Goodman School associate professor, business advisor, and member of two high-profile community boards – Barry Wright is a busy man.

Now, as director of the Niagara Community Observatory, Wright’s life is about to get even busier.

Barry Wright

“I’m looking forward to working with the Brock community and with our community partners to take the next steps in ensuring the NCO serves the needs of the people of Niagara,” says Wright, whose appointment as director of the Niagara Community Observatory (NCO) was announced Sept. 17.

Wright is an associate professor in the Goodman School of Business. His academic research focuses primarily on solving leadership challenges, change and its influence on organizational members and creating effective work environments.

Before joining Brock in 2003, Wright was a professor at St. Francis Xavier University, taught at the International Study Centre in Herstmonceux, UK and at Queen’s University, receiving several teaching awards throughout the years. He was also an administrator with the City of Red Deer.

Wright has provided a variety of training and research consultations to Canadian organizations such as Sobeys Canada Inc., Bank of Montreal, Ontario Hydro, Price Waterhouse Coopers and the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

He currently serves on the boards of Leadership Niagara and the Niagara Health System, and previously on the boards of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce and Brock University.

“With his extensive academic, business, and community experience, Dr. Wright is extremely well positioned to continue the NCO’s strong connection to the community,” says Vice President Research Gary Libben.

“This connection involves listening for what is important to the people of Niagara and beyond and providing balanced non-partisan, evidence-based research to help inform important policy decisions,” says Libben.

Wright replaces political science professor David Siegel, who founded the NCO.

“David Siegel did an outstanding job as founding director of the NCO,” says Wright. “I plan on carrying on Dr. Siegel’s vision of producing and disseminating quality research that serves to provide needed insight into problems and challenges facing the Niagara community.”

The Niagara Community Observatory, launched officially in mid-2009, works in partnership with the Niagara community to foster, produce, and disseminate evidence-based research on current and emerging issues. Since its inception, the group has produced 15 research briefs on everything from farmers’ markets to social media to the state of Niagara’s lakes and rivers.