Speakers

Dr. Salah Al-Mazidi
Senior Advisor
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
Kuwait

Salah Al Mazidi, Senior Advisor of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), he obtained his first degree in B.Sc.Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1977, University of Southern California, USA. While working at KISR he obtained his M.Phile in “Technology planning and Decision Making Cranfield Institute of Technology, United Kingdom. He then graduated from his Ph.D. in 1999 “R&D Policy and Technology Management, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

He has over 30 years of accomplishment experiences both research and academic in various science and technology fields where he presented several research papers most importantly:
• National and international development and trends on science and technology polices R&D Technology and Research Parks management.
• Strategic, operational, organizational and management planning.
• Marketing and business development and implementation of knowledge management.

Salah also plays a lead role in KISR for that he is a member of various committees beside research and managerial positions:
• Seconded, Cultural Attaché in Kuwait embassy in London, UK.
• Chairman of the Kuwait National Committee for Technology Transfer.
• Higher Council of Planning - Public Policies, task member for studying research parks and high technology transfer.
• Advisor to the committee for preparing Environmental Strategic Plan for the State of Kuwait, Environment Protection Authority.

Dr. Robert D. Atkinson
President
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF)
United States

Robert Atkinson is President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a Washington, DC-based technology policy think tank. He is also author of the book, The Past and Future of America’s Economy: Long Waves of Innovation that Power Cycles of Growth (Edward Elgar, 2005). He has an extensive background in technology policy, he has conducted ground-breaking research projects on technology and innovation, is a valued adviser to state and national policy makers, and a popular speaker on innovation policy nationally and internationally.

Before coming to ITIF, Dr. Atkinson was Vice President of the Progressive Policy Institute and Director of PPI’s Technology & New Economy Project. While at PPI he wrote numerous research reports on technology and innovation policy. Previously Dr. Atkinson served as the first Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council and he was Project Director at the former Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.

He is a board member or advisory council member of the Alliance for Public Technology, Information Policy Institute, Internet Education Foundation, NanoBusiness Alliance, NetChoice Coalition, the Pacific Institute for Workforce Innovation, and the University of Oregon Institute for Policy Research and Innovation. Dr. Atkinson was appointed by President Clinton to the Commission on Workers, Communities, and Economic Change in the New Economy.

Pierre Belanger
Director General
Innovation and Economic Development Sherbrooke (IDES: Sherbrooke Science Park)
Canada

In February 2009, Pierre Belanger became Director General of INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHERBROOKE, an institution responsible for the economic development of the City of Sherbrooke in Canada. Pierre Belanger also acts as Director General of Sherbrooke Science Park, a science park dedicated to life sciences, micro-nanotechnologies, and information technologies.

From 2007 to 2009, Pierre Belanger was President of BELLATECH Development Inc., a consulting firm in the fields of management and strategic counselling for the development of science and technology parks.

From June 2001 to December 2006, while he was Director General of LAVAL TECHNOPOLE, Pierre Belanger also acted as President and CEO of The City of Biotechnology and Human Health of Metropolitan Montreal (THE BIOTECH CITY), a science park dedicated to life sciences companies which he cofounded with Dr. Pierre Lapointe, Director General of the National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS).

From 1992 to 1994, Pierre Belanger was Director of International Development for Laval Economic Development Corporation. In 1994, he became its Director General, and in 1995, transformed the economic development agency to become Laval Technopole which successfully operated the Laval Science and High Technology Park.

In 1995, Pierre Belanger, with Institut Armand-Frappier as a partner, cofounded the Quebec Biotechnology Innovation Center (QBIC), a business incubator specialized in the development of life sciences companies. In 2002, QBIC was attributed the Randall M. Whaley incubator of the year award by the National Business Incubator Association, USA. Pierre Belanger was Vice-Chair of the Board from 1995 until September 2006.

From 1988 to 1992, appointed by the Government of Canada, Pierre Belanger acted, with great success, as Special Investment Counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in Paris. His responsibilities were to implement the Canadian foreign investment prospecting strategy in France.

From 1986 to 1988, he was Director General of the Groulx Economic Development Agency in the Province of Quebec, Canada. In 1988, Pierre Belanger received the Quebec Minister of Industry’s Economic Developer of the Year Award.

Pierre Belanger started his career as Director General of a general hospital before joining the pharmaceutical industry where he spent six years as medical representative for Burroughs Wellcome.

He then joined an innovation and manufacturing company in the field of newspaper printing equipments for which he acted as President and CEO during ten years.

Pierre Belanger is a Certified Economic Developer and a Fellow of the Economic Development Association of Canada (EDAC).

From 1996 to 2006, Pierre Belanger was member of the Board of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP). During this period, he was twice appointed on the association Executive Board, from 2000 to 2002 and from 2004 to 2006.

He also became in 1998 President of IASP North-American Division, and remained President until 2006. In February 2008, he was elected member of the IASP Advisory Council. He is also a member of the Steering Committee for the preparation of the 2009 IASP World Conference which will be held in Raleigh, N.C. USA.

Pierre Belanger was the founder, and acted as Chairman of the Board of the Quebec Research Parks and Technopolis Association until 2006.

He was also member of the Board of the following institutions and companies:
Laval Biosciences Interpretation Centre
National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS)
Cite de la Sante Hospital
Arts Foundation of Laval

Joan Bellavista
President, International Association of Science Parks
Delagate to the President, Parc Cientific de Barcelona
Chief Executive Officer, Xarxa de Parc Cientifics i Tecnologics de Catalunya
Spain

Joan Bellavista currently holds the position of President of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP), and is a member of the Advisory Council of Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks (APTE). He is the Delegate of the President of the Barcelona Science Park. And in 2005 he was designated Managing Director of the Catalan Network of Science and Technology Parks (XPCAT), an association that includes 19 Parks. He is also member of the Joint-Commission of the Spanish Ministry of Industry and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science together with APTE and participates in the Biomedical Research Advisory Council of the Catalan Health Ministry. Professor at the Economics Faculty, University of Barcelona, he has recently been named member of the Advisory Council for Science and Technology of the Spanish Government.

His professional career was developed in the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, Tunisia and Spain in technology development projects and Science and Technology Parks.

Author of several journal articles, he has also published a number of books on topics such as "Developing Science Parks: Theory and Models Matter", "Using Basic research: Assessing Connections between Basic Research and Socio-Economic Objectives", "The Formation and Maintenance of Research Links between Industry and Universities", "Science and Technology policy in Spain: Organisational Constraints and Potential Development", "Los Parques Científicos y Tecnológicos en España", "Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación en América Latina", "The Barcelona Science Park: A Triple Helix Model in the Catalan and Spanish Research System", " Evaluación de la Investigación".

William E. Best, FM
Senior Vice President, Manager Community Development Banking
PNC Bank
United States

William Best joined PNC Bank in September, 2003 as Senior Vice President, Northeast Territory Manager, Community Development Banking in its East Brunswick, N. J. office. In this role, he is responsible for the Bank’s commitment towards the growth and prosperity of the low-moderate income segments and its communities. He comes to PNC from his position of Executive Director of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority. Under his leadership, the agency leveraged over $1.3 billion in economic development investments. His twenty plus years experience in banking and business were acquired through an executive banking career whereby he developed, managed, and supervised lending programs for the major financial services institutions.

Mr. Best has been recognized with several awards. A graduate of North Carolina Central University, he did graduate studies with Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Banking Program, and completed the Executive Program at Harvard University’s J. F. K. School of Government. He has been affiliated for many years with the New Jersey Urban Bankers Association. He presently serves on the New Jersey Regional Plan Association, the Newark Regional Business Partnership, and the IEDC.

Mahamadou Biga-Diameadou
Professor
Champagne School of Management
Group ESC Troyes
France

Mahamadou Biga-Diambeidou is a professor of Entrepreneurship at Champagne School of Management, Groupe ESC Troyes in France. He is also affiliated to the Center for Research in Entrepreneurial Change and Innovative Strategies (CRECIS), Louvain School of Mangament, Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium where he also took his PhD; and also affiliated with the UCL Machine Learning Group. His main research interest lies in the early growth and development of new venture as well as organizational research methods.

His work has been published in one of leading French and international scientific and management journal (Gestion 2000); and in a collective book on European research in entrepreneurship (The Dynamics between Entrepreneurship, Environment and Education, A. Fayolle & P. Kyrö (Eds). Edward Elgar). His research has also evoked interest from organizations such as the OECD Working Party on Entrepreneurship Indicators: Measurement of High-Growth Enterprises.

Nathaniel Bowditch
Senior Economic Growth Specialist
RTI International
United States

Nate Bowditch is an international development practitioner with experience in Europe, Africa, Asia, Russia, and the U.S. His areas of expertise are economic development strategic planning, public-private partnerships, and institutional development. He has headed American state and municipal development agencies and four non-governmental economic development organizations on three continents.

In the 1980s, he organized and led the Maine Development Foundation, a pioneering, public-private economic development partnership that forged this U.S. State’s first technology development strategy. Then, in Sri Lanka, he designed and initiated a similar organization formed by that country’s senior business and government leaders. In the early 1990s, he organized and became the first Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. He then moved to Ghana, West Africa to manage a project that created a new West African tourist destination.

In recent years, Nate has consulted with government ministers, provincial governors, mayors, business and non-governmental leaders throughout the world:

• Palestine—Technical team leader on a knowledge economy oriented economic growth strategy for the “first planned Palestinian community” of Rawabi;
• Bulgaria, Russia, Jordan, Uganda, and Hungary—Served as senior consultant/team leader to create regional economic growth center strategic plans;
• Uganda—Designed and implemented a national information campaign on export competitiveness;
• Macedonia—Managed an integrated municipal government technical assistance program;
• U.S.—Designed and led study tours and training workshops for scores of international development practitioners.

Nate is Senior Economic Growth Specialist and economic growth team leader in the International Development Group at RTI International located in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park.

Richard H. Brodhead
President
Duke University
United States

Richard H. Brodhead became Duke’s ninth president on July 1, 2004, after a 32-year career at Yale University. In addition to serving as president, he is a professor of English at Duke.

Since arriving at Duke, Brodhead has focused much of his leadership on enriching the undergraduate experience of Duke students and expanding the university’s financial aid endowment to ensure that a Duke education is accessible to qualified students regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. He has called for Duke to become an international center in addressing health care inequities through a major global health initiative involving faculty and schools across the university, and has championed Duke’s efforts to bring the fruits of faculty and student research through a translational process to serve society. Brodhead has also been active in Durham promoting K-12 public education, several new community health clinics, neighborhood revitalization through the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership, and the future strategic direction of the Research Triangle Park.

Nationally, Brodhead has been involved with education issues through a number of organizations, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, of which he is a trustee. He has also held a Presidential appointment to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, which is engaged with issues of international education and cross-cultural exchange. Brodhead also serves on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Security Higher Education Advisory Board.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Brodhead graduated from Yale in 1968 and received his Ph.D. there in 1972. He then joined the Yale faculty, where he became the A. Bartlett Giamatti Professor of English and American Studies. An expert in 19-century American literature, Brodhead has written or edited more than a dozen books on Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Charles W. Chestnutt, William Faulkner, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Louisa May Alcott, Richard Wright and Eudora Welty, among others. Brodhead’s pioneering edition of the diaries of Charles W. Chestnutt, the leading African-American author of the post-Civil War generation, led him to do substantial research on the history of North Carolina before he came to Duke. His scholarly work has been honored by election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. A devoted teacher, Brodhead won the DeVane Medal for outstanding teaching at Yale and spent eight summers teaching high school teachers at the Bread Loaf School at Middlebury, Vermont. He has lectured widely in universities in this country and in Europe and Asia.

