Jane Goodyer

Goodyer grew up in Birmingham, United Kingdom.[1] She received her Bachelor of Engineering degree in production engineering from Coventry Polytechnic[2] in the U.K. She later completed her Ph.D. manufacturing systems design engineering from Coventry University.[2]

In 2018, Jane was appointed Dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University in Toronto.

Prior to joining Lassonde in 2018, she worked for 12 years at Massey University, New Zealand, in various leadership roles, including Head of the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology. Having led New Zealand’s first Degree Apprenticeship pilot program, she’s now introducing this extraordinary first in Canada. Launching Fall 2023, the fully work-integrated Digital Technologies program is a uniquely flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional university study that allows learners to be fully employed and gain a qualification, without going into debt.

Dean Jane Goodyer was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) in 2022. Created in 2008, GEDC’s mission is to serve as a global network of engineering deans, and to leverage the collective strengths for the advancement of engineering education and research. In this role, Dean Goodyer is helping pave the way for engineering leaders to network and increase the organization’s membership to further its mission, vision and strategic priorities.[3]

Jane is driven to make education more accessible, advancing women and other underrepresented groups in engineering. In 2016, she launched engineering outreach programs for girls across New Zealand. Today, she continues this work through Lassonde’s k2i (kindergarten to industry) academy, engaging youth and K-12 educators in hands-on, free STEM programs. Since 2020, k2i has reached 6,000+ individuals in 175,000+ hours of engagement and generated $5M+ in funding. They design their work alongside some of the largest and most diverse public-school boards in Canada, collaborating to dismantle systemic barriers to opportunities in STEM.  

As a first-generation learner who has faced many personal struggles, Jane is passionate about opening doors for others.

Jane is a distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (FIET), UK since 2015, a respected Fellow of Engineering New Zealand (FEngNZ) since 2013, and has been a recognized Chartered Engineer (CEng) by the Engineering Council UK since 2005.

• Goodyer, Jane; Soysa, Ishani B. (2017-11-27). "A New Zealand National Outreach Program – Inspiring Young Girls in Humanitarian Engineering". International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship. 12 (2): 1–14. doi:10.24908/ijsle.v12i2.7551. hdl:10179/13037. ISSN 1555-9033.
• Grigg, Nigel P, Jane E Goodyer, and Thomas G Frater. “Sustaining Lean in SMEs: Key Findings from a 10-Year Study Involving New Zealand Manufacturers.” Total Quality Management & Business Excellence 31.5-6 (2020): 609–622, doi:10.1080/14783363.2018.1436964.