Dr. Vita Martez, a distinguished industry leader with a 25-year career in chemical technology and environmental engineering, specializes in solution-oriented clean technology results and outcomes. Her notable contributions to the Energy and related Clean Technology sectors include securing and assigning 5 royalty-free patents to industry, garnering 15 awards and securing approximately $28 million in applied research and innovation investments for the Centre of Energy Research and Clean Unconventional Technology Solutions (CERCUTS) at SAIT. Dr. Martez founded and led the environmental technologies research at SAIT since 2008, while concurrently serving as the NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges (IRCC), in two distinct streams - In-Situ Steam Generation and Clean Technologies – successfully, until the closure of the IRCC program in 2023. Through collaborative efforts with an external industry advisory board (COSIA) and multiple stakeholders, key outcomes included technical presentations/reports and functional lab prototypes and pilot-scale demonstrations which improved energy and environmental (water) efficiency or showcased cleantech innovation

Dr. Martez is recognized for her leadership in fostering innovation grounded in scientific excellence to assist beneficial market solutions. This includes stewarding advanced instrumentation and research infrastructure, mentoring and empowering high-caliber EDI teams, developing highly qualified personnel, and stimulating hands-on STEM/STEAM initiatives for youth and next-gen professionals. She currently consults and advises organizations in the energy and clean technology sectors. Additionally, she has been instrumental in imparting subject matter expertise and providing reviews and independent assessments in clean technologies (hydrogen value chain, methane emission reduction, carbon capture and reuse, etc.) Her expertise spans technologies in the hydrogen generation (various feedstocks with carbon-capture), produced water treatment/electro-dialysis, trailer-mounted desalination systems, fuel cells for thermal and power co-generation, and electrochemical technologies with critical minerals in battery energy storage systems for microgrids and district energy initiatives. Her work continues to facilitate collaborations and provide crucial support to diverse stakeholders, from start-ups to multinational corporations and indigenous communities, for the acceleration of clean technology uptake in industry.