After serving as chair of Yale’s Department of English for six years, Brodhead was named dean of Yale College in 1993 and served in the post for 11 years until he assumed Duke’s presidency. His writings as dean are collected in The Good of This Place: Values and Challenges in College Education. He was presented with the 2006 Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal by the Yale Graduate School Alumni Association.

Brodhead was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in May 2006 and received an Honorary Doctoral Degree from Tsinghua University in Beijing in June 2006; this is only the ninth honorary degree to be awarded to a non-Chinese person at Tsinghua, the second to a foreign university leader, and the first to a humanist. He also received a Doctor of Humanities honorary degree from Fisk University in May 2007.

Ian Bromley, FM, MA, MBA
Chief Executive
Creative Sheffield/Sheffield City Development Company
United Kingdom

In September 2006, Ian Bromley was appointed as the first Chief Executive of Creative Sheffield, in Sheffield, England). Creative Sheffield is a City Development Company encompassing the activities of predecessors, Sheffield One (City Centre Regeneration Company) and Sheffield First for Investment (Inward Investment Agency) and building new capacities in marketing and branding, innovation and the knowledge economy, and regional economic development to create a comprehensive and effective company to transform Sheffield’s economy.

Mr. Bromley joined Creative Sheffield from Toronto, Canada where he held a number of progressively senior positions in Management Consulting (Boston Consulting Group), Economic Development, Communication, Marketing and Innovation development in the private and public sectors. Most recently, Mr Bromley served the Government of Ontario, Canada as Director of Urban Economic Development, Director of Economic Development Strategy and Director of Infrastructure and Innovation.

Mr. Bromley has also worked as a consultant, advisor and teacher in urban and economic development in Japan, China, New Zealand, Brazil, the United States and Canada.

Mr. Bromley currently serves as Chair of the International Economic Development Council. He has been a long standing board member with the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, the Ottawa Partnership, the Waterloo Accelerator Centre, the Economic Development Council of Ontario, and the Innovation Systems Research Network.

Shari Budihardjo
RTI International
United States

Dr. Christine Chmura
President & Chief Economist
Chmura Economics & Analytics
United States

Chris is the President and Chief Economist for Chmura Economics & Analytics, a quantitative research and economic development and workforce consulting firm located in Richmond, Virginia, that she founded in December 1999. She is a quoted source on regional and national trends in the media throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. She writes a monthly column on the economy for the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Chris was the Chief Economist at Crestar Financial Corporation, formerly the 30th largest bank holding company in the nation. She received her Ph.D. in Business with a major in Finance and a minor in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Her Masters in Economics is from Clemson University as is her undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Prior to spending eight years in banking, Chris was an Associate Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond for seven years.

Chris currently serves on the Governor’s Economic Advisory Board of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Governor’s Commission on Climate Change. She is a former member of the Board of the National Association of Business Economics.

Her interest rate forecasts are published in the Blue Chip Financial Forecast. The Housing Market Report publishes her forecasts of housing activity.

Jong-in Choi
Hanbat National University
Korea

Jong In Choi is currently a professor of Business Administration at the Hanbat National University in Daejeon, Korea. Professor Choi received his MBA in 1989 and his Ph.D. of Business Administration in 1996 from Korea University. From 1997 to 1999 he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Lehigh University and a visiting scholar at the North Carolina State University from 2003 – 2004.

Jong In Choi is an active Government Committee Member. Several committees in which he currently participates are Planning and Budget Office, Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon Technopark, Korean Railroad, and the Korean Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology. Professor Choi is also the Director of the Daedeok Innopolis Venture Association.

Dennis G. Coleman, CEcD, FM
President & CEO
Saint Louis County Economic Council
United States

Dennis G. (Denny) Coleman is the president & CEO of St. Louis County Economic Council. Prior to his present position, Coleman was director of development for the City of St. Louis, being in charge of the city’s neighborhood, housing and economic development efforts. He also has served as vice-president for community development at Mercantile Bank when the bank’s community development corporation won national Fair Housing awards and a Private Sector Initiatives Award from the White House. He also was the founding director of the DeSales Housing Corporation, a non-profit, neighborhood-based organization. St. Louis County Economic Council is a not-for-profit economic development organization responsible for creating high quality business and employment opportunities for long-term diversified growth throughout St. Louis County and the St. Louis region. Mr. Coleman has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree in urban geography from St. Louis University. He also has completed the Senior Executives Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and serves on the national board of directors of the International Economic Development Council.

Andy Curtis
Creative Sheffield
22@Barcelona
United Kingdom

Specializing in the field of technology transfer and commercialisation in public and private sectors. Andy joined Creative Sheffield when the company was formed in May 2007, building new capacities in innovation and the knowledge economy and economic development to create a comprehensive and effective platform to transform Sheffield's economy.

With an industry focus on Creative and Digital Industries (CDI), Andy has led and consulted on numerous economic development projects and initiatives in the UK’s North of England, working with business, educational institutions and local / national government. Previously he worked in Studio and Production Management in the television and film industry with Nickelodeon UK, BSkyB, (Viacom) in London and Granada TV and Manchester.

His current activities include the development of major initiatives for Private Angel Investment, I.P. Commercialisation, Next Generation Broadband, Incubation and Acceleration and working with the new emerging technology business sectors…

As an active practitioner, he is also a qualified photographer and has been the Production Director for the UK's largest Adventure Film festival for the last 11 years...

Justyna Dabrowska
Project Executive - International Co-operation
Manchester Science Park
United Kingdom

Justyna Dabrowska is Project Executive – International Co-operation at Manchester Science Parks (msp) and is also studying for a PhD at Manchester Business School. For her PhD studies, Justyna is measuring the impact of science parks on regional economic development and investigating their contribution to the innovation system.

Prior to taking up the post at msp, Justyna worked for Innova SpA Technology Transfer and Valorisation in Rome, Italy. She was involved in EU funded projects to support the implementation of innovation strategies in five Newly Associated Countries (NAC) regions. Justyna assisted in the policy formulation process at regional level and was involved in the evaluation and the transfer of successful practices to the NAC regions to improve their research and innovation.

Justyna graduated from the University of Angers, France, with a Masters Degree in Sciences, specialising in technology transfer and project management. She is fluent in four languages: French, Polish, English and Italian, and holds a Masters Degree in arts, languages and communication, specialising in applied languages, which she was awarded by the University of Nantes, France.

Amir Dajani
Deputy Managing Director
Bayti Real Estate Investment Company
Israel

Amir Dajani is Deputy Managing Director of Bayti Real Estate Investment Company, where he oversees the Rawabi project, the first Palestinian planned community. Dajani directs all technical and business development operations of the Rawabi project and oversees and coordinates donor community participation. Prior to joining Bayti, he worked in the Private Enterprise Office of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) West Bank and Gaza Mission in Tel Aviv. In this capacity, he oversaw the design, implementation and monitoring of multimillion-dollar institutions and capacity-building programs, along with trade facilitation and loan guarantee programs. Dajani formerly worked on a European Commission-funded program as the small- and medium-size enterprise (SME) technical assistance specialist in Jerusalem, gaining extensive experience in private-sector sustainable growth and sustainability. He received a bachelor's degree from Trinity College (Dublin) and a master's degree from Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom.

William M. Dean
Director
Piedmont Triad Research Park
United States

Bill Dean is a professional technology-led economic development specialist for Research Parks and Bio Parks with international business experience. A seasoned financial management professional with over twenty years banking experience in the areas of commercial lending, business development and bank regulatory administration. Bill Dean, Director of the Piedmont Triad Research Park in Winston-Salem, NC, has over sixteen years experience in the Research Park industry. He is the first Chairman of the North Carolina Research Parks Network, which represents a coalition of seven leading research parks across North Carolina.

He is two-term Past President of the Association of University Research Parks in Washington, D.C. Wake Forest University Calloway School of Business recognized Mr. Dean as an Honoree of Beta Gamma Sigma in 2002. He is the first recipient to be recognized by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Triad Region, for the Biotechnology Service and Support Excellence Award in 2005. Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce recognized Mr. Dean in 2006 as Champion of Technology Development for his dedication in developing the Piedmont Triad Research Park. Mr. Dean received the Career Achievement Award of Excellence in 2005 by the Association of University Research Parks in recognition for advancing the field of Research and Science Parks.

Gene DePrez
Chief Innovation Officer
Creative Sheffield City Development Company
United Kingdom

Gene DePrez is Chief Innovation Officer for Creative Sheffield, the City Development Company which integrates the activities of several merged predecessors including city and regional regeneration, business and inward investment, enterprise and skills development and expanded initiatives, innovation and the knowledge economy. Its mission is to effectively transform Sheffield’s regional economy. Gene collaborates with a wide spectrum of global, national and regional organizations to champion innovation and collaboration in fulfillment of Sheffield’s Economic Master Plan.

Prior to coming to Sheffield, Gene was a member of IBM’s Global Innovation Team and was based in New York as Co-Global Leader for Business Location and Economic Development Strategy in IBM’s Strategy and Change management consultant practice. He led a similar role at PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Management Consultancy prior to its acquisition by IBM. He has over 30 years’ experience in corporate location strategy and economic development and has helped hundreds of the world’s leading companies to relocate. Gene has directed economic development strategy projects for both North American and UK regions and has led the development of innovation and collaboration of best practice growth models for a number of universities and technology parks.

Ross C. DeVol
Director, Regional Economies
Milken Institute
United States

Ross C. DeVol is Director of Regional Economics and the Center for Health Economics at the Milken Institute. He oversees the Institute's research efforts on the dynamics of comparative regional growth performance. He is also an appointee to the California State Controller's Council of Economic Advisors, a panel formed in 2007 to advise the controller on emerging strengths and vulnerabilities in the state's economy, major issues and trends that may affect the state's fiscal health and how to make the best use of limited government revenues and resources.

Since joining the Institute, DeVol has put his group in the national limelight with groundbreaking research on technology and its impact on regional and national economies. He is an expert on the new intangible economy and how regions can prepare themselves to compete in it. He examines the effects of technology, research and development activities, international trade, human capital and labor-force skills training, entrepreneurship, early-stage financing and quality-of-place issues on the geographic distribution of economic activity. DeVol is ranked among the "Super Stars" of Think Tank Scholars by International Economy magazine.

His most recent work involves the study of biotechnology and other life-sciences clusters, and the impact these industries have on regional economies. He was the lead author of "Mind-to-Market: A Global Analysis of University Biotechnology Transfer and Commercialization," released in September 2006. This study looked at the transfer and commercialization of university-developed intellectual property on a global basis, with particular focus on biotechnology. "The Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Cluster: An Economic and Comparative Assessment" provided a comprehensive look at the economic impact, breadth and depth of the life sciences sector in the Greater Philadelphia region relative to other leading regions.

DeVol was the lead author of "Biopharmaceutical Contributions to State and U.S. Economies," released in October 2004, documenting the large economic impact of the industry and analyzing which states are best positioned for future growth. In "America's Biotech and Life Science Cluster," he and his colleagues researched leading clusters and San Diego's position among them, and highlighted the key factors determining success. He co-authored "The Economic Contributions of Health Care to New England," which constituted the first detailed examination of the concentration, innovation capacities, growth and economic-multiplier impacts of health care in that region. He authored the Policy Brief "America's Health-Care Economy" in August 2003 — the first comprehensive benchmarking of the nation's leading health-care clusters.

He completed a significant study in July 1999, "America's High-Tech Economy: Growth, Development, and Risks for Metropolitan Areas," an examination of how clusters of high-tech industries across the country affect economic growth in those regions. It has been translated into Chinese and published in China. His "Best Performing Cities: Where America’s Jobs Are Created," published in November 2004, researched which cities are creating jobs and economic opportunity and described the factors determining long-term success.

