andronowski is a leading forensic anthropologist, clinical anatomist, and bone biologist bridging research excellence and pathways for future science innovators. As a first‑generation academic, she completed PhD in a record 3.5 years and is known for a uniquely holistic approach to her field and fierce dedication to mentoring and uplifting the next generation.

Utilizing the four fields of anthropology (cultural, biological, archaeological, and linguistic), Janna’s research focuses on high-resolution 3D imaging to study bone microstructure. She examines adaptation, quality, and fragility, including cutting-edge studies evaluating the impacts of substance use. With exceptional determination, she pushes for new scientific discoveries while building opportunities that uplift others, like opening doors as the provincial forensic anthropologist for Newfoundland and Labrador, leading recoveries and identifications while integrating students into real‑world casework.

In her current post, with Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine, Janna has revitalized anatomy education, expanded cadaver‑based learning, and restructured lectures, labs, and assessments to strengthen medical curriculum. She also created the Andronowski Skeletal Collection for Histological Research (ASCHR), the world’s newest and fastest‑growing modern documented collection, providing an invaluable resource for forensic and biomedical research. In recognition of her research excellence and mentorship, Janna has received numerous awards and honors, including the 2020 Ellis R. Kerley Research Award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the top research distinction in her field.