The Chief Executives’ Club at Queen’s in association with The Centre of Canadian Studies at Queen’s hosted The 2017 Eaton Lecture on Thursday 23 March 2017.  Professor Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto gave a keynote lecture on ‘Universities and Urban Regions:  A Partnership for Prosperity”.

Over 130 guests enjoyed a pre-lecture reception in The Canada Room before relocating to The Great Hall. After a welcome address by Professor Patrick Johnston, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, William Crawley of the BBC took up the role of Compère for the evening.

Following his informative presentation, Professor Gertler joined a panel of invited local and international experts to debate the key issues. Taking part were Ms Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive, Belfast City Council; Professor Björn Asheim, Co-founder and Deputy Director of the Centre for Innovation, Research and Competence in the Learning Economy, Lund University, Sweden;  Dr Linda Fox-Rogers, Lecturer, School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast;  Professor Kevin Morgan, Professor of Governance and Development, Dean of Engagement, Cardiff University;  and Dr Joanne Stuart, Director of Development, Catalyst NI.

Professor Meric Gertler is one of the world’s foremost urban theorists and policy practitioners.  He is widely known as an expert on innovation, creativity and culture as drivers of the economic dynamism of city-regions.  Further information about Professor Gertler and his work can be found here.