Director, Economic Development, Office of Communications and Economic Development (OCED) | City Manager’s Portfolio

I believe in the role of the public sector as an agent of inclusive economic and community development. As an Economic Development and Public Management professional, I help communities build local and organizational capacity and seize their unique opportunities.

With more than fifteen years in the not-for-profit, academic, and municipal sector in Local Economic Development, I have helped communities develop and implement strategies, programs, and policies designed to maximize community potential. This includes developing strategic plans and working in entrepreneurship development, social enterprise, sector and cluster development in innovation, manufacturing, the creative industries, and placemaking.

I earned a Masters in Public Administration and Doctorate in which my dissertation focused on community and economic development. I stay active in the Economic Development profession through the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), the Economic Developers’ Council of Ontario (EDCO), and have worked an expert in cluster development and social enterprise for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) international programs.

Since March 2020, I have worked as the Director of Economic Development in the City of Vaughan. As an edge city in the Greater Toronto Area, Vaughan is quickly transitioning from suburban to urban. As lead for everything from business retention and expansion, business attraction, small business development, tourism, smart city development, public art, and strategic projects, Economic Development in Vaughan is at the leading edge of municipal innovation in Ontario.