The Business/Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) welcomes Dr. Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto, as its new university co-chair. Effective January 1, Dr. Gertler joined Anne Sado, President of George Brown College, and Dave McKay, President and CEO of RBC, in leading BHER. He succeeds Elizabeth Cannon, former president of the University of Calgary.

“Dr. Gertler’s wealth of experience and leadership are tremendous assets to BHER’s future,” said Val Walker, BHER’s Executive Director. “He brings to this role a passion for public policy and a keen sense of Canada’s skills and research challenges.”

A well-known expert on innovation, creativity and culture in building cities, Dr. Gertler is one of the world’s foremost urban theorists and policy practitioners. In his five years as the president of the University of Toronto, he has focused on leveraging the university’s geographic position, strengthening key international partnerships and re-imagining undergraduate education.

“Since joining the Business/Higher Education Roundtable in 2015, I’ve seen first-hand the impact BHER has had on boosting collaboration between industry and Canada’s post-secondary sector,” said Dr. Gertler. “The challenges facing our country – and the world today – require leaders across governments, businesses and institutions to think strategically and collaboratively about how to prepare for the future.”

Beyond his leadership at BHER and U of T, Dr. Gertler is a trustee for the Hospital for Sick Children and a member of the board of directors of MaRS Discovery District. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2015.

About the Business/Higher Education Roundtable

Composed of leaders from the private sector, universities, colleges and polytechnics, BHER works to support young Canadians as they transition from education to the workplace, strengthen research collaboration between industry and institutions, and help Canadian employers as they adapt to the economy of the future. Learn more at bher.ca.