Emilie de Rosenroll
VICTORIA – From November 15 to 17, local, national and international experts come together for Rising Economy 2022, a conference about the future of where we live and work, engaging in critical conversations around growing our economy and tackling societal issues through change and challenge.
The conference, produced by South Island Prosperity Partnership and presented by RBC, was launched in 2020 as a response to the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, three years after the first Rising Economy conference brought together business and community to discuss building back better, the conference is focused on gaining clarity and discussing solutions amidst massive disruptions. Keynote and panels focus on the pressing urgency to address the immediate needs of a growing population struggling with healthcare and housing shortages, plus sky-high inflation to climate change, major economic shifts and the digital/AI transformation.
As pressure builds on our economy and our collective psyche, Rising Economy 2022 acknowledges societal rifts and seeks to continue our rebuilding efforts through the power of collaboration. Guided by the theme of Clarity, keynote speakers and experts will discuss ways to expand our horizons, bringing big ideas to local issues.
Shachi Kurl
“Rising Economy was born during a time of extraordinary challenge, developed as an interactive event to humanize economic development, but it’s grown into a conference that recognizes the complex interconnectedness of our challenges and spans societal and economic issues,” says South Island Prosperity CEO Emilie de Rosenroll. “Each year, we lead the conversation about what matters to our region and B.C. now, discussing critical issues through the lens of optimism and resilience.”
#risingeconomy2022 features internationally-acclaimed speakers, including former political journalist Shachi Kurl, President, Angus Reid Institute. Kurl shares how to get to the heart of our major cultural, economic and political shifts — and find common ground during times of upheaval. Dr. Jennifer Gardy, Deputy Director of Surveillance, Data & Epidemiology, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation expounds upon her work using DNA sequencing to understand how outbreaks start and spread — and how they can be stopped.
Jennifer Gardy
Urban advocate and civil society trailblazer Mary W. Rowe, President & CEO, Canadian Urban Institute, returns to Rising Economy to discuss the changing face of economic development and shaping the future of cities in a time of discord.
Panels include conversations around the lockdown generation (GenZ), climate change resilience, solving the housing crisis, growing the Indigenous economy, the future of post-secondary education and why media literacy matters more than ever.
Special sessions include the Vital Signs Showcase: “How Can We Afford to Live Here?” and an Innovation BC Showcase featuring raid-fire presentations by mission-driven innovators for Vancouver Island.
“We need an event like Rising Economy now more than ever,” says Jonathan Do, Vice President, Commercial Financial Services – Vancouver Island, RBC Royal Bank. “That’s why RBC is returning as the Presenting Sponsor. By partnering with SIPP since Rising Economy’s inaugural event in 2020, we’ve seen first-hand how the insights of leading thinkers and change-makers can provide the kind of focus required to forge a clearer path forward.”
The conference is geared toward a diverse audience, from CEOs and business owners and civic leaders to academics, entrepreneurs and post-secondary students. While some portions of the conference are ticketed, the virtual sessions are free to attend.
Virtual events take place through Zoom on the Whova platform. In-person events take place at the Songhees Wellness Centre in Victoria.
For a complete list of speakers and to register: ourrisingeconomy.com.
