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SUMMARY:A Conversation with Minister Nolan Quinn: Harnessing Ottawa’s Innovation Ecosystem
DESCRIPTION:Join the Ottawa Board of Trade for an exclusive conversation with the Honourable Nolan Quinn\, Ontario's Minister of Colleges\, Universities\, Research Excellence and Security\, and leaders in Ontario's post-secondary sector to discuss how research and commercialization is driving our resilient economy.\n\nOttawa is home to one of Canada's most dynamic research and innovation ecosystems. With world-class colleges and universities\, leading research institutions\, cutting-edge technology companies\, and entrepreneurs driving discovery and commercialization\, our region is uniquely positioned to develop and scale the homegrown innovations that will protect Ontario's economy and global competitiveness.\n\nOn August 19\, hear directly from the Minister and panelists to gain valuable insights and connect with fellow business and community leaders.\n\n\n\nPanelists:\n\n\n The Honourable Nolan Quinn\, Ontario's Minister of Colleges\, Universities\, Research Excellence and Security\n Dr. Maureen Adamson\, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario\n Jean-Charles Fahmy\, President\, Akerian Inc.\n Steve Orsini\, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities\n Moderated by: Sueling Ching\, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade\n\n\n\nThe Honourable Nolan Quinn\, Ontario's Minister of Colleges\, Universities\, Research Excellence and Security\n\nNolan was born and raised in Cornwall\, Ontario\, the youngest of five children\, to Frank & Karen Quinn. After graduating from St. Joseph's Secondary School\, he continued his studies locally at St. Lawrence College\, receiving a diploma in Business Management and Human Resources.\n\nNolan and his family reside in St. Andrews West\, where he and his wife Kimberly are proud parents to three young children\, Norah\, Nolan Jr. & Nevyn. Kim has worked passionately as a teacher with the Upper Canada District School Board for the last 11 years\, currently teaching at Central Public.\n\nNolan began his professional career working for Saint Elizabeth Health Care\, specializing in Human Resource Management. After leaving Saint Elizabeth\, he decided to pursue his entrepreneurial goals\, returning to manage the business for the last 15 years that gave him his first job\, Dairy Queen Cornwall.\n\nOver the years\, Nolan has volunteered his time and resources to many community endeavours and charities\, working with organizations such as the United Way\, the Children's Treatment Centre\, Big Brother's Big Sister's\, and the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation. Nolan has seen firsthand the caring nature of our community and what we can accomplish when we work together for the good of all.\n\n\n\nFor a period of six years\, Nolan was on the Canadian Franchise Advisory Council for Dairy Queen Canada\, representing the stores in Eastern & Northern Ontario. During his terms as chair for his region he sat on numerous sub committees\, including the Menu Committee\, Cake Committee\, & Children's Miracle Network Committee.\n\nNolan currently serves as Minister of Colleges\, Universities\, Research Excellence and Security. In this role\, he leads the delivery of world class post-secondary education in Ontario by spearheading STEM growth and ensuring that students graduate ready to excel in careers that meet our province's labour market needs. With an enhanced directive to strengthen and secure research in Ontario\, Nolan is building on the province's long history of innovation\, further cementing Ontario as a leader across critical\, economy-driving sectors.\n\nPrior to this\, Nolan served as the Minister of Colleges and Universities and the Associate Minister of Forestry.\n\n \nDr. Maureen Adamson\, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario\n\n\nDr. Maureen Adamson was appointed president and CEO of Colleges Ontario in January 2026\, following her tenure as interim president and CEO from January 2025 to January 2026. She previously served as the sixth president of Fleming College\, beginning in August 2018.\n\n\n\nMaureen brings more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience across the post-secondary\, health care\, government and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining Fleming\, she was deputy minister of Tourism\, Culture and Sport and deputy minister responsible for the Status of Women for the province of Ontario. She has also served as president and CEO of the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences\, CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Canada\, and vice-president of corporate services at Mohawk College.\n\n\n\nHer volunteer and governance work includes serving as chair of the board of directors of the Scarborough Health Network for four years\, and as the inaugural and current chair of the Scarborough Health Research Institute. She is also a director of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation and Ontario Genomics. She has previously served as chair of the board of directors of Research Canada and vice-chair and commissioner for the Toronto Transit Commission.