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The Global Institute on Innovation Districts

Steering Committee

The Global Institute has established a Steering Committee comprised of its leadership team, Founding Partners, and the heads of innovation districts around the world. The committee is charged with shaping the overall agenda of The Global Institute and ensuring research, network, and other activities advance the paradigm and practice of innovation districts.

Representing Innovation Districts

Amsterdam – Marcel van Heemert

Programmamanager Campusontwikkeling, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Knowledge Quarter Zuidas

Be’er Sheva – Prof. Dan Blumberg

Vice President for Regional and Industrial Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva Innovation District

Buffalo – Matt Enstice

President and CEO, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

Medellín – Carlos Andrés Jaramillo Velásquez

Desarrollador de soluciones CT+i, Ruta N, Distrito de Innovación de Medellín

Melbourne – Mariella Smids

Deputy Director Precincts and Government, Monash University, Monash Technology Precinct

Monterrey – Mario Adrián Flores Castro

Vice Presidente de la Región Monterrey y Director General Campus Monterrey, Tec de Monterrey, Monterrey Innovation District

Oslo – Christine Wergeland Sørbye

CEO, Oslo Science City

Pittsburgh – Sean Luther

Executive Director, InnovatePGH, Pittsburgh Innovation District

Sheffield – Diana Buckley

Head of Economic Strategy and Commissioning – Economic Development, Sheffield City Council, Senior Responsible Officer, Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District

St. Louis – Natalie Self

Senior Vice President of Equitable Economic Impact, Cortex Innovation District

Winston-Salem – Lindsey Schwab

Director of Community Relations, Innovation Quarter

Representing the Founding Partners

Sam Okeby

Managing Director Development Asia, Lendlease

Tim Sanders

Senior Investment Officer, Ventas, Inc.

Representing the Board of Directors

Julie Wagner

President, The Global Institute on Innovation District. Julie is driving the overall strategy and day-to-day activities of the Steering Committee, including recruitment, all work outputs, and research components.

Carrie Kolasky

Chief Growth Officer, Greater Washington Partnership

Tom Osha

Senior Vice President, Innovation and Economic Development, Wexford Science + Technology

Pamela Puchalski

Vice President, The Global Institute on Innovation Districts

Bruce Katz

Director, Nowak Metro Finance Lab at the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation, Drexel University

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