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Join the International Economic Development Community to learn of global best practices for economic development. Expand your networks to include experts that can share their knowledge about economic development in their countries. Have the ability to ask questions of the panel during the EDCO Members Zoom Call. This is a don’t miss event that we hope that members will be able to leave with some insight into opportunities that will enhance their local communities.
Our panel of experts include:
Esteban Pelayo
Esteban Pelayo joined EURADA in 2015 as director. Previously, he worked in the EU office of the Region of Murcia in Brussels (2011-2015) and in the Regional Development Agency of Murcia (2000-2011), where he coordinated the network of technology centres of the Regional Development Agency. He started his professional career in the Innovation Relay Centre Network helping companies to establish transnational technology transfer agreements (IPR licensing) at the University of Alicante (1996-2000).
He is Agricultural Engineer (major in Agricultural Economics) and certified expert patent attorney by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office. Esteban is member of the advisory board of IMP3rove European Innovation academy and of several H2020 projects. He represents EURADA in 3 expert committees established by the European Commission: Network of SME Envoys (E02666), Structured Dialogue with European Structural and Investment Funds' partners group of experts (E03226), and SBA meeting with stakeholders.
Juan Pablo
Juan Pablo is the current Vice Chair of the International Advisory Committee at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). He was the head FDI Consultant for Senko Co. Ltd a Japanese multinational expanding into Latin America. He served as Director for Economic Development at the Port of Tuxpan in Mexico and Director of a multinational business organization in U.S.A. He was an analyst at The White House Business Council in Washington D.C. and has participated in advisory councils and board advisory committees for the Frost Bank, Federal Agencies, and the Cities of San Antonio and Houston. He currently collaborates with International Development Banks and Organizations, as well as Centers for International Development regarding investment promotion and economic development.
Jason McFarlane
Jason McFarlane has spent over a decade working with entrepreneurs, communities, government agencies, and investors to deliver transformative economic development projects and initiatives for local benefit. His work focuses on delivering evidence-based analytics and strategy that realises real-world outcomes.
Jason has a Masters of Business Administration (California State University East Bay) and a Bachelor of Science (UWA), a Certificate in Strategic Foresight (University of Houston) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Jason is founder and Managing Director of FAR Lane and serves as a Director with Pollinators. He became Chairman of Economic Development Australia in October 2019.
Greg Da Re
Greg Da Re is the Regional Director for Ontario at Invest in Canada – Canada’s national investment attraction and promotion agency that facilitates foreign direct investment through coordination with its network of provincial and municipal partners.
Greg joined Invest in Canada from RBC Ventures where he helped lead the development of new business ventures and investments in companies that develop transformational technologies. Prior to RBC, Greg led the Strategy and Innovation Division for the Inter-American Investment Corporation (now IDBInvest) in Washington DC, the private sector arm of the IDB Group that promotes sustainable economic development throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Greg holds advanced degrees in engineering from MIT and the University of California and completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Waterloo in Canada. A native of Toronto, he enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors with his wife and two daughters.
Stefan Sanguigni
Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Stefano currently manages Ontario’s International Trade and Investment Offices (TIOs). The TIOs are a network of Ontario offices located in Canadian diplomatic Missions around the world. Working closely with Canadian federal, provincial, and municipal partners, these offices raise Ontario's profile and build commercial relations in key global markets. They promote exports from Ontario, attract new companies, offices, and facilities to Ontario, and facilitate international research and innovation partnerships.
Previously, Stefano managed Ontario’s Foreign Direct Investment Lead Generation Program as well as the Ministry’s Inbound Business Missions Unit. Together with his teams, Stefano has represented Ontario’s trade and investment interests by attracting investments, generating new business opportunities for Ontario companies, fostering collaborations, and raising Ontario's profile for over a decade.
Stefano can draw on an extensive network of high-level contacts in Canada and abroad at large multinationals and government institutions. He has targeted global multinationals and their supply chains across sectors including agri-food, aerospace, automotive, cleantech, and defence and has led efforts that successfully secured hundreds of millions of dollars in global investment into Ontario, creating thousands of jobs.
Stefano holds a B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science & Economics and a Masters degree in Public Policy Administration & Law from York University in Toronto. He is married with two young sons.