Glen Hodgson has a deep understanding of the Canadian economy from his 34 years as a professional economist, the last twelve years as Chief Economist at the Conference Board of Canada. He can discuss in detail: the current and future performance of the national and provincial economies; the structural strengths and weaknesses of the Canadian economy, including in-depth analysis of  manufacturing (autos, aerospace, etc); high-value services; natural resources and agriculture; and the emerging low-carbon economy. He can also talk about the public policy framework (regulations, taxes, public investment) and what it would take to improve Canada’s economic performance.

Glen Hodgson spent half his career working on various aspects of international trade and investment, and international finance pertaining to both the private sector and governments.  He therefore can address key trends in globalization, the role of global value chains, financing of trade and investment, and how Canada is being affected by global forces. He was the editor of, and a contributing author to, the only book on Canada’s policy response to the 2008 global financial crisis. He also has deep knowledge of Canada’s economic and trade relations with the U.S., China, the EU and other regions.

Glen Hodgson is also a sports nut – an athlete, official, coach and fan — and co-authored a book on the business economics of pro sports, called Power Play. He can talk about things like the factors behind franchise business and competitive success, what it takes to finance and build new sports facilities today, and the impact of the exchange rate on Canadian franchises. He can use sports as a metaphor for professional and business success, as he did in a recent Globe and Mail commentary on lessons from Canadian success at the Olympics. He has been a frequent media commentator on the economics of sports.

Glen provides insights on the energy transition that is now quietly underway, and how this transition could shape an economy with lower GHG emissions, but without impairing the Canadian economy’s growth capacity. These insights come from his research, and his role as the chair of a new research centre at the Conference Board on the low-carbon growth economy. He is also a member of Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, which undertakes research and provides advice on how price signals can be used to modify behavior and economic performance for the better.

Informed by more than 35 years as an economist with organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) , the Federal Department of Finance, Export Development Canada (EDC),as well as the Conference Board of Canada, Glen has developed original insights on the forces of disruption and will  explore the possible best policy and business responses in specific cases. The forces include:  technology (which is evident every day); geo-political forces, such as the Trump agenda, and Brexit; and long-term structural disruption, driven by factors like demographics and climate change. Glen enjoys customizing content and is especially fond of engaging with the audience to address their concerns and further implications for you and your organization.