Brian Tobin

One of the best orators in the country, The Hon. Brian Tobin inspires audiences with a vision for Canada, while at the same time giving them a new-found faith in the future of Canadian business and industry.

Tobin instantly gained recognition throughout Canada and abroad in 1995, when as Newfoundland’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, he fiercely denounced foreign over-fishing off the Grand Banks. Previously, he had served as a Member of Parliament from 1980 to 1996.

Brian Tobin served as the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1996 to 2000 and won two consecutive majority governments in provincial elections. His policies on education, taxation, same-sex rights, aboriginal affairs and federal-provincial relationships altered the social fabric of the province.

The Innovation Agenda

A champion in any arena, Mr. Tobin relishes the opportunity to speak about the need for all provinces and territories to develop a national agenda to improve their innovation performance and to advance Canada's competitiveness in the Knowledge Economy. Recognizing the realities of the new, global economy, Mr. Tobin was one of the first people in Canada to promote the idea that research and innovation are the keys to long-term success for Canadian business, and prosperity for Canadians. In this thoughtful, informative, and passionate presentation, he explores the need for an agenda to help organizations adapt to the global business environment, to improve innovation performance, to make Canada the most connected nation in the world, and to advance Canada's competitiveness in the new, knowledge-based economy.