International Speaker Profiles

Stuart Trundle (New Zealand)

Chief Executive - Venture Taranaki Trust

Stuart Trundle is the chief executive of Venture Taranaki Trust, the regional development agency for Taranaki, regarded as one of the premier models for economic development in New Zealand.

Stuart's work in the formation of regional economic development agencies in Poland and Romania was supported by the British Government and European Commission. Through his New Zealand experience, Stuart will share essential elements for developing regional economic planning initiatives.

John Gallagher (Ireland)

International Consultant - WYG International

John Gallagher has being working with and supporting people, their communities, and the public and private sectors in imagining, creating and delivering the future over a period of 16 years.

John is currently engaged as an international consultant with WYG International in Serbia delivering a support programme for regional economic development on behalf of the European Union (EU) and the Serbian Ministry of Economy and Regional Development. John has also been engaged on a number of EU-funded projects focused on Regional Economic Development in Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Russia. He recently has participated in a EU peer review of Regional Economic Development in the Ukraine.

Prior to this, John worked with rural and urban communities in Africa and held senior managerial positions in economic, rural and community development agencies in the Shannon Region of his native country Ireland.

Robert Muir (Scotland)

Area Manager- Lochaber, Skye & Wester Ross, Highlands & Islands Enterprise

Robert Muir has worked for Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) at a senior level for almost twenty years. His experience of developing an effective partnership with the local authority (municipal body) and other key public sector partners has played an important part in turning round the fortunes of an area previously struggling economically and suffering from long term decline in population.

Robert’s role with HIE bridges national/regional economic and social planning and on-the-ground experience with businesses and communities, with particular focus on “fragile” communities.

Brian Holst (Alaska)

Executive Director - Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC)

Brian Holst has 20 years experience in community and economic development in Alaska, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Currently, he is Executive Director of the Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC) in the State of Alaska (USA).

JEDC is known as a superior economic development agency that fosters a healthy and a sustainable economic climate in Juneau and throughout Southeast Alaska. Since 2008, the Juneau Economic Development Council has led intensive efforts to engage private sector and industry in key economic clusters for region. Through this collaborative work, the council is implementing initiatives to maintain, expand, and create economic opportunities.

Joy Wilkins (United States)

Senior Fellow with the University of Georgia’s Fanning Institute

Joy Wilkins is a Senior Fellow with The University of Georgia’s Fanning Institute where she contributes to the organization’s work in leadership development and community capacity building. Previously, as Group Manager for Community Innovation Services at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, Joy oversaw services for leaders in economic development representing cities, counties, regions, and state and federal entities.

Joy is a frequent advisor, speaker, instructor, and author on economic development, strategic planning, and quality management topics. She has served in the economic development profession since 1994 and has been a Certified Economic Developer since 2002. Joy is a member of the International Economic Development Council Board of Directors.

George Brosseau (Canada)

Senior Director of Regional Development - Northern Alberta

George Brosseau has been involved in the economic development field for the past 25 years following a management career in commercial and business development. He has taken his entrepreneurial spirit to three western provinces and the Northwest Territories to support community, regional and Aboriginal economic development, primarily in the Wood Buffalo region of Alberta and the Kootenays of British Columbia. He has worked with small, remote and isolated rural communities and cities.

Currently Senior Director of Regional Development for Northern Alberta, with Alberta Finance and Enterprise, George was engaged in the development of Regional Economic Development Alliances in Alberta.