Bob received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Toronto in 1968.   His professional career included working at the Sangamo Company in Toronto, the Electricity Commission of New South Wales in Australia, a number of consulting assignments in several countries, the University of Toronto, and McMaster University where he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus in 2001.   He has published over 75 technical papers in his field of electric power engineering.   He is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario, a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada and a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

He has been an active IEEE volunteer for 35 years - for example - serving as Chair of the Hamilton Section, Director of Region 7 (now IEEE Canada), and IEEE Vice President for Regional Activities.   Dr Alden is currently President of the IEEE Canadian Foundation, a Director of the IEEE Foundation, as well as Awards & Recognition Chair and Webmaster-in-Chief for IEEE Canada.   Over a 10 year period, he published more than 80 articles in IEEE's THE INSTITUTE under the title traveling the information highway with Bob Alden.   He has received numerous awards from IEEE and IEEE Canada - most recently the prestigous Haraden Pratt Award for Outstanding Service to IEEE, and a Toronto Section Scholarship named in his honour.

Within the Toronto Section, he was the founding chair of the Life Members Chapter and assumed the Chair of the Publications Committee in October 2003.   He has completed a redesign of the Toronto Section web site and newsletter - he is currently the webmaster.