Kenneth Dobson
Director, Division of Community and Economic Development
Director, Clean and Green Building Resource Laboratory
The University of Toledo
University College
United States

Kenneth E. Dobson has in excess of thirty years of valuable leadership experience in highly diversified practices of applied local economic development in cities throughout America of varying sizes, types, locations, and levels of fiscal, economic, and growth conditions. He is a nationally and internationally recognized economic development leader with many credits for his innovative contributions to the growth of the practice and profession of urbanregional economic development. He has developed expertise in accelerating energy-efficiency and renewable energy integration and applications in sustainable development, tech-based economic development and smart urbanregional practices in 21st century community and economic development. He has developed a very rich blend of local economic development experience as a practitioner in several cities and quasi-public economic development organizations integrated with professional economic development experience from both academic and private sector application perspectives.

He has held joint appointment in economic development at The University of Toledo over the last 10 years while also serving the university and the external economic development sectors at the local, regional, domestic and international levels. Professional positions at The University of Toledo include: Director, Community and Economic Development Division, Director of the Clean and Green Building Resource Laboratory, Director, Emerging Applied Building and Construction Technologies Program, Director, Capacity-Building in Construction Program, Director, Workforce Technology Preparedness Program and Adjunct Associate Professor.

Mr. Dobson has also designed, developed and taught a very popular series of smart integrated building and construction application courses associated with building sustainable” green” buildings, communities and economies. The specific focus of his work is centered on the strategic application and integration of energy-efficiency, renewable energy and environmental technologies and techniques required to facilitate diversification and growth of sustainable local urbanregional economies and for the creation of a new generation of sustainable” green” jobs through technology-driven sustainable community economic development strategies, policies, programs, projects and practices.

He has been awarded the prestigious Richard Preston Award and Honorable Mention recognition for his innovations in the practice of sustainable and tech-driven community economic development by the 4,600 member International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

The spark that ignited Mr. Dobson’s interest and intellectual curiosity in focusing on the intersection of energy, environment and community economic development started during his undergraduate studies at North Carolina Central University where he got the opportunity to work summers as a research assistant in the Engineering and Environmental Sciences Division of the Research Triangle Institute (RTI), Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Pete Engardio
Senior News Editor, International
BusinessWeek
United States

Pete Engardio is a senior writer for BusinessWeek. Engardio joined BusinessWeek in 1985 as a correspondent in Atlanta. In 1987, he moved to Miami as bureau manager. In 1990, he became a correspondent in Hong Kong. In 1996, he moved to New York and was editor of the Asian edition from 1998 to 2001. In 2003, Engardio received George Polk, Loeb, and Sigma Delta Chi awards. He was part of a team that won a 1998 Overseas Press Club Award. He is co-author of Meltdown: Asia's Boom, Bust, and Beyond. In 2004, Engardio was a Reuters Journalism Fellow at Oxford.

Dr. Gary P. Evans, CEcD
US Chief Executive Officer
Angle Technology LLC
United States

Dr Evans has worked in the field of technology commercialization for his entire career, and in technology-based economic development for more than 15 years. He has been responsible for the creation and management of a wide range of initiatives, including business incubators, research parks, product development funds, and seed funds. He has supported several hundred early stage companies, assisting with strategy development, business planning, investment preparedness and product development planning. Dr Evans has a Diploma in Management Science from the Strathclyde Graduate Business School in Glasgow, Scotland, and served as Visiting Professor in Innovation Management at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Dr Evans is currently CEO for the US operations of ANGLE plc, a public company focused on commercialization of research. He is also acting CEO of Parsortix, Inc., an early-stage biomedical device company, and sits on the boards of four other companies. Recent economic development projects in which he has played a role include the development of an aerospace strategy for Arizona and a nanotechnology strategy for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; business incubation projects in North Carolina, the US Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C.; and research park projects in Arkansas, Virginia and South Carolina.

Maria Ferrer
Entrepreneurship Program Manager
La Salle Innovation Park
Spain

Mariona Ferrer is the Entrepreneurship Program Manager the La Salle Innovation Park in Barcelona since April 2008. The Entrepreneurship Program of La Salle Innovation Park offers technology and business support services to innovative technology-based start-up virtually or physically incubated in the Park premises.

Mariona has a long national and international business career, including linguist at Siemens Metal Machine Translation Project; Team leader and project Manager at Sail Labs, Spain-Germany; Project Director of the Landing Program, a joint project of Programa Innova-UPC, La Salle Innovation Park and 22@Barcelona to foster internationalitzation of innovative companies.

Mariona holds an MBA from La Salle Barcelona, and a Master’s Degree in Translation from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.

Lisa Michelle Galley
Managing Principal
Galley Eco Capital LLC
United States

Lisa Michelle Galley is cofounder of Galley Eco Capital and its Managing Principal. Recognized as one of the “First Ladies of Sustainability” by Sustainable Industries Magazine, she has advised investors and developers on maximizing returns and environmental value from green investment programs via financial structuring, incentive and grant funding strategies. Her engagements include advising on zero-energy neighborhood developments, triple bottom line investments, renewable energy finance, hotels, R&D campuses, and existing retail projects. She has also advised community owners on federal, state and local funding opportunities for their sustainable real estate, energy efficiency and transportation initiatives.

Prior to founding Galley Eco Capital, Lisa worked for two decades in commercial real estate finance and investment. She was Senior Vice President with HSH Nordbank, a German-based commercial real estate lender, where she managed domestic US lending teams alongside direct responsibility for large lending engagements to international institutional real estate clients in Germany and the US. Her work included the structuring, negotiating and financing of several LEED-certified projects, as well as the structuring of one of the first green residential mortgage securitization conduits. Prior to that, she worked in several roles as a commercial real estate lender and portfolio manager.

Lisa is the treasurer of the US Green Building Council’s Northern California Chapter and an advisor on San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Task Force on Existing Building Efficiency. She is active in the Urban Land Institute’s Responsible Property Investing Council and Labs21. She is the course author and trainer of “Getting Started in Green Finance”. In addition, she has published several articles and speaks regularly on green building finance, energy efficiency finance and triple bottom line investing.

Aurelio Garcia de Sola
IMADE
Spain

Aurelio García de Sola y Arriaga is currently the Director of the Madrid Institute of Development, a body dependent on the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Madrid Region, where he is carrying out an ambitious project to create a Network of Clusters and Science Parks in Madrid .

After graduating in Law from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, he began his professional career in the capital market sector, including Caja Cádiz and Morgan Stanley, later moving into directing positions in the audiovisual sector in companies such as Via Digital, a leader in digital television, and launching the Ciudad de la Luz (City of Light) Studios in Alicante, with an area of 300 hectares dedicated to sets and outdoor shooting, and production support, transforming them into the best film studios in Europe.

Luiz Gargione
Director-General
UNIVAP Science and Technology Park
University of Vale do Paraiba
Brazil

Luiz A. Gargione is the Director-General of the UNIVAP Science and Technology Park in the City of São José dos Campos, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Prior to this position, he was the Dean for Planning and Business Development of UNIVAP, the University of Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brazil. He is also an adjunct faculty member in the College of Engineering at UNIVAP. He is member of the Board of the BEJ - Entrepreneurship Municipal Bank of the City of São José dos Campos; and member of the Administration Board of CECOMPI – Center for Competitiveness and Innovation for the East of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Prior to start working for the university, he worked for EMBRAER – the Brazilian Aircraft Corporation for more than 10 years. Luiz Gargione holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, a Post-graduate Degree in Management for Engineering & Construction from University of São Paulo, and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from California State University, California, USA. He is also a Doctorate candidate in Production/Industrial Engineering from University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Jay A. Garner, CEcD, CCE, FM, HLM
President
Competitive Strategies Group, LLC
United States

Jay A. Garner, CEcD, CCE is the President and founder of the Competitive Strategies Group, LLC, an economic development consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Jay is a leader and innovator in the economic development profession, having served for 29 years as both an award winning economic development and chamber practitioner, and as a consultant to the profession. His firm has assisted clients throughout the U.S., Asia and Europe on a wide variety of projects, offering innovative, yet real world solutions to achieve success. Jay often lectures and provides counsel on creating and implementing proactive global business development strategies and tactics. His firm is also a leader in providing assistance to corporate clients in their site selection process, such as Anchor Glass, Academy Sports, Hatfield Quality Meats, Stork, Future Pipe Industries and others. His firm is the exclusive provider of site location services for the Facility Group, a global leader in architecture, engineering and construction management headquartered in Atlanta and their worldwide clients.

Jay is a graduate of West Virginia University with Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees. He is also a graduate of both the Economic Development Course at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma, where he is an instructor in international prospecting. Jay has led over 25 trade and business development missions on four continents leading to the creation of thousands of jobs and several billion in capital investment. He is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a Fellow Member and an Honorary Life Member, the three highest professional designations awarded to those in the economic development profession by the International Economic Development Council. He is also a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE), a professional designation awarded to Chamber professionals by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association.

He was selected as one of ten outstanding leaders in economic development in the United States by Site Selection magazine while leading the economic development program in Mobile, Alabama. The same publication also recognized him for running one of the ten best development organizations in the U.S for six consecutive years. The Mayor and City Council of Mobile declared July 29, 1994 as “Jay Garner Day” in the City for his nine years of achievements as chief economic development officer for the City and County. As the CEO of the Asheville, NC Chamber, the organization became the first Chamber in the U.S. to win a Quality Award by the North Carolina Quality Foundation based on the national Malcolm Baldrige criteria. He was honored in both 2002 and 2003 by his alma mater, West Virginia University with the Distinguished Alumnus Award within the College of Arts and Sciences.

Jay is a past chairman for the International Economic Development Council, the largest economic development professional trade organization in the world. He is also a past chairman of the American Economic Development Council.

Rafael Zaballa Gomez
Director of Innovation
LaSalle Campus in Madrid
Spain

Rafael Zaballa is a specialist in innovation, its methodologies and disciplines. He has made relevant consulting and assessment collaborations with private companies and public institutions. At present, he is the Innovation Manager of La Salle Innovation Park in Madrd. A Park focused on innovation in Services for People. Through this position, he is linked to the International Institute of the Triple Helix of Madrid collaborating closely for its development and promoting its initiatives. He is a regular participant in courses and frequent speaker in forums in the field of innovation. He is professor of the La Salle International Graduate School of Madrid.

He has a long working experience in the private Industry in top level managerial positions for important multinational companies, where he has gained an important competence in the development and launching of innovative products, sales team management, marketing and project management. He is Industrial Engineer by the ETSII ICAI of Madrid and PDD of the IESE.

John Granger
Granta Park Ltd
United Kingdom

John Granger is Managing Director of Granta Park Ltd, a science and technology research park occupying a site of 70 hectares to the south of Cambridge, England, and generally acknowledged to be the most successful ‘second generation’ Science and Technology Parks in the Cambridge research cluster. The Park is majority owned by MEPC, a real estate investment and development company which in turn has as its main stakeholder Hermes, a leading UK pension fund manager.

He took on his present role in May 2008 having previously advised the owners of Granta Park since it’s foundation in 1997. Previously he headed the Technology Real Estate team at a national UK consultancy, and was responsible for advising on real estate issues on several STP’s in England and Scotland, in both public and private ownership. He is particularly interested in the role of private sector investment in STP’s, and the dynamics of clusters.

John has attended the IASP Conferences in 2004, 2006 and 2007. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Doug Hall
Founder/Owner/CEO
Eureka! Ranch
United States

Doug began his entrepreneurial career at age 12, inventing and selling a line of magic and juggling kits. After earning a chemical engineering degree from the University of Maine, he joined Procter & Gamble where he rose to the rank of Master Marketing Inventor - inventing and shipping a record 9 innovations in 12 months.

