Profiles
Dr. Herb Emery
Vaughan Chair in Regional Economics, University of New Brunswick, Canada
Dr. Herb Emery is an advisor to federal and provincial policymakers. He focuses his research on the development of the Canadian economy and the persistence of long-standing regional disparities. Aside from understanding the economic fundamentals of growth in a small open economy, Dr. Emery’s work incorporates political, historical, cultural and other institutional factors that have shaped Canadian development processes. Dr. Emery began as the Vaughan Chair in July, 2016. He holds an MA and PhD in Economics from the University of British Columbia. His academic career began at the University of Calgary where, from 1993 to 2016, he assembled a track record of demonstrated excellence in research, teaching and leadership. At the University of Calgary, he served as Full Professor in Economics and Research Director for The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary as well as the Svare Professor in Health Economics, a joint position in the Department of Community Health Science in the Faculty of Medicine and the Department of Economics. From 2010 to 2015, he served as Managing Editor of Canadian Public Policy/Analyse de politiques, Canada’s foremost journal examining economic and social policy.
Ifor Ffowcs-Williams
CEO, Cluster Navigators Limited, New Zealand
Recognised globally as a leader in cluster-based economic development, Ifor Ffowcs-Williams draws on his experience in over 50 countries. Among others, his clients include the World Bank, IFC, OECD, UNIDO, UNDP, and EU. Ffowcs-Williams has also assisted national and regional economic development agencies on six continents. He is the Founder and Past President of TCI Network, the global organisation for cluster practitioners, where he currently serves on the Board of Advisors. He has served on the Advisory Boards of the Danish Cluster Academy, European Cluster Observatory, Indian Institute for Competitiveness, Pan African Competitiveness Forum, and Sintonia – Mexico’s competitiveness programme.
Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
Biodiversity Scientist and First Female President of Mauritius
Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was the first female president of Mauritius, serving from 2015 to 2018. Prior to the presidency, she was the Managing Director of the Centre International de Développement Pharmaceutique (CIDP) Research and Innovation as well as Professor of Organic Chemistry with an endowed chair at the University of Mauritius. Dr. Gurib-Fakim earned a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Surrey (1983), and a PhD from the University of Exeter (1987). From 2000 to 2002, she served as the National Coordinator for the ‘Indian Ocean University’ funded by the European Union. She has participated in several consultation meetings on environmental issues organized by international organizations such as the World Bank, SIDA, CIDA, EU and UN amongst others. She has authored and/or co-edited 28 books and several book chapters and scientific articles in the field of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. She has lectured extensively across the world and is a Member of the Editorial Boards of major journals, has served on Technical Committees in various capacities, including the Chair of several National Committees in Mauritius. Dr. Gurib-Fakim received the 2007 L’Oréal-UNESCO Prize for Women in Science and Laureate of the National Economic and Social Council, was elevated to the Order of the Commander of the Star and Key by the Government of Mauritius in 2008, and admitted to the Order of the Chevalier de L’Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the Government of France in 2010. She received DSc from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Sorbonne Université), Paris, France in 2013 and from Greenwich University Pakistan (2015).
Dr. David Wilson
Chair, Economic Development New Zealand & Managing Director, Cities and Regions Ltd, New Zealand
Dr. David Wilson is Managing Director, Cities and Regions Limited, Auckland, New Zealand. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer of Northland Inc, Northland’s Economic Development Agency, Fellow and Chair of Economic Development New Zealand and a member of the New Zealand Government’s Independent Advisory Panel for its new Provincial Development Fund – a NZ$1 Billion/annum fund designed to lift productivity ‘in the regions’. Dr. Wilson holds a BA in Psychology and Social Policy, a Master’s in Public Policy with first class honours, and a PhD in Governance and Regional Economic Development. He was previously Director of the Institute of Public Policy at the Auckland University of Technology.
Dr. Rashid Sumaila
Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics, University of British Columbia, Canada.
Dr. Rashid Sumaila is a Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia. His research focuses on bioeconomics, marine ecosystem valuation and the analysis of global issues such as fisheries subsidies, marine protected areas, illegal fishing, climate change, marine plastic pollution, and oil spills. Dr. Sumaila has experience working in fisheries and natural resource projects in Norway, Canada and the North Atlantic region, Namibia and the Southern African region, Ghana and the West African region, and Hong Kong and the South China Sea. Dr. Sumaila received his Ph.D. (Economics) from the University of Bergen and his B.Sc. (Quantity Surveying) from the Ahmadu Bello University. Dr. Sumaila is widely published, and his work has been cited by, among others, the Economist, the Boston Globe, the International Herald Tribune, and the Vancouver Sun. He won the 2017 Volvo Environment Prize and was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2019.
