Alastair ‘Alf’ Trower was born in Cheddar in England, home of the famed cheese! Studied geology in London with field trips throughout England, Wales, Scotland and North Africa. Cycled extensively around Southern Europe after school and when employment prospects in geology were hard to come by, took the opportunity to work as a gaucho on a 15,000 acre cattle ranch in the Patagonian Andes. This was the perfect opportunity to learn to ride, work cattle and castrate things!

Returning to the UK in 1992 to start a varied career starting working IT in the finance industry, moved quickly into computer software sales and ended up in a global marketing role. Moved to France in 2004, to restore a watermill and provide a rural upbringing opportunity for 2 children. Redundancy led to a direction change in 2005 when he took a position with Welaptega Marine, an Oceans Technology company based in Halifax, NS. Remained in France while travelling the planet working to build the business globally. A change in role saw relocation to Halifax to take over the day to day running of the business. The highlight of this time was running one of the many responses to the BP Macondo/Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The company was asked to use their underwater photography and 3D imagery to capture information 2,400m below the sea to provide answers to BP and Transocean as they attempted to secure the wellhead and assess damage caused by the accident. The wellhead data that allowed the well’s eventual sealing came from a 15 person business in Nova Scotia!

In 2013, Alf had the fortune to meet Ben Garvey , owner of the local engineering firm Enginuity, hitting it off and possessing skills needed by the business to start an aggressive growth period. Focussed on solving complex engineering problems for the industrial sector in the Maritimes, designing new products for entrepreneurs and commercialising their own ideas. Including a marine connectors business and a medical device start-up, FIVA-Med Inc in Halifax. Enginuity is quickly becoming a local powerhouse, employing graduates, attracting out of region talent and helping businesses remain competitive through automation and robotics. Enginuity is the design team behind much of the Innovation coming out of Atlantic Canada.

Enginuity has just been named a Finalist in the Halifax Chamber Business Awards Most Innovative Business category.

Alf volunteers on the Executive of Halifax Search and Rescue, loves to cook, keeps chickens, kayaks and collects antique maps.