Since 1986, his Eureka! Ranch consulting team has helped corporations such as American Express, Nike, Procter & Gamble, and Walt Disney discover Measurably Smarter Choices for Growth. It seems to work – the Ranch has a world-class 88% client repeat rate.

Today, in addition to continuing to help corporate clients, Doug is on a mission to bring the Eureka! Ranch technologies to real world entrepreneurs. He’s developed a new licensed offering called Eureka! Winning Ways that helps small and mid sized businesses discover measurably smarter choices for growth.

Doug is the author of four best selling books and a popular speaker on sales, marketing, creativity and innovation. He has also hosted and starred on a wide range of network radio and television programs.

Dateline NBC described Doug as “an eccentric entrepreneur who just might have what we’ve all been looking for…the happy secret to success.” Doug’s signature dress includes bold shirts, blue jeans, and often-bare feet. But under the carefree clothes and playful attitude is a one-of-a-kind straight shooter who’s a life member of MENSA and the world’s leading expert on how to invent measurably smarter choices for business growth.

Dr. Silke N. Haarich
INFYDE, SL
Spain

Silke N. Haarich is a German expert in regional economic development and senior consultant in the Policy Consultancy INFYDE, S.L. (Spain) since 1998, dedicated to the design, assessment, follow-up and evaluation of regional development, enterprise and innovation policies.

INFYDE supports regional innovation projects in many Spanish Regions, e.g. Madrid, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, the Basque Country, as well as in other European Countries and regions. INFYDE collaborates regularly with Science and Technology Parks, the Spanish Association of Technology Parks (APTE) as well as the IASP.

Silke obtained her first degree in Spatial Planning in 1997, University of Dortmund (Germany) and holds since 2005 a PhD in Economic Sciences, University of the Basque Country (Spain). From 2006 to 2008, Silke Haarich worked as an International Expert in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) in the development of a Regional Economic Development Plan, in collaboration with the German Development Service.

She participates regularly in International Scientific and Academic Conferences and has several publications in academic books and journals. Silke is also actively engaged in the promotion of social entrepreneurship and is co-founder of the Foundation ART4PAX (art4pax.org), based in Gernika in the Basque Country (Spain).

Bruce M. Haxton, AIA, LEED AP
Architect
United States

Mr. Haxton is an Architect with over 30 years experience in numerous building types ranging up to $1.4 billion in construction value. He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Architecture, Advanced Studies degree from MIT. Currently, he is focusing on sustainable science and technology projects, with a special emphasis on cost control, low energy, and high performance solutions. Besides speaking both nationally and internationally, he has written over 40 articles and research papers on LEED®, sustainable topics, technology incubators, nanotechnology, science parks, and science & technology architecture. His latest article is about global sustainability and economic development. He has spoken at five IASP World Conferences: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1996; Perth, Australia 1998; Istanbul, Turkey 1999; Lisbon, Portugal 2003 and Bergamo, Italy 2004. He is the co-developer of the EarlyEco® computer system for analyzing early LEED® costs. He is currently working on an advanced Eco “Expert System” to conduct early LEED® cost and performance analysis while the project is in the formative stage. He acts as either a consultant and a senior project manager for complex architectural projects; email: HaxtonAIA@aol.com

Gregory G. Hilton
Project Manager
Sagacious Partners
United States

Gregory Hilton is a project manager with Sagacious Partners, LLC where he manages project and program activities for major initiatives such as EngenuitySC, The Columbia Talent Magnet Project, The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, and the USC-Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative. From talent attraction/retention, to technology-based economic development, Greg brings dynamic vision for the future and a strong background in results oriented project management.

He is a Liberty Scholars Fellow, and graduate of the nationally ranked International MBA program at the University of South Carolina. Greg has lived and worked in various countries in Latin America, and brings a wealth of knowledge in global commerce and development consulting. He speaks Spanish fluently, and has a working knowledge of French. Born in Ohio, and raised in North Carolina, Greg pursued undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina, La Universidad San Francisco de Quito, ITESM-Guadalajara, and La Universidad de Buenos Aires. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Latin American studies and a B.S. in Environmental Science.

Greg’s background in economic development and business consulting with a host of local and international private and non-profit development organizations brings a strong focus in international business, capacity building, research, and collaboration and project management. Greg’s professional areas of interest lie in technology commercialization, global business development, alternative energy, clean technology, knowledge-based economic development, and SME capacity building.

Greg is an active community development volunteer, having served as a board member for USC’s Young Alumni Council, the 2009-2010 co-chair for Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR), and is an active volunteer with Harvest Hope Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and various other groups.

Kim Høgh
Chief Executive Officer
Scion DTU a/s, Science Park

Kim Høgh is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Scion DTU a/s, Science Park. Prior to this position he was the Head of the Business Development Department at Right Management and City Manager for the Municpality of Birkeroed.

Through these positions Mr. Høgh has experience modernizing public and corporate administration and management, interaction between public and private sectors, merging public management and administration as well as qualifying and development professional and personal programmes for top management and mid-level managers.

Mr. Høgh’s education includes a Master of Public Administration from the Copenhagen Business School in 2002 and the Executive Management Programme with INSEAD. Mr. Høgh is currently the Vice Chairman of the Association of Science Parks in Denmark.

Marian Ibarrondo
Innovation Director
Bilbao Technology Park
Spain

Marian Ibarrondo is the Innovation Director of Bilbao Technology Park since 2000. The park is a pioneer in Spain and an international benchmark with 210 tenants that employ more than 7000 workers, with a turnover of €2,000M.

Responsible for creating the Department, she leads the innovation policy in the Technology Park, promoting collaboration between the scientific-technology agents and companies, participating in and coordinating local, national and international networks, as well as dissemination activities. Furthermore, she is in charge of the creation of NTBC at the Park being member of the Board of several incubators. Finally, She also develops and manages the Technology Park’s R&D&i projects, highlighting the European “Ecopadev” project she is the coordinator of for developing sustainability in technology parks, promoting the “ecopark” model.

She was previously the Marketing Director of GAIKER Research Centre, in charge of the marketing and communications policies, technology transfer & contract research with private companies.

She assesses European R&D&i projects for the European Commission of the VI and VII R&D Framework Programme, belongs to several research aid tribunals and has been a speaker in many International Congresses and Events.

Dr. Barbara R. Jasny
Deputy Editor of Commentary
Science Magazine
United States

Barbara Jasny is currently Deputy Editor for the Commentary section of Science, the weekly journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). In this position, she coordinates publication of Policy Forums, Perspectives, Letters, and Books. She also solicits research and policy pieces in areas of interest to Science, and has coordinated special issues on science policy, genetics, and molecular medicine for the past 24 years. Dr. Jasny has a B.A. with honors in Biology from New York University, a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Rockefeller University, and has conducted research in viral pathogenesis, DNA replication, and cellular senescence. She was elected a AAAS Fellow in 2004 and is an advisor to the American Society for Gene Therapy and the Microarray Gene Expression Data Society. She is author of more than 50 research papers, editorials, and overviews, and has been involved in communicating science in wallcharts, virtual presentations, CDs, and podcasts.

Mark D. Jensen, AIA, LEED AP
Principal - Science + Technology
Cooper Carry Inc.
United States

Mark D. Jensen, AIA, LEED AP is a principal in Cooper Carry’s Science + Technology Studio. His expertise includes the programming and design of public and private research and education facilities. Mark is versed in laboratory planning, sustainable design, campus master planning, and mixed-use facilities master planning. His work on the Emory University Mathematics & Science Center received the 2002 AIA Merit Award for Design in the State of Georgia. His goal, and the goal of the Cooper Carry Science + Technology studio, is to create places where educators, scientists and students can do their best work.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Design degree from the University of Florida (Cum Laude) and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a LEED Accredited Professional, is a registered architect in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina and holds NCARB certification. Mark is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Society of College and University Planners and the Georgia Biomedical Partnership.

Sten Gunnar Johansson
Treasurer and President of European Division, International Association of Science Parks
Chief Executive Officer, Mjardevi Science Park
Sweden

Recently elected President of the European Division of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) in 2008 and Treasurer of the IASP, Sten Gunnar JOHANSSON has served as the CEO of Mjärdevi Science Park AB in Linköping Sweden since 1993. He is also president of the Karolinska Institute Science Park in Stockholm, and serves as an expert for European Commission projects. At the end of the 1990s, he was the president of the national association of Swedish Science Parks. Prior to 1993, he worked for the City of Linköping’s Office of Industry and Trade, and also spent ten years in private enterprise as a specialist in regional development and industry relocation. Sten Gunnar studied economics at Linköping University.

Barbara K. Johnson
Principal
The Johnson Group
United States

Barbara K. Johnson, MPA, board member and chair of the IEDC External Member Relations Committee, is principal with The Johnson Group, a New Orleans consulting firm founded in 2008.

The Johnson Group provides business solutions to corporations to help them achieve a greater return, impact and results from their community investments. As it assists organizations to rethink strategies, maximize resources and accelerate program implementation, it also brings to bear extensive knowledge, experience and networks in philanthropic, community and economic development.

Johnson has held executive positions in economic development, planning and and public policy research at Greater New Orleans, Inc., the Downtown Development District, the University of New Orleans and the Bureau of Governmental Research. She directed the 2004 organizational merger of the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce and the MetroVision Economic Development Partnership as Greater New Orleans, Inc., aligning key business and political leadership on a focused blueprint for economic development. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, Johnson led the creation and implementation of an economic roadmap for the region’s renaissance. She has established a strong workforce development track record and was instrumental in securing over $20 million in funding for colleges and universities in the New Orleans area to address the critical shortage of talent in key industries in the region.

Johnson holds a bachelor of arts in city and regional planning from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Orleans.

Esteve Juanola-Feliu
CEMIC - University of Barcelona
Spain

Esteve Juanola-Feliu is innovation manager at the Micro@Nanosystems Engineering Center (CEMIC-UB), a research and technological innovation centre of the Barcelona University (UB). After receiving his Physics Sciences Degree from the UB (1995), he went on with a Researcher Proficiency Degree in Engineering, Electronic Materials and Optics (UB, 1997) and a Master in Human Resources Management, majoring in Lifelong Learning and Organization Training (UB, 2002).

After a period in the private sector as a R&D engineer, he joined the Electronics Department (UB) in 1998 where worked as a researcher and associate professor. In the 2001 he joined the CEMIC-UB. He is teacher in masters and continued training programs in Catalan universities, as well as author of several scientific articles and chapters in books.

His main research interests are based on regional innovation systems, knowledge-based economy, urban clusters and adding-value technology. At the present hi is developing an intensive activity to foster the CEMIC-UB technology commercialization, entrepreneurship culture and spin-off creation. Some of the latest projects where he is involved in correspond to a strategic association for innovation and creativity between the cities of Montreal, Barcelona and Sydney, and the development of the Barcelona Alliance for Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (BANN).

Ilkka Kakko
Managing Director
Oy Karostech LTD, Global Oasis Network
Finland

Ilkka Kakko is the main shareholder and Managing Director of Oy Karostech Ltd in Joensuu, Finland. The company is partly owned by Joensuu Science Park and is consulting the development and implementation of new collaborative working environments based on Oasis concept, successfully implemented and tested in Joensuu.

Mr. Kakko is a widely recognised expert in STP development and management, especially in the area of “3GSP” - 3rd generation of science parks.. Since the foundation of Karostech in October 2007 he has consulted science park development in Finland, Russia and South Africa. He is also a well known speaker on topics like development of innovation environments, especially collaborative working environments and breeding environments for emerging networked organisations. He was nominated on February 2009 as “Facility Manager of the Year” in Finland, and he is a member of international expert panel organised by Institute of the Future and focusing on predicting the future of STPs globally.

