Symposia

Marijuana Legalization

The symposium will be led by Paul Seaborn, Assistant Professor at the Daniels College of Business, University of Denver. Prof. Seaborn’s research interests focus on business-government issues and he has developed extensive expertise in Colorado’s emerging marijuana industry. In 2014, he published one of the first academic teaching case on the marijuana industry in Case Research Journal, “Medical Marijuana Industry Group: Outdoor Advertising in Denver” and in Spring 2017, he taught the first ever “Business of Marijuana” course at Daniels and at any AACSB-accredited business school. Prior to joining Daniels in 2011, Prof. Seaborn completed his doctoral studies in Strategic Management at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He worked eight years as a consultant for Mercer Management Consulting (now known as Oliver Wyman) and IBM Global Services. He holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics with Business from Acadia University.

Prof. Seaborn will be joined by Prof. Andrew Davis, Assistant Professor of Economics at Acadia University who is currently involved in research projects in the medical marijuana industry, as well as a participant (TBD) from a company currently operating in Nova Scotia’s medical marijuana industry. In addition to remarks from these three panelists, considerable time will be allocated to an open discussion with symposium attendees.

The Business of Development: Intersections of Higher Education and Economic Development in Atlantic Canada

Universities are increasingly called upon to contribute toward economic development, and yet universities are relative newcomers to this business. This symposium will consider the ways that Atlantic Canadian business schools, and universities in general, can engage with the on-going business of regional/community economic development. The session will begin with a brief arm-chair discussion about the current state of economic development organizing in Atlantic Canada. Panelists will share their perspectives on economic development as policy, practice, profession, and as an organizational field in Atlantic Canada. They will discuss the ways that universities across the region have been engaged in teaching, research, and service, related to economic development. Following an open discussion with the panelists, attendees will have an opportunity to engage in small group discussions to consider the ways that universities and communities might collaborate to advance the business of development in Atlantic Canada.

Moderator

The symposium will be moderated by Ryan MacNeil, a tenure-track lecturer in entrepreneurship and innovation at Acadia University and former economic development professional and consultant. Prof. MacNeil holds a Masters degree in Local Economic Development from the University of Waterloo, a professional designation (EcD) from the Economic Developers Association of Canada, and is currently completing his PhD at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University.

Panelists

David Emerson is President of the Economic Developers’ Association of Canada and Senior Director of Government Relations for the University of New Brunswick. David is a graduate of Ryerson University's Urban and Regional Planning program and holds a professional designation—at the fellowship level— with the Economic Developers Association of Canada.

Dr. Rob Greenwood is Executive Director, Public Engagement for Memorial University and of The Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development. He has previously served as a Director and Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy in Economic Development departments in Newfoundland and Labrador and in Saskatchewan. Rob holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Business Studies from the University of Warwick, England and has taught, consulted, published, and presented extensively on community and regional economic development.

George Karaphillis is Dean of the Shannon School of Business, Cape Breton University. Prior to his appointed as Dean, George spend over 10 years as the Director of the Shannon School’s MBA program in Community Economic Development. This unique MBA program is delivered on-campus at CBU and across Canada, including in the North. George’s current research is focused on the social economy, sustainability, and social economy finance.