Brock Innovator of the Year Award honors Brock faculty and staff who have demonstrated exemplary innovation or commercialization and have successfully translated their research and ideas into social or economic impact.
Brock Entrepreneur of the Year Award celebrates and recognizes the most promising entrepreneurs developing their businesses at Brock. The award highlights the innovative startups that are shaping the world and inspiring action.
Brock innovator of the year WINNErS
Dr. Beaudette develops accessible computer-vision tools that use consumer-grade video to objectively analyze human movement outside the lab. His innovations have led to multiple spin-off companies that improve clinical screening, athletic performance analysis, and musculoskeletal health outcomes.
Dr. Brown developed Interpretours and the GuideTags mobile app, an open, GPS-enabled digital platform that allows anyone to create and experience location-based multimedia stories in real-world settings. His innovation democratizes heritage interpretation, education, and tourism storytelling, engaging hundreds of students, community partners, and public organizations worldwide while enabling scalable social and economic impact.
Brock entrepreneur of the year WINNER
LingUp is an app that helps users practice speaking English, Spanish, Turkish, French, and German through real-life, interactive conversations. Its AI gives instant feedback on users’ pronunciation, grammar, and word choice and adapts each practice to their level and goals.
Brock innovator of the year Finalists:
The Inclusive Education Research Lab developed ISAT2, a bilingual, open-access tool that helps post-secondary institutions advance open educational practices. This innovation has informed policy and strategy across Ontario and British Columbia, contributing to affordability, equity, and over $78 million in student savings.
Dr. Steinbauer creates immersive virtual reality simulations that prepare students to respond to workplace harassment, racism, and ethical leadership dilemmas. His open-access VR tools provide emotionally realistic training that strengthens ethical decision-making and inclusive workplace practices.
Dr Stevens’ work translates decades of research on change management, governance, and capacity-building in sport into real-world impact. As founder and long-time Director of the Centre for Sport Capacity, she has led the growth of a sustainable, revenue-generating research centre that mobilizes scholarship into practical tools, training, and partnerships benefiting students, community organizations, and the broader sport sector.
Brock entrepreneur of the year Finalists:
Kactis.Ai is an intelligent movement health platform that helps clinicians conduct accurate movement assessments and automate documentation. It saves time, increases efficiency, and improves patient care.
AinaTest Diagnostics is developing a minimally invasive diagnostic device to detect breast cancer markers in a liquid biopsy. The technology uses synthetic DNA and antibodies to target specific biomarkers, providing information on cancer stage, prognosis, and treatment.
CREOVA is a media agency and lifestyle brand that helps BIPOC individuals, startups, and community organizations tell their stories through photography, video, branding, and content creation.
Past Award Winners
2025 Brock Innovation Award Winners
Congratulations to our Innovation Showcase Award Winners; Dr. Sean Locke for Brock’s Innovator of the Year, and Matthew Cary for Brock’s Entrepreneur of the year!
Brock innovator of the year 2025
Dr. Sean Locke, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
Dr. Sean Locke has pioneered innovations in health coaching, focusing on behavior change to prevent non-communicable diseases. As a Co-founder of Healthy Habits Coaches and the Behavioral Science Officer for Healthifi, Dr. Locke has developed an innovative curriculum integrating psychology-based strategies. His research, coupled with community partnerships, is transforming healthcare practices by addressing behavioral factors in disease prevention. Dr. Locke has conducted behavioural research for individuals with a variety of chronic conditions: multiple sclerosis, cardiac rehabilitation, and prediabetes. His work has the potential for significant economic and social benefits, particularly in the prevention and management of diseases.
Brock entrepreneur of the year 2025
Matthew Cary
Matthew Cary is the founder of Fawkes, which provides research-backed candidate selection and services for emergency dispatch communication centres. Matthew has advanced his business from concept to a beta product in 2024. After winning the Navigate Pitch award, he generated strong industry interest at IAED conferences in the US and UK and secured collaboration opportunities. He has recently established a research partnership with Brock psychology professors, enabling access to MITACs grants for research validation, and has been active in product development and testing. Matthew plans to expand at the IAED Orlando conference, develop training modules for licensing, and has published research in the IAED industry journal.