Rising Economy 2022 Conference Focuses on Defining Greater Victoria’s Future in Complex Times

Conference tackles critical themes, from economic disruption, urban growth and the impact of AI VIATEC members use code RE22Insider25 for 25% off

From November 15 to 17, local, national and international experts will come together for Rising Economy 2022, a business-focused conference about the future of where we live and work, engaging in critical conversations around growing our economy and tackling societal issues through change and challenge.

The conference, produced by South Island Prosperity Partnership and presented by RBC, was launched in 2020 as a response to the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, three years after the first Rising Economy conference brought together business and community to discuss building back better, the conference is focused on gaining clarity and discussing solutions amidst massive disruptions. Keynote and panels focus on the pressing urgency to address the immediate needs of a growing population struggling with healthcare and housing shortages, sky-high inflation, climate change, major economic shifts and the digital/AI transformation.

As pressure builds on our economy and our collective psyche, Rising Economy 2022 will focus on creating the future we want, bringing big ideas to local issues.

“Rising Economy was born during a time of extraordinary challenge, developed as an interactive event to humanize economic development, but it’s grown into a conference that recognizes the complex interconnectedness of our challenges and spans societal and economic issues,” says South Island Prosperity CEO Emilie de Rosenroll. “Each year, we lead the conversation about what matters to our region and B.C. now, discussing critical issues through the lens of optimism and resilience.”

#risingeconomy2022 features internationally-acclaimed speakers:

• Former political journalist Shachi Kurl, President, Angus Reid Institute. In her keynote “That’s Your Opinion: Fact & Fiction in the Age of Doubt,” Kurl shares how to get to the heart of our major cultural, economic and political shifts — and find common ground during times of upheaval. 
• In her keynote, “Open Source Outbreak: Public Health Innovation in the 21st Century,” Dr. Jennifer Gardy, Deputy Director of Surveillance, Data & Epidemiology, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will talk about her work using DNA sequencing to understand how outbreaks start and spread — and how they can be stopped. 
• Handol Kim, CEO of Variational AI, will delve into the evolution of AI in his talk “Freeing the Genie or Summoning the Demon? Is the World Ready for Generative Artificial Intelligence?”

Special sessions include the Vital Signs Showcase: “How Can We Afford to Live Here?” and an Innovation BC Showcase featuring raid-fire presentations by mission-driven innovators on Vancouver Island.

The conference is geared toward a diverse audience, from CEOs and business owners and civic leaders to academics, entrepreneurs and post-secondary students. While some portions of the conference are ticketed, the virtual sessions are free to attend. 

Virtual events take place through Zoom on the Whova platform. In-person events take place at the Songhees Wellness Centre in Victoria. For a complete list of speakers and to register:  ourrisingeconomy.com. VIATEC members use code RE22Insider25 for 25% off

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Media Contact:
Kerry Slavens, Director of Public Relations
South Island Prosperity Partnership
Mobile/text: 250-516-0152 Email: kslavens@southislandprosperity.ca
*Media are invited to attend virtual and in-person #risingeconomy2022 keynotes, firesides and panels. Many of the speakers are available for interviews upon request.