Grey Highlands Business Breakfast
June 13th - Doors Open at 7:00 am- Get tickets at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/988f300d-1d30-430e-8a48-ffc609801714
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Discussion Panel!
Moderated by Grey Highlands Economic Development Director, Michele Harris.
This panel of planning professionals, business owners, and others will provide their perspectives on pressing questions of the day, in the realm of economic development. This part of the agenda will look to gather input from the audience through polls. The results of which will be used to inform decisions moving forward.
MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Patrick Robson, MCIP, RPP, is president and chair of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Urban & Regional Planning from Ryerson and a Master of Arts in Politics from Brock University, and is currently a professor of Environmental Studies at Niagara College, teaching in the Environmental Management and Assessment and the Ecosystem Restoration post-grad programs, as well as the Environmental Field and Lab Tech program. In March 2017, he was appointed to the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (a.k.a. Peace Bridge Authority). His past work life has included private sector planning consultant work, a planner with the Niagara Escarpment Commission, an investigator with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and several progressive positions at Niagara Region, including Commissioner of Integrated Community Planning. Highlights of planning initiatives that have garnered awards include developing and then implementing the urban and Brownfield redevelopment regime known as Smarter Niagara Incentives Program, the Niagara Gateway Economic Zone Incentives Program, cross-border planning efforts in the Binational Niagara area, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative planning support, and progressive policies related to agricultural viability. He and his wife Kelly are also hop farmers.
He served three terms as a Councillor in Wainfleet, Ontario and has taught Public Policy at Brock University. He has also presented at numerous conferences regarding land-use and sustainability issues across Canada, in the U.S. (including one at the Library of Congress), Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, and South Africa.
Volunteer life includes having served on the Board of YMCA Niagara and is currently a member of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Transition Leadership Committee, the Indigenous Planning Advisory Committee of the Ontario Professional Planning Institute, as well as on the Board of the Golden Horseshoe Food & Farming Alliance.