Innovate BC ends nine-month CEO search

Plus, a UVic boiler room gets the Cinderella treatment

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Kate Wilson & Emily Edwards
February 04, 2024

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Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue, read about Innovate BC’s new CEO, the role of the Canadian Coast Guard, two top Victoria startup employers and a local small business and tech event.

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Innovate BC announces new leader, doubling down on IP

Innovate BC CEO, Peter Cowan. Source: Innovate BC

After an almost nine-month search, Innovate BC has announced it’s found its next CEO. Effective February 5, the new head of the crown agency will be Peter Cowan.

Cowan has more than 25 years of experience in leadership roles across Canada’s innovation ecosystem, and Innovate BC believes he will bring that lengthy expertise to his new organization. In his new job, Cowan will be tasked with maintaining and developing Innovate BC’s mandate to fund and deliver programs that support and grow the innovation economy, as well as forging partnerships to make more opportunities for local entrepreneurs and their companies.

“We are delighted to welcome Peter Cowan to Innovate BC,” said Andrew Petter, the crown agency’s board chair. "Peter understands that innovation is key to creating good jobs and building an inclusive, sustainable economy for the benefit of all British Columbians. His extensive knowledge of our province’s innovation ecosystem, coupled with his policy background and far-reaching experience in both the private and public sectors, make him an ideal person to lead the agency at this critical time.”

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🏙️ Community catchup, powered by VIATEC

Source: University of Victoria

University of Victoria boiler room gets a major makeover

It’s something of a Cinderella story — a tired, unappreciated boiler room is discovered by clever, imaginative techies and transformed into a makerspace where students can turn dreams into realities.

Thanks to the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science’s (ECS) $150M capital expansion, University of Victoria students will soon have access to a multi-level makerspace where students can socialize, share ideas and learnings, and collaborate on exciting new projects.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

🦈 47 metres down: In a recent Chamber Chat, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO Bruce Williams and Coast Guard Assistant Commissioner Derek Moss took a deep-dive into the organization’s role in keeping Canadians safe.

😱 Horrible Great bosses: Two Victoria companies – Niricson and Pani Energy – were named to Forbes’ list of Canada’s top startup employers. The list is Forbes’ first Canadian round-up.

☀️ The pursuit of happyness: Graham Truax, entrepreneur-in-residence and executive director of Innovation Island, shared that he will be speaking at Small Business BC’s event, Build. Grow. Thrive. in Victoria

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

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