\n\n\n\nMaureen holds a diploma in business administration from Fleming College\, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Lakehead University\, and an MBA from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. She has completed the Directors Education Program at Rotman and the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a certified director with the Institute of Corporate Directors of Canada. She recently completed her PhD in Higher Education at the University of Toronto.\n\n\n\nJean-Charles Fahmy\, President\, Akerian Inc.\n\n\n\nJean-Charles (JC) Fahmy is a seasoned executive\, management advisor and board member\, with over 30 years of experience leading high-growth\, high-impact technology organizations and guiding complex strategic transformations. He provides executive advisory and management consulting\, bringing a disciplined\, data-driven approach to helping organizations clarify their strategic direction\, unlock value\, and accelerate performance.\n\n \n\nJC has led multi-million-dollar innovation mandates\, managed M&A transactions\, launched market-leading products\, and steered organizations through periods of significant change across public companies\, VC-funded startups\, private equity-backed ventures\, and national not-for-profits. \n\n\n\nA champion of Canadian innovation\, JC works in collaboration with government\, industry\, and ecosystem partners on driving the growth and global competitiveness of Canadian research and innovation toward achieving Canada's economic\, environmental and social goals. JC is former President and CEO of CENGN\, where he drove the delivery of the organization's mission to enable the innovation and adoption of advanced networking technologies in Canada.\n\nJC currently serves on the Board of Directors of CANARIE and on the Board of Governors of Algonquin College. He holds a BASc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa\, and an MBA from McGill University. \n\n\n\n\n\nSteve Orsini\, President and CEO\, Council of Ontario Universities \n\n\nSteve Orsini is President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities. Prior to this role\, Steve held several leadership positions in the Ontario Public Service\, including Secretary of the Cabinet\, Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary of the Treasury Board\, and Deputy Minister of Revenue. Steve also held several leadership positions at the Ontario Hospital Association\, including Vice-President of Policy and Public Affairs.\n\n\n\nSteve is a member of the Fiscal Federalism Policy Network\, a Board Member of the Ontario Brain Institute and Canadian Ditchley Foundation\, and a Senior Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute.\n\n\n\nSteve holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Urban and Regional Planning and a Master's in Environmental Studies.
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Join the Ottawa Board of Trade for an exclusive conversation with the Honourable Nolan Quinn\, Ontario'\;s Minister of Colleges\, Universities\, Research Excellence and Security\, and leaders in Ontario'\;s post-secondary sector to discuss how research and commercialization is driving our resilient economy.
\n\nOttawa is home to one of Canada'\;s most dynamic research and innovation ecosystems. With world-class colleges and universities\, leading research institutions\, cutting-edge technology companies\, and entrepreneurs driving discovery and commercialization\, our region is uniquely positioned to develop and scale the homegrown innovations that will protect Ontario'\;s economy and global competitiveness.
\n\nOn August 19\, hear directly from the Minister and panelists to gain valuable insights and connect with fellow business and community leaders.
\n
\nPanelists:
\n\n\n - The Honourable Nolan Quinn\, Ontario'\;s Minister of Colleges\, Universities\, Research Excellence and Security
\n - Dr. Maureen Adamson\, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario
\n - Jean-Charles Fahmy\, President\, Akerian Inc.
\n - Steve Orsini\, President and CEO of the \;Council of Ontario Universities
\n - Moderated by: Sueling Ching\, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade
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\nThe Honourable Nolan Quinn\, Ontario'\;s Minister of Colleges\, Universities\, Research Excellence and Security\n\n
Nolan was born and raised in Cornwall\, Ontario\, the youngest of five children\, to Frank &\; Karen Quinn. After graduating from St. Joseph'\;s Secondary School\, he continued his studies locally at St. Lawrence College\, receiving a diploma in Business Management and Human Resources.
\n\nNolan and his family reside in St. Andrews West\, where he and his wife Kimberly are proud parents to three young children\, Norah\, Nolan Jr. &\; Nevyn. Kim has worked passionately as a teacher with the Upper Canada District School Board for the last 11 years\, currently teaching at Central Public.
\n\nNolan began his professional career working for Saint Elizabeth Health Care\, specializing in Human Resource Management. After leaving Saint Elizabeth\, he decided to pursue his entrepreneurial goals\, returning to manage the business for the last 15 years that gave him his first job\, Dairy Queen Cornwall.
