Join us for the inaugural GIID Global Summit, 9-11 April 2025 in Monterrey, Mexico
Learn more
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, Innovation District Monterrey.
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
Bruce Katz
Director, Nowak Metro Finance Lab at the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation, Drexel University.
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
Intellectual advisor of emerging innovation ecosystems in the U.S., Senior Vice President, Innovation and Economic Development, Wexford Science + Technology.
Pamela Puchalski
Vice President, The Global Institute on Innovation Districts.
