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Sep 14

Canada’s Innovation Agenda: Maximizing Canada’s Economic Potential to Win the Next Century

Ottawa ON, The Westin Ottawa, 11 Colonel By Drive, Room Provinces II – Level 4

Roundtable Luncheon with Colin Busby, Valerie Walker, and Derek Newton

Sponsored by:

The federal government’s new innovation agenda reaffirms the critical role of innovation as a driver of future growth. New technologies and ways of doing business will be critical to ensure a high standard of living and quality public services that Canadians depend on. Global competition will require a broad contribution – from government, industry, and society as a whole – in order to turn the talk about innovation into action. Join the C.D. Howe Institute for a discussion on how this partnership has been successful in the life sciences sector and the lessons for encouraging further innovation in the Canadian economy. 

For members in Ottawa, we are pleased to offer complimentary registration. Please contact cdhoweevents@cdhowe.org to reserve your spot.

Colin Busby, Associate Director, Research, C.D. Howe Institute

Colin Busby was awarded the 2007 C.D. Howe Research Fellowship and joined the Institute as an analyst thereafter. While writing broadly on economic issues, his emphasis is on fiscal and social policy with a concentration on demographic and labour market concerns. Appointed Associate Director of Research in 2016, Colin focuses his attention on healthcare financing and funding.

Before he began his term at the C.D. Howe Institute, Colin worked at Industry Canada and for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in Vienna.

Colin holds a BComm from the University of Alberta and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Ottawa. He also studied in Paris and is bilingual.

 

Derek Newton, Assistant Vice President, Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto

The Innovations & Partnerships Office at the University of Toronto (U of T) helps build successful partnerships between industry and the U of T research community and also manages the university’s portfolio of intellectual property. Derek has held previous senior roles at Western University, where he served as Director of the Office of Research Development and Services and the Office of Research Ethics. He has also worked at a large biotechnology funding organization and a boutique consultancy specializing in biotechnology. Derek completed his PhD in Molecular Biology at the University of Toronto as well as a M.Sc. and BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Waterloo.

 

Valerie Walker, Vice President, Policy, Innovation and Skills, Business Council of Canada


Valerie Walker is Vice President of Innovation and Skills at the Business Council of Canada, a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization composed of the CEOs of Canada’s leading enterprises. The Business Council engages in an active program of research, consultation, and advocacy on issues of national importance to the economic and social fabric of Canada. In her role, Val provides leadership on innovation, competitiveness, and labour market issues, and supports the work of the Business Higher Education Roundtable. Composed of leaders from the private sector, universities, colleges and polytechnics, the Roundtable works to support young Canadians as they transition from education to the workplace, strengthen research collaboration between industry and institutions, and help Canadian employers as they adapt to the economy of the future.

Prior to joining the Council, Val was the Director of Policy at Mitacs, where she was responsible for maintaining strategic relationships with government and policy leaders on innovation policy and promoting Mitacs as a key player in Canada's innovation ecosystem. She has a PhD from McGill University and is an alumnus of the Government of Canada's Recruitment of Policy Leaders Program.

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