\n\nOver the years\, Nolan has volunteered his time and resources to many community endeavours and charities\, working with organizations such as the United Way\, the Children'\;s Treatment Centre\, Big Brother'\;s Big Sister'\;s\, and the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation. Nolan has seen firsthand the caring nature of our community and what we can accomplish when we work together for the good of all.
\n
\nFor a period of six years\, Nolan was on the Canadian Franchise Advisory Council for Dairy Queen Canada\, representing the stores in Eastern &\; Northern Ontario. During his terms as chair for his region he sat on numerous sub committees\, including the Menu Committee\, Cake Committee\, &\; Children'\;s Miracle Network Committee.
\n\nNolan currently serves as Minister of Colleges\, Universities\, Research Excellence and Security. In this role\, he leads the delivery of world class post-secondary education in Ontario by spearheading STEM growth and ensuring that students graduate ready to excel in careers that meet our province'\;s labour market needs. With an enhanced directive to strengthen and secure research in Ontario\, Nolan is building on the province'\;s long history of innovation\, further cementing Ontario as a leader across critical\, economy-driving sectors.
\n\nPrior to this\, Nolan served as the Minister of Colleges and Universities and the Associate Minister of Forestry.
\n \;
\nDr. Maureen Adamson\, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario\n\n\n
Dr. Maureen Adamson was appointed president and CEO of Colleges Ontario in January 2026\, following her tenure as interim president and CEO from January 2025 to January 2026. She previously served as the sixth president of Fleming College\, beginning in August 2018.
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Maureen brings more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience across the post-secondary\, health care\, government and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining Fleming\, she was deputy minister of Tourism\, Culture and Sport and deputy minister responsible for the Status of Women for the province of Ontario. She has also served as president and CEO of the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences\, CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Canada\, and vice-president of corporate services at Mohawk College.
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Her volunteer and governance work includes serving as chair of the board of directors of the Scarborough Health Network for four years\, and as the inaugural and current chair of the Scarborough Health Research Institute. She is also a director of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation and Ontario Genomics. She has previously served as chair of the board of directors of Research Canada and vice-chair and commissioner for the Toronto Transit Commission.
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Maureen holds a diploma in business administration from Fleming College\, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Lakehead University\, and an MBA from the University of Toronto'\;s Rotman School of Management. She has completed the Directors Education Program at Rotman and the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a certified director with the Institute of Corporate Directors of Canada. She recently completed her PhD in Higher Education at the University of Toronto.
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\nJean-Charles Fahmy\, President\, Akerian Inc.
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Jean-Charles (JC) Fahmy is a seasoned executive\, management advisor and board member\, with over 30 years of experience leading high-growth\, high-impact technology organizations and guiding complex strategic transformations. He provides executive advisory and management consulting\, bringing a disciplined\, data-driven approach to helping organizations clarify their strategic direction\, unlock value\, and accelerate performance.
\n \;
\nJC has led multi-million-dollar innovation mandates\, managed M&\;A transactions\, launched market-leading products\, and steered organizations through periods of significant change across public companies\, VC-funded startups\, private equity-backed ventures\, and national not-for-profits. \;
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\nA champion of Canadian innovation\, JC works in collaboration with government\, industry\, and ecosystem partners on driving the growth and global competitiveness of Canadian research and innovation toward achieving Canada&rsquo\;s economic\, environmental and social goals. JC is former President and CEO of CENGN\, where he drove the delivery of the organization&rsquo\;s mission to enable the innovation and adoption of advanced networking technologies in Canada.
\nJC currently serves on the Board of Directors of CANARIE and on the Board of Governors of Algonquin College. \; He holds a BASc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa\, and an MBA from McGill University. \;
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\nSteve Orsini\, President and CEO\, Council of Ontario Universities \;
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Steve Orsini is President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities. Prior to this role\, Steve held several \;leadership positions in the Ontario Public Service\, including Secretary of the Cabinet\, Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary of the Treasury Board\, and Deputy Minister of Revenue. Steve also held several leadership positions at the Ontario Hospital Association\, including Vice-President of Policy and Public Affairs.
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Steve is a member of the Fiscal Federalism Policy Network\, a Board Member of the Ontario Brain Institute and Canadian Ditchley Foundation\, and a Senior Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute.
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Steve holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Urban and Regional Planning and a Master'\;s in Environmental Studies.
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