Robert Reich and New Brunswick premier Shawn Graham at Toronto Forum for Global Cities - November 10
Toronto Forum for Global Cities - November 10, 2009
Conference Highlights Include Robert Reich and
Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick
TORONTO, Nov. 9 /CNW/ - Senior White House officials, OECD leaders and high profile business executives will be among the over 40 panellists participating in the Toronto Forum for Global Cities, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building (255 Front Street West) on November 9 and 10, 2009. The Forum will tackle a series of questions about the role of cities in the global economy, including issues pertaining to public transportation, green energy and more.
Forum highlights will include:
Tuesday, November 10
SMARTER CITIES FORUM presented by IBM (8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
8:30am - OPENING SESSION
Speaker highlights: Dan Fortin, President, IBM Canada Ltd.; Courtney
Pratt, CEO, Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA); Warren Jestin,
Senior VP & Chief Economist, Scotia Bank
How can cities leverage their knowledge-based economies to reach full
potential as engines of growth? How can public investments be directed to
reflect the economic and demographic realities of our urbanized nations?
How can metropolitan networks distinguish themselves in an era of intense
global competition?
10:30am: BREAKOUT SESSIONS (simultaneously)
ROUNDTABLE 1
Smarter Economic Development
Speaker highlights: Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development
and Trade, Government of Ontario; Shawn Graham, Premier, Province of New-
Brunswick; Chris Gibbon, Vice President, Global Social Services & Social
Security, IBM Global
Today's governments have a unique opportunity to transform their
operations and services, making them truly citizen-centric. How can
governments seize this opportunity? Will the solutions be sustainable?
ROUNDTABLE 2
Smarter Public Safety and Emergency Services
Speaker highlights: Paul McCullough, Business Unit Executive, Public
Safety and Defense, IBM Canada; Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy
Commissioner of Ontario
A smarter city uses advanced technologies and community-based approaches
to anticipate and prevent - not just respond to - crimes and emergencies.
What are these technologies? How can we direct funding to the necessary
infrastructure to support them?
ROUNDTABLE 3
Smarter Energy and Utilities
Speaker highlights: Michael Valocchi, Global Industry Leader, Energy and
Utilities, IBM Global; Anthony Haines, President and CEO, Toronto Hydro
Corporation
Every day, energy is wasted due to inefficient electrical distribution
systems. How can intelligent systems help utilities and citizens make
smarter, more responsible choices about how to buy, sell and use
electricity?
12:00pm: LUNCHEON
Competing in an Innovation-Intensive Economy
Speaker highlights: Robert Reich, member of President Obama's Economic
Advisory Board and former U.S Secretary of Labor; Shawn Graham, Premier,
Province of New Brunswick
NOTE: Robert Reich will participate in a 15-minute media question-and-
answer session following the Luncheon.
Economic stability will largely depend on how the emergency support is
withdrawn. Which "exit strategies" are less likely to hurt the private
sector's innovative capacity? How can the West remain competitive next to
the innovative, rapidly-growing and fast- learning countries of Asia?
3:00pm: SESSION 3 - What is the Future for the Banking Sector?
Speaker highlights: Gautier Dirckx, President and CEO, BNP Paribas
Canada; Compton Bourne, President, Caribbean Development Bank
What have we learned from the economic crisis? Is the recent performance
of the investment banks a sign of recovery or a symptom of another
bubble? What are the possible consequences of the new regulatory
requirements for the banking sector?
For a complete listing of Forum speakers and a detailed agenda, visit www.forumforglobalcities.com.
Media interested in attending Forum sessions must present official credentials at the Forum's Media Desk.
For further information: Media accreditation and information: Kristin Gable, Office: (416) 306-6641, Cell: (514) 209-0984, E-Mail/BlackBerry: kristin.gable@cossette.com