Today, a community’s prosperity is linked to its ability to attract, retain, develop and mobilize talent. The future prosperity of Alberta is undoubtedly centered on people. The risk of young people leaving our province is real and extraordinarily complex. What drives young adults to “purchase” a city? What are young Canadians’ perceptions of Alberta? What does Alberta need to do to once again make Alberta a magnet for young adults? In this discussion, Dr. David Finch of Mount Royal University’s CityXLab will review insights from a year-long study that examined the drivers of talent mobility in Alberta and across Canada.
Speaker: Dr. David J Finch
Dr. David J. Finch holds a PhD in management and is an active educator, scholar and practitioner. He currently holds several academic appointments including as a Professor at Mount Royal University’s Bissett School of Business, a Visiting Fellow at the Henley Business School at the University of Reading (UK), and the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph. As a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Community Prosperity, Dr. Finch leads the Institute’s CityXLab. This Lab explores the intersection between a city’s learning, creative and active experiences; and its ability to attract, develop and retain human capital. Dr. Finch has authored over 50 scholarly papers and published in journals such as the Academy of Management Learning & Education, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Marketing Management, Journal of Sport Management and the Corporate Reputation Review. His most recent book Understanding the Active Economy and Emerging Research on the Value of Sports, Recreation, and Wellness (Finch & Legg) explores the value of the active economy to community. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Finch held progressively senior roles in areas of corporate strategy in Canada, the U.S and the U.K.