Mr. Kakko was previously working many years in Joensuu Science Park managing the regional ICT development program, netWork Oasis and ECOLEAD projects. He has been a speaker in IASP World Conferences: in Bergamo 2004, in Beijing 2005 and in Barcelona 2007.

Garheng Kong
General Partner
Intersouth Partners
United States

Garheng Kong, General Partner, joined Intersouth Partners in 2000. He has board involvement with most of Intersouth’s life science companies. Garheng has full-cycle investing experience, successfully sourcing, syndicating, managing and exiting investments. He has also served as interim CEO for two Intersouth portfolio companies. Prior to Intersouth, Garheng worked at GlaxoWellcome and McKinsey & Company. Garheng received his M.D. (Medical Scientist Training Program), Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, and M.B.A. from Duke University—graduating at the top of his medical and business school classes. He also holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University. He is active in the community and currently serves on the board of directors of the North Carolina Medical Device Organization, the SEBIO organization, the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, the Corporate Chaplains of America, the Hamner Institutes for Life Sciences, and has served on the Duke University Medical Center Institutional Review Board. Garheng is also on faculty at the Duke School of Business as a Senior Scholar.

Pirko Konsa
TEHNOPOL Tallinn Technology Park
Estonia

Dr. Paris Kokorotsikos
Chairman & CEO
Euroconsultants S.A.
Greece

Dr. Paris Kokorotsikos is CEO of Athens Stock Exchange listed Management and Technology Consulting Company EUROCONSULTANTS S.A. with subsidiaries in most of East European countries and owner of i4G incubation for Growth Technology and ETEP Incubators, as well as shareholder to numerous technology start ups in the sectors of IST, life sciences and environment.

Dr. Kokorotsikos through EUROCONSULTANTS Group participates in the development of Technology Infrastructure and funds Initiatives in SE Europe (Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Czech Republic), and GCC countries (Technology Parks in Bahrain and Oman).

Dr. Kokorotsikos was member of the board of the Technology Transfer Association of EU. He has coordinated technical assistance teams at top government level on planning, management and evaluation of Operational and Development programmes for more than 40 countries and regions aiming at Private Investments increase, for SMEs, for Technology Transfer, for Quality in industry, for Interregional and Cross-Border Cooperation and especially for promoting entrepreneurship from Research Institutes, in the framework of EU, WB, EBRD and government programmes. He has been author at several papers on development issues and addressed in many relevant conferences in the EU.

Dr. Kokorotsikos started his career (in parallel in PhD research) as industrial liaison officer of the Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute (CPERI) of the National Foundation for Research, and has taught courses on the Energy technologies and Technology Transfer at the Engineering School of the Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki.

Paul Krutko
Chief Development Officer
City of San Jose - Office of the City Manager
United States

Since joining the City of San Jose in 2002, Paul Krutko has led the development and implementation of an Economic Development Strategy for the world’s leading center of technology and innovation. He also helped create and implement the City’s Green Vision that is creating economic growth through ten environmental sustainability goals.

Significant accomplishments include retention and expansion projects for headquarter facilities for eBay and Cisco Systems, the acquisition of 78 acres of a former FMC site for mixed use development which includes a major league soccer stadium.

Krutko has been instrumental in advocating and developing signature events, such as the biennial ZeroOne San Jose art and technology festival and the returning Amgen Tour of California. As chief development officer, Krutko leads the City of San Jose’s Community and Economic Development City Service Area coordinating a broad range of development service and facilitation activities on behalf of the City Manager.

Prior to coming to San Jose, he held various strategic economic development, downtown leadership and planning roles with the City of Jacksonville, Florida, Cleveland, Ohio and Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Krutko is a board member of the International Economic Development Council and the California Association for Local Economic Development.

Ronald Kysiak, HLM
Senior Project Manager
IDEA Partnership LLC

Executive VP and CEO of the recently completed Northwestern University/Evanston Research Park, a 20-acre mixed use, urban research park located just north of Chicago. Also Executive Director of Evanston Inventure, a not-for-profit economic development corporation supported by Evanston’s largest employers including Northwestern University and the City of Evanston. Also Senior Consultant of IDEA Partnerships, a for-profit developer and manager of technology parks in the USA.

Former director of economic development for the cities of New Haven, Connecticut and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Planned and started the New Haven Science Park at Yale. Past president of both the Council for Urban Economic Development and the Association of University Research Parks. Recipient of the DeLuca Lifetime Achievement Award from IEDC and the Career Achievement Award from AURP. Extensive consulting in the US and overseas on technology-based economic development including research parks, incubators, seed capital formation and investing, technology commercialization and strategic planning for the creation of new knowledge communities.

Consulting US: Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Lansing MI; Project Future, South Bend IN; Hershey Medical Center, Hershey PA; Center for Emerging Technologies, St. Louis MO; Marquette University, Milwaukee WI; University City Science Center, Philadelphia PA; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA; Oklahoma Technology & Research Park, Stillwater OK; Saratoga Technology + Energy Park, Malta, NY; South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD; University of Missouri St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; New Orleans Regional Plan Commission, New Orleans, LA; University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Consulting/Training International: Tallinn, Estonia, USAID; University at Wodz, Poland; City of Hull, UK, IEDC; USAID, Poland/former German Democratic Republic; Republic of Croatia, OECD; Charles Percy Associates, Beijing, China; Fabrykat 2000, Kierkz, Poland; University of Akyureri, Akyureri, Iceland; Tehnopol Technology Park, Tallinn, Estonia; Commissar of Public Education, USSR, Tomsk, Siberia; Government of Poland, Warsaw/Gdansk; Creative Sheffield City Development Company, Sheffield, UK.

Sara Lawrence
Senior Economic Development Specialist
RTI International
United States

Sara Lawrence is a Senior Economic Development Analyst at RTI International. Ms. Lawrence has over 10 years of experience in national and sub-national economic development strategy and practice. Her current work focuses on strategic planning, cluster analysis, and project evaluation for economic development at the sub-national level. She has particular expertise in design and evaluation of technology-based economic development, entrepreneurship initiatives, industry cluster analysis, business incubators, and rural development. Her experience also includes international work in designing an economic growth strategy for a region in the West Bank, Palestine. Currently, Ms. Lawrence is conducting case study research on the role of business and citizen leadership in sub-national economic development in the United States and internationally.

Prior to joining RTI, Ms. Lawrence was Manager of Program Initiatives at the Institute for Emerging Issues at North Carolina State University where she led public policy development and engagement activities. In addition, she worked with CFED, a national nonprofit organization, benchmarking state policy in economic development and asset development.

Karen LeVert
President & CEO
Southeast TechInventures, Inc.
United States

Karen LeVert is CEO and co-founder of Southeast TechInventures, Inc. (STI). STI is a technology accelerator focused on migrating the most promising technologies from university research labs to the commercial marketplace. STI has seventeen spin-off companies in operating phases from prototype development to established companies.

Ms. LeVert’s business experience encompasses both corporate and entrepreneurial worlds with leadership experience in entrepreneurial ventures, executive management, finance, and information technology. She began her career with a Fortune-500 company assuming roles from computer programmer, to systems manager, to controller, to general manager of a 500-person business unit. Her first entrepreneurial venture was the launching of a franchise bioremediation company in 1998 that focused on the eradication of grease, sugars, and starches. After building a sustainable business she sold it in 2001. Before co-founding STI, Karen co-launched a Silicon Valley venture-funded software company in San Francisco, CA where she served as Executive Vice-President of Business Development. Karen holds an MBA from the University of Dayton and an Information Technology undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University.

Along with her current professional duties she serves as a Board member for: Southeast TechInventures, Council for Entrepreneurial Development, Duke University’s Fuqua Minority Business Consulting Program, and the North Carolina School of Science and Math.

Stanley S. Litow
VP, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs
President, IBM International Foundation
IBM Corporation
United States

Stanley Litow is IBM's Vice President for Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs and President of its Foundation. He heads global corporate citizenship efforts and corporate social responsibility at IBM across over 170 countries. Under his leadership, IBM has developed innovative voice recognition technology to help non-literate children and adults learn to read, automatic language translation and bilingual email, open source technology to help people with disabilities access the web, a humanitarian grid to power research on Cancer and AIDS and new digital imaging technology to improve water quality. He conceived Reinventing Education, a program serving over 100,000 teachers and 10 million children globally and helped devise IBM's Global Citizen's Portfolio consisting of matching accounts for learning and a corporate version of the Peace Corps called the Corporate Services Corps to train 600 future IBM leaders. IBM's efforts in education have raised student achievement and won the company two Ron Brown Awards presented by the President. IBM contributes over $160 million annually and has over 110,000 employee volunteers providing nearly 7 million hours of service globally.

Before joining IBM, he served as the Deputy Chancellor of Schools for New York City, the nation's largest school system, and prior to that he founded and ran Interface, the non- profit "think tank" and served as an aide to both the Mayor and Governor of New York.

Stanley's articles and essays have appeared in numerous books and publications including the Yale Law Review, Annual Survey of American Law, Brookings Papers, the American Academy of Sciences, the Journal for the Center for National Policy, Education Week, the Urban School's Journal as well as the New York Times and Newsday.

Stanley is a recipient of the Council on Foundation's prestigious Scrivner Award for creative philanthropy and awards from the Anne Frank Center, Martin Luther King Commission, Manhattanville College, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Coro Foundation, Helen Keller Services to the Blind, and the Women's City Club. He has taught at New School University, the City University of New York and Long Island University.

He chairs the Global Leadership Network and serves on the board of Harvard Business School's Social Enterprise Initiative, Independent Sector, Citizen's Budget Commission, and the After School Corporation.

Joel Marcus
Chairman & CEO
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
United States

Joel S. Marcus, J.D., C.P.A. – Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Founder and Director of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., a NYSE company with a stellar public track record is the pre-eminent real estate investment trust focused principally on the ownership, operation, management, redevelopment, selective development and acquisition of properties containing office/laboratory space, the Labspace® niche which we pioneered. Such properties are designed and improved for lease primarily to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life science research, product, service, defense, educational and translational research entities, as well as related government agencies. Mr. Marcus has extensive expertise, experience and contacts in the life sciences and real estate industries. He is highly experienced in real estate, finance and capital market matters, venture capital and mergers/acquisitions. Mr. Marcus has been involved with the formation, financing and operations of companies ranging in size from multi-billion dollar conglomerates to start-ups. Mr. Marcus won the 1999 Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award: Los Angeles – Real Estate. The New York Academy of Sciences Economic Development for Science Award recipient for leadership in support of New York City as a center of scientific excellence. Mr. Marcus is nationally recognized for his experience and expertise in strategic partnering and was one of the original architects of the Kirin-Amgen joint venture. This joint venture owns the rights and financed the development of erythropoietin and granulocyte colony stimulating factor, the two leading genetically engineered pharmaceutical producers. Mr. Marcus was one of the original architects and founders of The AcceleratorSM Seattle, Washington, and The New York City Orthopedics Technologies Venture, New York, New York. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Attilio Martinetti
Innovhub - Special Agency of the Milan Chamber of Commerce
Italy

Attilio Martinetti is Director of Innovhub, the special Agency for innovation of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, since 1991. In particular he is responsible for the “Palazzo dell’Innovazione” project. Within the Chamber innovation policy, this initiative aims at asserting the Chamber role as a reference for local companies in the innovation processes.

He is also responsible for the implementation of pilot projects and the definition of new services in support of innovation for SMEs.

He has carried out executive tasks in the management of local development projects, in technological innovation promotion and in the development of SME start-up policies.

