We’re proud to share that the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce’s Director of Marketing & Communications, Clara Buelow, will play a key role in shaping the province’s strategic future as part of a new task force focused on innovation and productivity.
The province is bringing together thought leaders from across sectors with its Innovation and Productivity (IP) Task Force to provide strategic advice on the safe and secure implementation of new and emerging technologies, to support the economy and promote data-driven decision-making. The task force’s mandate includes creating a strategic plan to guide Manitoba’s innovation and productivity initiatives as the global marketplace continues to evolve.
Co-chaired by Innovation and New Technology Minister Mike Moroz and entrepreneur and philanthropist Jim Balsillie, co-founder and chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators, founder of the Centre for International Governance and Innovation, and former co-chief executive officer of BlackBerry, the IP Task Force will engage with government agencies, industry experts, researchers and Indigenous communities to ensure best practices are followed.
In addition to representing the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) as the voice of business in Manitoba, Clara’s background and experience will bring substantial value to the group: Clara first joined MCC as a team member of the Digital Manitoba Initiative, supporting businesses in the adoption of digital tools and adaptation to evolving market demands. Previously, she led communications for programs aimed at strengthening the province’s technology sector as Marketing Director at Tech Manitoba, and played a key role in Tech West Canada, an initiative that helped tech companies access global markets and increase international trade and investment. As a strategic communications leader, Clara is passionate about fostering innovation and advancing digital transformation across Manitoba’s business landscape, and a strong advocate for public-private collaboration to deliver programming that drives innovation and competitiveness.
“I was thrilled to be asked to join this important task force, and I’m pleased to have a seat at the table to represent the voice of Manitoba’s business community in our province,” Clara said.
While Clara is currently on maternity leave, she joined the task force for its first meeting today and will return to her role with MCC in the fall.
We look forward to the bold ideas and collaborative solutions this task force will bring to light – and to seeing Manitoba lead the way in Canada’s evolving innovation economy.
For media inquiries please contact the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce at [email protected]
Read the province’s full announcement, which includes the names of other IP Task Force members, below:
News Release: Manitoba Government Establishes Innovation and Productivity Task Force
Task Force will Propose Ideas to Boost the Provincial Economy: Moroz
The Manitoba government is establishing an Innovation and Productivity (IP) Task Force to provide strategic advice regarding the safe and secure implementation of new and emerging technologies to support the economy and promote data-driven decision-making, Innovation and New Technology Minister Mike Moroz, co-chair of the task force, announced today.
“Our province, and indeed our country, has a tremendous opportunity to invest and articulate a vision in the future of the innovation economy and I’m so excited that Mr. Balsillie and the other members of the team have agreed to take on this work,” said Moroz. “With smarter government and homegrown solutions to the problems we face and a strategy to advance Manitobans’ ownership of IP and data, our province can play a leading role in helping move our country forward and growing the innovation and research ecosystem here in Manitoba.”
Co-chaired by entrepreneur and philanthropist Jim Balsillie, co-founder and chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators, founder of the Centre for International Governance and Innovation, and former co-chief executive officer of BlackBerry, the IP Task Force will engage with government agencies, industry experts, researchers and Indigenous communities to ensure best practices are followed.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for Manitoba to turbocharge its economic resilience and prosperity by designing and implementing value-added, sovereign strategies across all sectors and industries,” said Jim Balsillie, co-chair of the Innovation and Productivity Task Force. “I look forward to supporting the development of a framework that reflects the changed nature of the global economy and leads to the strengthening of Manitoba’s prosperity and security.”
The Department of Innovation and New Technology is currently considering the implementation of technologies like artificial intelligence, the development of intellectual property policy, as well as sovereign cloud strategies to ensure data storage and processing are governed and handled securely without the need to travel through jurisdictions that may not have the same protections or safety requirements in place, noted the minister.
By developing new data strategies, intellectual property commercialization and sovereign cloud initiatives, this effort will position Manitoba as a leader in 21st-century digital governance and economic competitiveness, added Moroz.
Other members of the task force include:
- Adam Herstein, partner at Pitblado Law;
- Clara Buelow, director of marketing and communications, Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, previous lead on the Digital Manitoba Policy Initiative;
- Jacqueline Keena, managing director, Enterprise Machine Intelligence Learning Initiative;
- Gerry Price, president, Price Industries;
- Prof. Gautam Srivastava, professor of computer science, Brandon University;
- Debra Jonasson-Young, executive director of entrepreneurship, Asper School of Business; and
- Dr. Ernest Cholakis, founder, Cholakis Dental Group.
The mandate of the IP Task Force includes the creation of a strategic plan that will guide Manitoba’s innovation and productivity initiatives as the global marketplace continues to evolve. The task force is expected to deliver the plan to the minister later this year, noted Moroz.
– 30 –
For more information:
- Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: [email protected] or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
- Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: [email protected].
- Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: [email protected].
