Melissa M. Chee

Melissa Chee is a deep tech executive, entrepreneur, and business leader who has created global companies and transformative technologies. Building on a 25-year career scaling global technology multinationals and startups in the telecommunications and semiconductor sectors, most recently, Melissa was the CEO of ventureLAB, a leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies in Canada. At ventureLAB, she elevated Canada in the global semiconductor industry through initiatives such as ventureLAB’s Hardware Catalyst Initiative, Canada’s first and only hub for semiconductor and hardware tech companies and a founder member of Canada’s Semiconductor Council and the organization was recognized as one of Canada's most Admired Corporate Cultures and thrice as a Great Place to Work.

A champion of diversity, inclusion, and the advancement of women and girls in STEM, Melissa is a highly respected thought leader at the strategic intersection of critical technology sectors and the imperative for a more inclusive tech ecosystem. Melissa currently serves on the boards of the Vector Institute of Artificial Intelligence and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, was a founding member of Canada's Semiconductor Council and has served as a past board director at NGEN Canada, Mackenzie Health Innovation Institute, and the Corporate Cabinet of Make-A-Wish Canada. She holds an MBA with Honours from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Computer Engineering from McGill University.