Recently, he has been appointed as Director General of the Italian Agency for Innovation, dedicated to promoting technology-enabled innovation across Italy. Its role is to facilitate and support research into and development and exploitation of science, technology and new ideas for the benefit of SMEs and clusters. It is sponsored by the Italian Government, Department for Innovation and technologies.

Fred Meade

Sarfraz A. Mian
Professor, Entrepreneurship & Management Policy
School of Business
State University of New York
United States

Sarfraz Mian is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management Policy at the State University of New York. He earned his MBA & Ph.D. in Business Administration from George Washington University and an MS in Management Sciences from Northwestern University. Mian has served as Chair, INFORMS Technology Management (2002-04) and an Executive Member of the Academy of Management TIM Division (2000-05). He has served as visiting professor in universities in Europe and Asia. His research interests include: science parks and incubators, university-industry relations, regional entrepreneurial growth and entrepreneurship policy. Mian has published numerous articles in professional journals including Journal of Business Venturing, Research Policy, Journal of High Technology Management Research, Technovation, and Project Management Journal. He is the author of several book chapters and a recently coauthored book titled: Building Knowledge Regions in North America: Emerging Technology Innovation Poles (Edward Elgar 2006). His forthcoming book is titled: S&T Based Regional Entrepreneurship: Global Experience in Policy and Program Development, (Edward Elgar, 2009). Mian is the US coordinator of the North American Innovation Research Network (NAIRnet). Dr. Mian has been involved in consulting projects worldwide: IBM; US Govt. (Energy, Agriculture); New York State; OECD, Paris; CONACYT, Mexico; Toronto Sun and OCRI, Canada.

Charles Monck
Founder & CEO
Charles Monck & Associates
United Kingdom

Charles Monck founded Charles Monck and Associates in 1991, a consultancy specialising in the development of knowledge economies through entrepreneurship, technology transfer, innovation centres, science parks and cluster initiatives. He has undertaken a wide range of assignments relating to the development and management of innovation centres and science parks in different environments in the UK and internationally.

He first became involved in the development of science parks in 1983 when he joined the Government Agency, English Estates, as the science park specialist responsible for the development of over 10 schemes, mainly in Northern England. Whilst at English Estates, he played a leading role in the formation and early development of the UK Science Park Association. He led the first round of research to assess the role and impact of Science Parks in the UK, which was published as a book: ‘Science Parks and the Growth of High technology Firms’.

He graduated in engineering from Cambridge subsequently obtained an MBA at Cranfield. In his early life he set up an engineering company to exploit a new innovation.

Fred Mondragón
Cabinet Secretary
New Mexico Economic Development Department
United States

Fred Mondragón brings over 35 years of visionary leadership to his post. Mondragón was appointed by Governor Bill Richardson and was confirmed by the State Senate.

Mondragón has overseen many projects including: Hewlett Packard, Schott AG, Fidelity Investments, and Signet Solar, creating a combined 6,000 jobs.

Secretary Mondragón has identified the following priorities: Rural Economic Development, Technology- Based Economic, Community Development and Capacity building, Film and Media Expansion, International Trade, Spaceport America, Tribal Economic Development, Small Business Support Programs, and Strategic Partnerships. Prior to being named Secretary, Mondragón served in a variety of positions. While at the City of Albuquerque he led the expansion or recruitment of several companies including Albuquerque Studios, Advent Solar and Verizon Wireless.

He also was Chief Executive of the University of New Mexico Hospital, served three terms in the New Mexico House of Representatives, was Science Advisor to the Governor, the founding chairman of the Governor’s Science and Technology Commission, and worked for BDM/TRW, a national system integration firm.

Mr. Mondragón received a BS in Biology, with a minor in English Literature from the University of New Mexico and a MBA from George Washington University.

Frédéric Nlemvo
Holder Chair Innovation & Entrepreneurial Management
Head Department Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Groupe ESC Troyes Champagne School of Management
France

Dr. Frédéric NLEMVO holds the Chair in Innovation & Entrepreneurial Management at Groupe ESC-Troyes, Champagne School of Management (France). He is also head of the department Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the same business school. His experience comprises different permanent positions at Liege University (Belgium) and University of Lausanne (Switzerland) and visiting professorship in China, in Latvia, in Netherlands and in Switzerland. His non-academic experience includes management positions in the industry, advisor to the Cabinet of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Belgium and member of EU expert group on business angels. His research has appeared in international journals and in French speaking leading journals.

Dr. Koji Okuda
General Manager
Kyoto Research Park Corporation
Japan

Koji Okuda is General Manager of Corporate Planning Dept. of Kyoto Research Park (KRP) Corporation. His responsibility includes developing long-term business strategy and yearly business plan, exploiting new business opportunity, and promoting industry-academia-government collaboration. He is also responsible to develop international cooperation with foreign research and science parks to foster the growth of resident companies.

His current interest is to promote open innovation scheme by inviting regional big companies, small and medium sized companies, universities and local governmental institutions.

Prior to join KRP, his experiences covered investigating energy market, organizing international conference, and research on information technology. He got a PhD in Artificial Intelligence.

Diane Palmintera
President
Innovation Associates
United States

Diane Palmintera is the founder and President of Innovation Associates. For 20 years, IA has provided services to communities, universities, and states in technology transfer, university-industry collaboration, and tech-based economic development. IA is best known for leveraging universities and national labs to stimulate economic competitiveness.

Ms. Palmintera provides program development and implementation in technology transfer, commercialization, public-private partnerships, seed capital formation, incubation, entrepreneurship, and federal-state relations. She also is a well-known author. Endorsed by national leaders and featured in Business Week, Technology Transfer and Commercialization Partnerships provides a roadmap for academic institutions to launch technology startups and transfer technologies. She also authored Accelerating Economic Development through University Technology Transfer, Developing High-Technology Communities: San Diego, and Partners on a Mission: Federal Laboratories Contributing to Economic Development. Ms. Palmintera has assessed and applied best practices throughout the U.S. and 16 countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Prior to founding IA, Ms. Palmintera held senior and consulting positions with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Governors Association, and National Alliance of Business, and was an Associate of the Urban Institute. She is Co-Chair of IEDC’s Public Policy Action Committee.

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Research Director
Institute for the Future

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is a research director at IFTF and content lead and information ecologist for Signtific, the Institute's study of the future of science. Alex is also an Associate Fellow at Oxford University's Saïd Business School, and a Visiting Scholar in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology program at Stanford University. He holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at apang {at) iftf (dot) org, or through his blog.

Art Pappas
Managing Partner
Pappas Ventures
United States

Art Pappas has over 30 years of operating experience as a pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry executive and venture capital investor in life science companies. He is the founder of Pappas Ventures, which manages over $350 million and oversees investments in more than 40 portfolio companies. Prior to founding Pappas Ventures in 1994, Art held senior level leadership positions at several multinational pharmaceutical companies including Glaxo Holdings plc, Abbott International Ltd., Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals and the Dow Chemical Company. Among the companies for which he currently serves as a director are: Genstruct, LEAD Therapeutics and TyRx Pharma. He was the founding CEO and is the chairman of CoLucid Pharmaceuticals. Art is also Chairman of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Board of Directors.

Rachel Kessler Park
Principal and Director of Strategic Facilities Planning
HDR CUH2A
United States

Ms. Park received her Bachelor of Facility Planning & Management from Cornell University. Ms. Park is a leading expert in the latest workplace trends, planning processes and programming methodologies specializing in large-scale site and facility planning projects. Representative clients have included: Pfizer, Unilever, AstraZeneca, BASF, Dong-A Pharmaceutical, AT&T, PepsiCo and Bristol-Myers Squibb. She is particularly interested in research campuses. She creates strategies to align design and business objectives that improve everyday operations, productivity, efficiency and the general well-being of those who work there. She has extensive experience in conducting Vision Sessions and senior/department-level interviews, developing personnel and space requirements, establishing occupancy criteria and workspace standards, and developing alternative planning strategies. Rachel has authored numerous articles on strategic facility planning including “The Planning, Development and Operation of Science Parks” for the UK Science Park Association, “Making Capital Projects work for Biotech” in BioExecutive International and “The Science Behind Real Estate -- the Disposal of Special-Purpose Assets” in The Journal of Corporate Real Estate. A frequent guest speaker, she has presented seminars on various topics including the implementation of trends in the workplace and planning tools for the next millennium.

Dr. Malcolm Parry
University of Surrey - The Surrey Research Park
United Kingdom

Dr Parry joined the University of Surrey as a member of faculty in 1977. In 1980 he was invited to found the Surrey Research Park. Now one of the largest of Science Parks in North West Europe it is valued at £100m, has a rent roll of £10m and is currently home to 130 companies.

Malcolm has been a member of UKSPA since it was founded, has served 3 terms on its Board, was Chair in 2003/04 and is currently Vice Chairman. He has also sat on the Board of IASP and its Advisory Council. He is also a member of a UNESCO panel of experts on Science Parks and worked with them in a number of developing countries. In 2008 he worked for the UN on an Innovation Plan for the European accession countries.

Malcolm has edited and contributed to two books on the planning, development and operation of science parks published by UKSPA in 2000 and 2006. He has also started and sold three companies.

Malcolm was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2006 for services to business and education.

Michael L. Patterson
President
Best Emerging Science and Technology LLC
United States

Mike Patterson is President of Best Emerging Science and Technology LLC, a newly established Washington D.C. area firm that specializes in promoting Award Winning emerging science and technology in international markets. Mike has previously served as Vice President of WorldTech International LLC and President of WorldTech Inc., Washington D.C. area technology research firms specializing in Global Technology Scouting, Technology Intelligence, Technology Assessments and Technology Knowledge Management Systems. Under contract to the Raytheon Company, Mike recently crafted the 2009 Edition of “A Basic Guide to International Sales.”

Mike is a frequent guest speaker at international technology conferences on such topics as: “How to Get Technology Out of the Start-Up and Into the International Market Place.” Speaking engagements have included presentations to:
• International Association of Science Parks, Helsinki, Finland
• U.S.-Polish Defense Conference, Wash D.C.
• Baltic Dynamics & Nordic Science Parks Conference, Tallinn, Estonia
• European Venture Market Conference, Berlin, Germany
• UK-US Defense Industry Symposium, London, UK
• U.S.-Canadian Conf; Int. Tech Partnering, Atlanta
• Global Technology Partnering Expo, Cambridge, England
• New Zealand Defense Industry Assn. Symposium, Wellington, NZ
• “Getting Technology Into International Markets,” SEEDA, UK

Mauricio Guedes Pereira
Mauricio Guedes Pereira
Vice President, International Association of Science Parks
Director, Parque Tecnologico do Rio/UFRJ
Brazil

Dr. Kathrin Peters
Associate Director
SQW Consulting
Charles Monck & Associates
United Kingdom

After graduating in economics from the University of Hamburg, Kathrin spent a year in Cambridge studying with the Cambridge Economic Policy Group, supported by a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service. In 1985, she completed her PhD on Germany’s foreign trade performance in the 1970s and joined SQW in the same year, shortly after the company’s establishment in 1983.

An applied economist by training, she combines thorough knowledge of different approaches to local and regional development with strong partnership cohesion and process skills. She has undertaken some thirty feasibility studies of special initiatives for high technology business incubation and support (both property-led as well as service-oriented or both) in Europe, Asia and the Americas. This has included feasibility studies of Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Taguspark in Lisbon/Portugal, an innovation strategy study for the City Region of Bremen in North Germany, advice to Panama Science City and most recently advice to the Government of Brunei on the development of an Agrotechnology Park.

