Tuesday, October 17, 2017
10:30 a.m.
Welch Hall 311

Current systems designed to support innovation are not structured to draw diverse people with different life experiences and challenges into innovation spaces. Practically speaking, a person who has experienced a life challenge directly is the most likely to innovate: in effect, to solve their own problems, however innovation policy is rarely conceived with diversity in mind (Macdonald, 1992).

Dr. Andrea Rowe will present perspectives on Gender Equality & Diversity in national innovation systems in Canada and Sweden. Her research is the first of its kind to look at Canada’s national innovation system through a gender lens. Drawing on 44 qualitative interviews with leaders in government, academia, and the private sector in Canada, Sweden, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Dr. Rowe draws on Feminist Institutionalism (FI) and Triple Helix Models in innovation theory to explain the gendered implication of policy, performance measurement, and resource allocation at the national level. The talk will conclude with recommendations for policy and practice.

Dr. Rowe is Co-Founder of of Toronto based gender and innovation consulting firm Feminuity and has a PhD in Comparative Public Policy from McMaster University. Dr. Rowe’s academic research focuses on explaining how government policy, performance measurement, and resources allocation influences equality of opportunity in national innovation systems.

For further information, please contact Nicole Goodman at ngoodman2@brocku.ca.