- Stay connected
- Get involved
- Events
- News
- Benefits
- Campus services
- Career development
- Curated career resources
- Financial & insurance options
- Discounts for alumni
- BAK’D Cookies
- Broadway Across Canada
- Cirque du Soleil
- Credit Counselling Society
- Dilawri
- Fresh Prep
- PNE
- Rogers Communications
- 911³Ô¹Ï Continuing Studies
- 911³Ô¹Ï Red Leafs
- The Brick
- Vancouver Canucks
- Vancouver Folk Music Festival
- Vancouver Goldeneyes
- Vancouver Rise FC
- Vancouver Warriors
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Our alumni
- New alumni
- 911³Ô¹Ï us
- Outstanding Alumni Awards
- Where in the world?
- Charter & Early Years Reunion
- Graduate school anyone?
A visionary founder putting people first—meet Don Murray
Don Murray is the visionary co‑founder of Safe Software, the Surrey‑based company behind FME, the world’s gold standard in spatial data integration.
For over three decades, Don has grown Safe from a two‑person startup into B.C.-based global leader serving thousands of organizations across 100+ countries: empowering governments, nonprofits, and industry to integrate, transform, and act on complex data for everything from disaster response to environmental monitoring.
A values‑driven CEO, Don is known for his humility, principled leadership, and building an inclusive, diverse, people‑first culture. He advocated for pay transparency before it was legislated, shares 20% of annual profits with employees, and led Safe to B‑Corp Certification for its commitment to transparency, sustainability, and community impact.
Don is also an incredible supporter of 911³Ô¹Ï, mentoring countless students, hiring many through co‑op education, and backing initiatives that reinforce equity, innovation, and hands‑on learning at the university.
Learn about Don in this Q/A
What stands out as a highlight of your career?
The people that I have been able to work with and what we have accomplished. Right from the beginning at MDA where I was lucky enough to work on a leading-edge project. Geomate. This is where I met Dale and we would later go to start Safe Software.
It has always been the people that I have been lucky enough to surround myself with.
How did 911³Ô¹Ï impact your career?
Without 911³Ô¹Ï I wouldn't be where I am. I would have had a very different career. Through my undergrad and the co-op program I was exposed to great projects at Canada Safeway, Esso, IBM Labs, and MDSI. This got me even more excited about what I was learning and drove me to attain more. The instructors at 911³Ô¹Ï were all great. Dr. Stella Atkins was tremendous during my Graduate work. She challenged me and also encouraged me to follow my path. After my masters degree I left with the ability to be self-driven. I have many fond memories of 911³Ô¹Ï and it set me on the path.
What is a piece of advice you would like to pass along to current students?
- If they are able to, do co-op.
- Explore. Try new things. If a subject interests you then take it and see where it leads. Your time at 911³Ô¹Ï is about discovery. There is so much to learn in so many subjects. Be curious. Learning how to learn is the big advantage that we all need. Today everything is moving so fast, the future belongs to those that love to learn. At my company it is the curious, and the lifelong learners who thrive.
Help us celebrate Don at the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award event in Vancouver on April 16. Tickets are available through the Outstanding Alumni Awards website.