From 1967 to 1972, he was the Chairman of the Committee on University Affairs for the Province of Ontario. From 1969 to 1972, he was the Chairman of the Commission on Post Secondary Education in Ontario. From 1972 to 1979, he was Deputy Provincial Secretary for Social Development and from 1979 to 1980, he was Deputy Minister of Culture and Recreation. From 1981 to 1993, he was the President, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo. During Wright's tenure at University of Waterloo, and in part because of his influence, The Kitchener-Waterloo region became established as a high-tech mecca and became known as "Silicon Valley North".[3] From 1995 to July 2007, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Research in Motion, Bell Canada, Meloche Monnix Insurance, London Life Insurance Company, Perimeter Institute, Stratford Festival, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and many more.
He was a Technical Advisor for Toronto Skydome, 1984-1992, renamed Rogers Centre. A member of the Premier's Council on Science and Technology, Ontario, 1985-1991, as well as The Prime Minister of Canada National Advisory Board for Science and Technology, 1985-1991. [5]
Dr Wright was also Canada's representative on Council for International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis IIASA Laxenburg, Austria, 1986-1997, and Prime Minister's personal representative to Council of Ministers of Education, 1990-1991.