Explore world-changing ideas, cut through the noise and gain clarity at Rising Economy 2022, an in-person and online event, Nov 15 to 17.

A conference about the future of where we live and work.

Explore world-changing ideas, cut through the noise and gain clarity at Rising Economy 2022, an in-person and online event, Nov 15 to 17.

A PICS sponsored event, the third annual Rising Economy conference, produced by South Island Prosperity Partnership, features leading thinkers sharing bold ideas about key issues of our times, from economic evolution to energy transition, climate resilience, housing and more.

From entrepreneurs and innovators to business, government and non-profit leaders, Rising Economy 2022 is for those who are ready to RISE to the challenge of creating a Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable and Equitable economy and world.

Explore bold ideas. Cut through the noise. Define a clearer path to our region’s future.

  • Inspiring and provocative keynotes by local and global thought leaders.  
  • High-energy panels on critical topics, from economic shifts to the climate emergency.  
  • Expertly curated in-person and virtual programming.
  • Purpose-driven networking with people who are passionate about our future.
  • A collaborative atmosphere designed for idea exchange.
  • Insights and takeaways to help you and your organization navigate complexity.

“Rising Economy is about sparking the momentum to meet the challenges of the 21st century with confidence, clarity and a mindset of innovation.”
— Emilie de Rosenroll, CEO, South Island Prosperity Partnership

All virtual sessions are free to attend.

Speakers
Shachi Kurl, President, Angus Reid Institute
Shachi Kurl, President, Angus Reid Institute

When major media wants to understand anything from political popularity to millennial work habits, they turn to Shachi Kurl. A former political journalist, Kurl has a remarkable grasp on what we’re collectively thinking about society’s most pressing issues. Kurl shares how to get to the heart of our major cultural, economic and political shifts — and find common ground during times of upheaval.

Dr. Jennifer Gardy, Deputy Director of Surveillance, Data & Epidemiology, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Dr. Jennifer Gardy, Deputy Director of Surveillance, Data & Epidemiology, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Jennifer Gardy challenges commonly held beliefs, allowing us to make more informed decisions about how we live. At the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she uses DNA sequencing to understand how outbreaks start and spread — and how they can be stopped. This former senior scientist at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control is one of the Government of Canada’s 20 Women of Impact in STEM.

Mary W. Rowe, President & CEO, Canadian Urban Institute
Mary W. Rowe, President & CEO, Canadian Urban Institute

Urban advocate and civil society trailblazer Mary Rowe has worked across Canada and the U.S. on solutions to some of our greatest urban challenges and distinguished city-building programs like UN Habitat and the World Urban Forum. Mary is a Senior Fellow with Shorefast, a national charity focused on building community economies.

David Miller,  Managing Director, C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy
David Miller Managing Director, C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy

As Managing Director of the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy, David Miller is a leading advocate for the creation of sustainable urban economies. He is the author of Solved: How the Great Cities of the World are Fixing the Climate Crisis.

As former Mayor of Toronto, David was widely admired for his environmental leadership. Prior to joining the C40, he served as President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund-Canada. He is a Harvard-trained economist and a lawyer who currently serves as Executive in Residence at the University of Victoria.

Thomas Homer-Dixon, Founder and Executive Director, Cascade Institute
Thomas Homer-Dixon Founder and Executive Director, Cascade Institute

Thomas Homer-Dixon is Founder and Executive Director of the Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University. The Cascade Institute is a research centre that addresses the full range of humanity’s converging environmental, economic, political, technological and health crises.

He is one of Canada’s foremost public intellectuals and the best-selling author of Commanding Hope: The Power We Have to Renew a World in Peril. As a leading expert on the intricate links between nature, technology and society, he focuses his research on threats to global security in the 21st century, including economic instability, climate change, nationalist authoritarianism, and how people, organizations and societies can better solve complex problems.

Trinh Theresa Do Senior Manager, Strategy (Economics & Thought Leadership), RBC
Trinh Theresa Do, Senior Manager, Strategy (Economics & Thought Leadership), RBC

Trinh Theresa Do is responsible for strategy development on RBC’s Economics & Thought Leadership team and co-hosts Disruptors, RBC’s flagship podcast about reimagining Canada’s economy in a time of unprecedented change through the lens of tech and innovation.

Previously, Theresa was a strategy advisor to senior management and executives in RBC’s Personal & Commercial Banking business. Prior to joining RBC, Theresa was a national political journalist at CBC News and c0-founder of a nonprofit that promoted civic engagement through technology innovation.

Handol Kim Co-Founder & CEO, Variational AI
Handol Kim, Co-Founder & CEO, Variational AI

Handol Kim is the Co-Founder & CEO of Variational AI, a drug discovery platform startup developing novel kinase inhibitors powered by generative AI. He is a 3x founder/CEO and has 25-plus years of leadership experience in AI/machine learning, quantum computing, cloud, and software at venture-backed startups in Silicon Valley, Asia-Pacific and Canada.

Handol sits on the boards of the AI Network of BC, the United Way of British Columbia (Lower Mainland) and Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster.