Nureva co-founder, president, and CEO Nancy Knowlton has received the King Charles III Coronation Medal, a Canadian honor recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the country, their province, or community — or who have achieved distinction abroad that brings credit to Canada.
The award was presented during a ceremony hosted by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) on July 15 in Calgary, Alberta. The Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, gave remarks and presented medals alongside CGAI leadership.
Knowlton was recognized for her work in business, philanthropy and public policy. This follows her receipt of the Meritorious Service Medal in 2024 from the Governor General of Canada for her contributions to education.
A prominent figure in Canadian technology, Knowlton has spent more than 30 years focused on improving how people learn and collaborate. Before co-founding Nureva, she and her husband, David Martin, founded SMART Technologies and introduced the SMART Board interactive whiteboard. She now leads Nureva, known for its audio conferencing systems powered by Microphone Mist technology, and also serves as CEO of Nialli, a Nureva subsidiary developing digital planning solutions for construction teams.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized alongside so many accomplished Canadians,” Knowlton said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute for nominating me and to everyone who has supported me in the pursuit of ideas that improve how people connect and learn.”
The King Charles III Coronation Medal is the first Canadian commemorative medal issued for a coronation. Knowlton was among 11 recipients nominated by the CGAI Calgary office, a group that included business leaders, philanthropists and public sector professionals. They are listed below.
- Jeffrey Boyce, former energy executive and philanthropist
- Robert Brawn, former energy executive and philanthropist
- Matthew Brister, President, Bison Low Carbon Ventures
- Ian Brodie, Professor and former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Canada, CGAI program director
- George Brookman, Chairman, West Canadian Digital Imaging, former CGAI board member
- Laura Dawson, Executive Director of the Future Borders Coalition, CGAI board member
- Stephen Letwin, President and CEO, Mancal Corporation
- Frederick Mannix, Chairman, Mancal Group
- Craig Stewart, former energy executive and philanthropist, CGAI board member
- Ian Wild, former ATB Financial executive, CGAI board chair