Rob Inkster

Rob is a serial entrepreneur with experience in early stage technology companies in Canada. 

Born in BC, he attended high school in Victoria and completed an undergraduate degree in Physics at UVIC. He attended McGill University and earned MSc and PhD degrees in Meteorology. 

He was a co-founder of Intera Technologies, a Canadian company that pioneered the use of high resolution radar for ice reconnaissance, and for topographic mapping in the tropics. This work led to the launch of Canada’s RadarSat, and the establishment of RadarSat International. He then led Quester Tangent, a hydrographic technology company, and developed sonar seabed classification technology.    

Rob founded Tactex Controls in 1998, and took the company public in 2000. Tactex commercialized patents developed for the Canadian Space Agency for fibre-optic pressure sensing technology.  The firm developed pressure sensor touch controllers, keyboards, and medical devices based on this technology. 

Leaving the private sector, Rob joined the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2008 to establish a research group, and became Associate Vice President of Research. Over a five year period he organized research labs within the University focused on 3-D printing, stereoscopic cinematography, social Media, and healthcare design.

Moving back to Victoria, he joined the UVic Gustavson School of Business International Advisory Board in 2015 and is active in teaching entrepreneurship in First Nations communities as part of the ACE program.

Dr. Inkster’s experience includes patents and licenses, finance, strategy, and marketing , as practiced in early-stage companies. He has acquired, and managed or directed, companies in Asia, Europe, US, and Russia and has served on many corporate, University, and trade association Boards.