In 2008, she was commissioned by the South West Regional Development Agency, the body responsible for economic development in the South West of England, to undertake an impact assessment of Tamar Science Park in Plymouth. The work built on SQW’s extensive experience of evaluating public sector programmes and initiatives.

Josep Miquel Pique
22@Barcelona
Spain

Josep Miquel Piqué is the CEO of 22@Barcelona since November 20th 2007. He was born on the 17th September of 1967, he is married with two kids. He holds a degree in Telecommunication Engineering from La Salle and UPC and MBA from ESADE. He holds also degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), from University of California-Berkeley and from the Universitat Ramon Llull.

He is the President of XPCAT, (Catalan TechParks) and Deputy President of APTE (Spanish TechParks).

His long professional experience in university management has leaded him to promote and lead Postgraduate Programmes, Technology Transfer Centers, University Incubators and Innovation Science and Technology Parks.

He has promoted several hybrid organisations taking the partnership model University-Industry-Public Administration. Among them stand out the inception of the XPCAT, which articulate Catalonia’s Science and Technological Parks; that of the first network of University Business Angels in Spain with the participation of the UB (Universitat de Barcelona), UAB (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona), UPC (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya), UDG (Universitat de Girona) and La Salle/URL; the opening in Barcelona of the second international chapter of the Keiretsu Forum, North America's largest investment community of private equity (angel) investors, VCs and corporate investors, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, La Caixa, La Salle and Roca i Junyent Law Firm.

He has published several papers in publications and congresses on Innovation Systems and Entrepreneurship. The central line of his activity is the promotion of Knowledge-based Economy and Society in order to consolidate the 22@Barcelona as a world innovation node.

Guilherme Ary Plonski
President
ANPROTEC
Brazil

Professor Guilherme Ary Plonski leads the Center for Technology Policy and Management (PGT) at University of São Paulo (USP), and is a faculty of both the Engineering School (Poli) and the Business School (FEA). He is currently the President of the Brazilian Association of Science Parks and Business Incubators (Anprotec). He is a member of the board of several major institutions, including the Brazilian Industrial Development Agency (ABDI), the Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Enterprises (Sebrae), the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE) and the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion). Prof. Plonski was the CEO of the State of São Paulo Technological Research Institute (IPT) from 2001-2006.

Maria Hanna Popkowska
Savoie Technolac
France

Marie Popkowska joined the Savoie Technolac team in 2006 as Director of International Development, with the mission to serve as a catalyst for growth and competitiveness for the Technopole and its actors. Marie’s primary roles are to internationalize services, encourage foreign investments and develop partnerships throughout the world, particularly in the areas of sustainable development, renewable energies and green-building.

She is also in charge of enhancing international development of resident businesses and research units, as well as supporting them in global market expansion and gaining access to international networks and finances. In addition, she is responsible for international alliances for the Solar Business Incubator recently launched in cooperation with the French Institute for Solar Energy (INES).

Prior to her arrival at Savoie Technolac, Marie worked for more than 15 years for consultancy firms, small and medium sized businesses, and local executives. Her first project was to develop and support the export activities of a small industrial firm in the environmental sector. Later, she went on to assist small and medium-sized enterprises with internationalisation and transnational technology transfer initiatives in conjunction with the local executive of the Lorraine Region.

Marie is an International Law Affairs graduate from the Universities of Warsaw and Lyon. She also possesses Masters degrees in Legal Anthropology and Economic Relations with Central European Countries.

Congressman David Price (NC-4)
US House of Representatives
United States

David Price represents North Carolina's Research Triangle - a rapidly growing, largely suburban district that includes Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding communities. He received his undergraduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and went on to Yale University to earn a Bachelor of Divinity and Ph.D. in Political Science. Before he began serving in Congress in 1987, Price was a professor of Political Science and Public Policy at Duke University. He is the author of four books on Congress and the American political system.

Price currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. He is also a member of the Appropriations subcommittees for Interior and Environment and for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. He is a recognized leader in foreign policy, heading the House Democracy Assistance Commission, which he initiated to help strengthen parliaments in emerging democracies. He has played a leading role in holding the Administration accountable for conduct of the Iraq War and in the effort to negotiate a just peace in the Middle East. In North Carolina, David's constituents know him as a strong supporter of education, accessible health care, affordable housing, clean air and water, and improved transportation alternatives.

Dr. Theologos Prokopiou
Managing Director i4G (Incubation for Growth) S.A.
Euroconsultants S.A.
Greece

Dr Theologos Prokopiou is a Chemical Engineer (Aristotele University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Region of Central Macedonia) with an MSc and PhD from the University of Notre Dame (USA) and extensive professional experience in business consulting as well as the Greek Industry. He is the Managing Director of i4G (Incubation for Growth) S.A. (www.i4g.gr) the first private based Incubator in Greece, named as the Most Promising New Incubator in a prominent worldwide contest in 2005. i4G is a member of Euroconsultants Group (www.euroconsultants.gr), the largest consulting company in Greece with substantial international presence mainly in South Eastern Europe. Dr Prokopiou participates as a senior consultant in various international projects for the development of Technology Parks and Incubators in the Balkan and GCC countries. He is also responsible for the promotion of the i4G business incubator network abroad as well as the provision of consulting services to the incubator tenants in issues of innovation management, technology transfer, sales promotion and venture capital.

Natalie Quirion
Member Services and Administration Manager
Quebec Metro High-Tech Park
Canada

Ms. Natalie Quirion graduated from the Université Laval in Business Administration and management. She began her career working for a regional development corporation assisting start-up companies. In 1999, she entered the world of high technology when she joined the Quebec Metro High Tech Park (QMTHP). Her mandate was to conceive and set up services that responded to the different needs of businesses established in the Park.

Natalie quickly linked with various technology park leaders throughout the world, thanks to her direct involvement in the organization and running of the World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) that was held in Quebec City in 2002.

She, then, identified the management of human resources as one of the contributing factors in stimulating innovation in organisations. She made it the principal focus of her interventions; and from 2004, launched a strategy to help clients of the QMHTP meet their challenges.

After forging solid ties with QMHTP’s business leaders, as well as with an extensive network of partners; Natalie is now, with her team, applying her skills to develop innovative services that contribute to make the QMHTP a unique and thriving business community focused on quality of life.

Mohd Hisya Rasidi
PhD Candidate
Shibaura Institute of Technology
Japan/Malaysia

Mohd Hisyam Rasidi received Diploma in Architecture (1996) and Bachelor of Art Hons. in Landscape Architecture (2000) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He received Master of Arts in Urban Design from Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom (2005). Mohd Hisyam Rasidi was the Landscape Architect at Belt Collins International Consultant, Singapore for two years. As a Landscape Architect, he has worked with various projects in the landscape architecture and urban design field such as master planning for housings, resorts, hotels, industrial parks and public spaces. In 2001, he joined Universiti Teknologi Malaysia as a tutor and has been appointed as a Lecturer at Dept. of Landscape Architecture, Faculty Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2005. Currently, he is a Doctoral Candidate at Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo since 2006. During this period, he has published several research papers on the physical planning and design of high tech parks at several international conferences. His current research interests are in high tech parks, research and technology districts, sustainability, urban design and place making.

Juan Perez Rodriguez
General Manager
La Salle Innovation Park
Spain

Juan Pérez was born in 1974 in Barcelona. He is the General Manager at La Salle Innovation Park since October 2007. Before that he was the coordinator at the Park and the Director of the Technology Transfer Unit at La Salle Engineering School.

In his career, he has participated as a innovation consultant in international projects defining models of STP’s for other entities, as a expert in the definition of innovative policies. He has promoted projects like the Catalonian Association of Tech Centres, acting as the president during three years.

Juan holds a MBA and a MPM from La Salle Barcelona, and a Master’s Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Universitat Ramon Llull (URL, Spain).

Douglas Rothwell
President
Detroit Renaissance
United States

Doug Rothwell has been President of Detroit Renaissance since 2005. During Doug’s tenure he has led the development of the region’s first economic growth strategy, the Road to Renaissance. This six-point plan is the most comprehensive initiative launched in Detroit Renaissance’s history, having raised well over $70 million in corporate investments to date. Other work Doug has been involved with includes helping found One D, a collaboration of the region’s major civic organizations; advocating for structural reforms in state finances; and raising corporate leadership in the region. Prior to joining Detroit Renaissance, Doug served as Executive Director of Worldwide Real Estate for General Motors overseeing the largest private sector property portfolio in the world with 400 million square feet of real estate. Doug also founded and served as President and Chief Executive officer of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Doug holds a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and attended the John F. Kennedy School’s residential program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University. He is one of a handful of state executives to be honored with the National Governors’ Association’s outstanding public service awards.

David Rowe
University of Warwick Science Park
United Kingdom

David Rowe is the Director of the University of Warwick Science Park, which he joined at its inception in 1982. The Park has developed to become one of the leading initiatives of its type in Europe. The Science Park has innovated in the development of Satellite Incubators and a wide range of business start up and development programmes. David has published several papers and consulted internationally on many aspects of technology transfer, enterprise and innovation management over the last two decades. Before that he worked in the automotive sector at (Chrysler UK). He has also worked in two large high-tech industries: the UK Atomic Energy Authority and GEC Marconi.

He is Chairman of his region’s Winning Technologies High Technology Corridor Partner Advisory Group, the West Midlands Business Start Up and Incubation Committee and is Chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust, a CDFI. He is also a member of both the Advantage West Midlands Enterprise Board and Regional Finance Forum. He is a Board Member of IASP.

He has been conferred with the “Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion – Lifetime Achievement” that is awarded to one person annually in the UK.

Luis Sanz
Director General
IASP World Headquarters
Spain

Luis Sanz (Spain, 1952) is Director General of the International Association of Science Parks since 1996, and member of its Executive Board. A trained sociologist, he is an expert consultant and senior adviser to different Science Parks worldwide and chief co-ordinator of over 20 international conferences on Science and Technology Parks, regional development and innovation policies.

He is author of numerous papers, books, articles and presentations on this topic and has participated as invited speaker in over 80 international conferences and seminars all over the world. Formerly he was the co-director of Valencia Technology Park (Spain) which he founded in 1987 and as positions of trust he has been Vice-President of the Spanish Association of Science Parks and President of the European Division of the IASP.

Luis Sanz is also the head co-ordinator of the World Alliance for innovation (WAINOVA).

Hardy Rudolf Schmitz
CEO
WISTA- Management GMBH
Science Park Berlin-Adlershof
Germany

Hardy Rudolf Schmitz is the CEO of WISTA-Management GMBH. WISTA-Management GMBH is responsible for acquisitions, letting, cost management, leasing and sales, communication and marketing in Berlin Adlershof. It concentrates on the settlement of companies, the acceleration of start-ups, the assistance and consulting for companies, joint project development, internal networking, active participation in professional networks as well as national and international cooperation. It provides a comprehensive building infrastructure, favourable rents and subsidiary costs, communication services as well as a convent and visitor centre, called Adlershof con.vent. WISTA-MANAGEMENT Ltd. is the parent company of the Adlershof Facility Management Ltd. as well as the Adlershof Projekt Ltd., the urban development agency and the trustees of Berlin concerning town construction and development of the area Berlin Adlershof and IZBM Ltd., the largest incubation center in Berlin covering two sites: Adlershof and Wedding.

Hardy Rudolf Schmitz currently serves as a member of the following Advisory Boards: Investment Bank of Berlin, BVG, Berlin Partner Ltd., Comline Computer AG and Schmitz-Werke Ltd.

Fabio Queda Bueno da Silva
Professor
Federal University of Pernambuco
Brazil

Fabio Silva is professor of entrepreneurship, innovation management, and software engineering at the Center of Informatics of the Federal University of Pernambuco in Brazil since 1993. He holds a degree of PhD in Computer Science from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, since 1992. He is also the founder of OREMI Consulting Ltd., where he works as senior consultant.

He is one of the founders of the Center for Advanced Studies and Systems at Recife (CESAR) and co-founder and first President of Porto Digital Science Park, where he worked from 2000 till 2003. He was the Director President of the Technological Institute of the State of Pernambuco, which hosts the largest business incubator in the Northeast Region of Brazil.

Professor Fabio Silva has over 15 years of experience working as consultant for several private companies, government institutions, incubators, science parks, and third sector organizations, including: GDLN World Bank, infoDev World Bank, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), SEBRAE (Brazil), ANPROTEC (Brazil), among others.

His areas of interest are related to local and national systems of innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise generation, the planning and modeling of business incubators and science parks, and the use of information and communication technologies for development.

Dr. O’Neal Smitherman
Executive Vice President
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
United States

O’Neal Smitherman is the Executive Vice President of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. In his role with HudsonAlpha, he leads the administration of the Institute in support of the research laboratories, biotech businesses and educational outreach. The institute's mission is to use biotechnology to improve human health, stimulate economic development and inspire Alabama's youth to seek careers in science. He is an executive/professional with experience in establishing and evaluating academic, research and economic development programs, developing partnerships with business-government-education, and implementing technology solutions. He works with educators, professionals, businesspeople, and community leaders.

O’Neal holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. He has worked as a technology professional, researcher, community and educational psychologist, faculty member, and college administrator. O’Neal was named CIO Magazine's Number 1 Business Innovator for 2006, and one of the Top 100 CIOs in that year. He was recognized by Intel Corporation for developing the Number I Wireless University Campus in the USA in 2006. Infoworld Magazine named him as one of the Top 100 Visionaries in 2003.

Prior to coming to HudsonAlpha, O’Neal was Vice President for Information Technology and Executive to the Board of Trustees at Ball State University.

Mary Shepard Spaeth
Researcher
Royal Institute of Technology
Sweden

President of Transmera AB, based on the Mjärdevi Science Park in Sweden, Mary specializes in entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, FDI, and international market strategy. She has served as director of marketing for the Northwestern University/Evanston Research Park, EVP of ANGLE Technology, and as the executive director of the East Sweden Development Agency. Mary has an MA in literature, an MS in international child studies and an MPhil in Business.

In the United States, Mary has taught at Southern Methodist and Loyola Universities as a full time lecturer in English literature and rhetoric. She is currently a lecturer at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and has taught entrepreneurship and business development as adjunct faculty at Linköping University in Sweden, and lectured in Corporate Entrepreneurship at the University of the West of Scotland where she is a PhD candidate.

A true “pracademic”, Mary has founded three companies, including an advertising agency in Chicago. Her extensive work with business service provision in Sweden earned her a three year seat on a European Commission task force for SME development. She serves on the board of directors for the Swedish Fulbright Commission. Mary lives with her partner Peter and has two grown children.

Stephen Taylor
AREA Science Park Consortium
Italy

Stephen Taylor has over twenty years of experience working with major firms and government agencies in Europe and North America. During this period he has assisted numerous organizations in accessing the latest knowledge and expertise for analysis and planning for new business, market research, new product development, and technology commercialization. Taylor’s current role with the Technology Transfer Department of AREA Science Park (based in Trieste, Italy) is to work on strategic measures to optimize the activities of the department, and then take over as Director from September 2009.

Taylor has negotiated sales, joint ventures and partnership agreements with other organizations, both public and private, to further the strategic objectives of the bodies he has represented. As well as extensive face-to-face closure of key account sales, he has also successfully negotiated non-cash deals to achieve mutually beneficial partnerships. He has also travelled extensively, doing business in a dozen European countries as well as living and working in the USA prior to relocating in Italy.

Before joining AREA, Taylor was a Senior Consultant in Business Development at SRI Consulting Business intelligence (SRIC-BI), a spin-off from SRI International, formerly Stanford Research Institute.

Dr. Chachanat Thebtaranonth
Vice President
Thailand Science Park
Thailand

Professor Thebtaranonth received her Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Liverpool, England. She did post-doctoral training at Cornell University in the United States and returned to teach at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. She has published over 40 research papers in international journals as well as authored and co-authored 4 books during 1972-1993. Her research areas covered the chemistry of natural products and organic synthesis. She became full Professor in 1989.

In 1993, Professor Thebtaranonth took up a new position as the Science Park Project Director at the National Science and Technology Development Agency, NSTDA. In 1995 she became the Vice-President of NSTDA, and in 2004 has added to her responsibility the Directorship of the new Technology Management Center (TMC) of NSTDA. The work of TMC focuses on developing industrial competitiveness through science and technology. TMC conducts programs in technology transfer and S&T infrastructure building. Professor Thebtaranonth played a key role in the development of Thailand Science Park and pioneered the development of SME support programs such as industrial consultancy (ITAP), intellectual property service, technology licensing and financial assistance schemes. TMC houses Thailand Science Park and Software Park.

Professor Thebtaranonth is the immediate Past President of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP).

Dr. Tjama Tjivikua
Rector
Polytechnic of Namibia
Namibia

Dr. Tjama Tjivikua is the Founding Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia (since 1995), generally known as Namibia’s university of science and technology (NUST). The Polytechnic has many international partners, has won several international awards and is rated as the best higher education institution in Namibia. The Polytechnic is Associate Member of the IASP and is in the process of establishing the first Namibian innovation centre. Dr. Tjivikua co-authored and presented a paper on “How Emerging Economies can benefit from Innovations – Education, Collaboration and Leapfrogging” at the 2008 XXV IASP World Conference.

Prior to joining the Polytechnic, he held the following positions: Assistant Professor in Chemistry at Lincoln University (PA, U.S.A), 1990-1995; Visiting Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA, U.S.A.); Research Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh (PA, U.S.A); and Research Fellow at the University of Lowell (MA. U.S.A.). He holds a B.A., M.S. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, and has published several articles in scientific and other journals.

Dr. Tjivikua is the recipient of the following awards/honours: Bank Windhoek’s Business Communicator of the Year (2008); D.Sc (Honoris Causa) (2006); Life Fellow: Centres for Leadership and Public Values, University of Cape Town and Duke University (2005); International Biographical Centre, Who’s Who in the 21st Century 2001; and Outstanding Young Man of America (1985).

Dr. Anthony Townsend
Research Director
Institute for the Future
United States

Dr. Anthony Townsend is a technology forecaster and strategist with the Institute for the Future, an independent non-profit research group based in Palo Alto, California. Anthony leads the Institute's research on innovation systems and economic development, and is currently conducting a multi-year study on the future of science parks and incubators. Prior to joining the Institute, Anthony enjoyed a decade- long career in academia, where his research focused on the role of telecommunications in urban development and design. Anthony worked and lived in South Korea on and off between 2001 and 2004, as an urban planning consultant and Fulbright scholar. During this period, he directed several major research projects funded by the National Science Foundation and Department of Homeland Security. Anthony holds a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Rick L. Weddle, FM, HLM
President & CEO
Research Triangle Foundation of NC
United States

Rick L. Weddle is President and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina since 2004, owner and developer of The Research Triangle Park. Previously, he led regional economic development organizations in four states, including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, the Toledo, Ohio Regional Growth Partnership, the San Joaquin Partnership & Business Council in Stockton, California and Winston-Salem Business Inc in North Carolina. Active in the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) since its inception, Mr. Weddle, a Fellow Member, was elected as the first Chairman of the Board of IEDC in 2002 and received the designation of Honorary Life Member in 2007. Rick also serves on the boards of various regional, national and international organizations: North American Division President of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP); Association of University Research Parks (AURP); Research Triangle Regional Partnership; Vice Chair of Government Affairs, Legislation and Policy for the Regional Transportation Alliance; and Co-Chair of Reality Check, a joint effort of the Urban Land Institute and Triangle Tomorrow. He and his wife, Ginger, live in Cary.

Dr. Robert G. Wilhelm
Executive Director Charlotte Research Institute
Associate Provost for Strategic Research Partnerships
Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Engineering Science
Charlotte Research Institute at UNC Charlotte
United States

An experienced educator, researcher, engineer, and businessman, Dr. Robert G. Wilhelm is executive director of the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) at UNC Charlotte and Associate Provost for Strategic Research Partnerships. He leads university-wide efforts for research and university/business partnerships and manages business access to the campus.

CRI is the portal for business-university partnerships at UNC Charlotte. Regionally, CRI works with the community and the campus to accelerate technology commercialization and the growth of entrepreneurial ventures. Globally, CRI develops intellectual capital through collaborations with industry, government and academia.

Wilhelm is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science in the William States Lee College of Engineering. Earlier, Wilhelm worked at the Palo Alto Laboratory of Rockwell Science Center and Cincinnati Milacron. He co-founded OpSource, a high-technology company. Wilhelm holds a BSIE from Wichita State University, an MSIE from Purdue University, and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As a Rotary Foundation Fellow, he studied the history of science and technology at the University of Leicester, Great Britain and Ironbridge Gorge Museum. Dr. Wilhelm serves on regional, national, and international boards for community and economic development, arts & culture, engineering, and scientific research.

Phillip J. Wirdzek
President/Executive Director
International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL)
United States

Mr. Wirdzek founded the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) which in 2006 was competitively awarded co-sponsorship of Labs21® with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). Wirdzek was instrumental in creating the vision and foundation for the Labs21 program in 1995 when implementing a major laboratory systems up-grade for the EPA through an energy saving performance contract. Through his efforts, a partnership with the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) was established which enabled EPA to launch Labs21 in 1999. Through the continuing partnership between I2SL, FEMP and EPA, the Labs21 program continues to grow through industry collaborations, international outreach, information development and training which is designed to help both Federal and private sector laboratory achieve energy efficient and environmentally sustainable facilities and operations. With degrees in microbiology and industrial microbiology, Mr. Wirdzek began his federal career as an environmental scientist, moving on to director of chemical health and safety test audits, a facility manager, and finally a senior policy analyst with the US EPA before becoming its energy and sustainability coordinator.

Andrew Witty
Chief Executive Officer
GSK GlaxoSmithKline
United Kingdom

Andrew Witty was named CEO designate for GSK in October 2007 and assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer on 21 May 2008. He is a member of the Board and Corporate Executive Team and previously held the role of President, Pharmaceuticals Europe, for five years.

Andrew joined Glaxo in 1985 and held a variety of roles in the UK business. He was a Sales Representative for the Respiratory business, held a variety of Marketing roles and was Director of Pharmacy and Distribution.

He has worked in the Company’s International New Products groups, both in the Respiratory and HIV/Infectious disease fields and has been involved in multiple new product development programmes.

In 1993, Andrew was appointed Managing Director of Glaxo South Africa and later Area Director for GlaxoWellcome, South and East Africa. Subsequently he moved to North Carolina as Vice President and General Manager, Marketing for GlaxoWellcome Inc., the group’s US subsidiary.

Andrew then moved to Singapore and led the Group’s operations in Asia as Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific prior to his appointment to the Corporate Executive Team as President of GSK Europe in 2003.

While in Singapore Andrew was a Board Member of the Singapore Economic Development Board, the Singapore Land Authority and in 2003 was awarded the Public Service Medal by the Government of Singapore.

Andrew has served in numerous advisory roles to Governments around the world including South Africa, Singapore, Guangzhou China and the UK.

Andrew is currently a Non-Executive Director of the UK’s Office for Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research, sits on the Imperial College Commercialisation Advisory Board, is a member of the Health Innovation Council and is a member of INSEAD UK Council.

Andrew has a Joint Honours BA in Economics from the University of Nottingham.