Three of N.B.’s Leading Innovators Share Visions of Future Growth
FREDERICTON – The province’s knowledge and innovation sectors have been developed by a dedicated group of collaborative people who have built companies and support organizations going back 25 years.
In the lead-up to the KIRA awards gala May 3rd at the Fredericton Convention Centre, we reached out to three people who have been instrumental in that growth – Beth Webster, Keith McIntosh and Annette Comeau. We asked them how they got started, what they are doing now, and how they see the development of the knowledge and innovation sectors going forward.
Beth Webster, Vice President, Populus Global Solutions
What have been your involvements in the industry in the last 20 years? How did you get your start?
A little more than 20 years ago I was asked to sit on the board of the Greater Fredericton Economic Development Commission (GFEDC), now known as Ignite Fredericton. This was when the IT industry was starting to take shape and becoming something very real in the Fredericton region and New Brunswick overall. Shortly thereafter, Al MacDonald asked me to become a part of the Knowledge Industry Task Force (KITF).
During one meeting, while trying to shape the vision for a productive future for the Knowledge Industry, the idea of a Gala Event to recognize the successes in the industry and to show others the value of the industry to New Brunswick was discussed, and (after a glass of wine or two) Norah Mallory and I were asked if we would co-chair an inaugural event, what came to be known as KIRA. We both said yes and here we are today. I have also been involved in other community and not-for-profit boards, as well as other organizations such as NBIF, the Fredericton International Airport, and SNB. All have some impact and value to IT and innovation in this province. I have always believed that we might be small, but we are mighty and we can make a difference. Oh, and a glass of wine always helps me!
What are you doing now?
I am currently the Vice President of Operations for Populus Global Solutions Inc. We are an innovative health technology company focused on improving the delivery of healthcare that enables data collection, program delivery, effective analytics in support of population health and disease management. Improving health outcomes is the foundation upon which we are built. I also continue to give of my time in the community and within innovative organizations. I am proud of the growth of the industry that continues to be spurred by the innovative and entrepreneurial leaders in New Brunswick – industry and government alike.
What are the challenges/opportunities for the province’s innovative businesses going forward?
I prefer to focus on the opportunities. I think there are enough people that point out and focus on the challenges. I know that we need to recognize the challenges so that we can make a change and improve what and how we are doing things. However, if we stay too focused on the challenges then it can become overwhelming and daunting and the only thing that people will focus on. So the opportunities are where I like to focus (yes that may be quite Pollyanna-like).
The key opportunities are (in no particular order and certainly not exhaustive): building on the upcoming and new graduates from the universities and the community colleges – create an environment of hope and keep them in New Brunswick to help build our innovative industries; helping our entrepreneurs and business leaders to have the belief and the skills to secure more investment that can help our companies continue to grow; continue to celebrate the successes of the companies and know that there are world class companies here in New Brunswick (give them a chance to prove their capability).
I trust that we will continue to explore and expand the definition of innovation and that we continue to drive the province forward believing that we have so much to offer the world yet have the benefit and luxury of living in a safe, promising, and hopeful part of the world.
Keith McIntosh, Co-CEO, President, PQA Testing and PLATO Testing
What have been your involvements in the industry in the last 20 years? How did you get your start?
I’ve been growing and running PQA, a software testing company, for the past 21 years. I can’t remember how I started it. It was 21 years ago! We had a running start. We had a project with the provincial Department of Transportation on Day 1 and work to do. We started with three or four people and we’ve grown to around 150 people with offices across Canada in Vancouver, Calgary, Miramichi and Fredericton. We’ve seen steady growth, winning the KIRA job creation and Export Service awards in 2006.
What are you doing now?
Two or three years ago, we created a second startup, Plato Testing, which is an indigenous software testing company. That’s really where we’re seeing a lot of growth right now. It’s a separate company that works really closely with PQA. PLATO creates training programs and trains indigenous people across Canada and employs them as testers.
What are the challenges/opportunities for the province’s innovative businesses going forward?
Testing is a growing industry. We’re getting better at chasing bigger things. PQA has been around for 21 years. PLATO brings a whole other element because we’re training and adding people, indigenous people, across Canada. There are a lot of large companies that would like to have a way to engage with indigenous communities and we offer them that opportunity.
We’re trying to double or triple the size of PQA and PLATO in the next couple of years. There are lots of opportunities for New Brunswick but we can’t only concentrate on only being in New Brunswick. If our companies are going to grow, they’re going to have to look at how to grow into Ontario, how do they compete in places like Calgary.
Annette Comeau, CEO, LearnSphere
What have been your involvements in the industry in the last 20 years? How did you get your start?
My involvement in this industry is rather serendipitous. I was lucky enough to be initiated into the world of IT because I put my hand up at the right time. I got heavily involved in the coordination of the first-ever Softworld event in Atlantic Canada. This was at a time when the idea of being able to get a moose license online in New Brunswick was innovative and forward-thinking. As it did for many others, Softworld opened my eyes to the possibilities for New Brunswick. I was sold. It changed the trajectory of my career.
What are you doing now?
As the founding CEO of LearnSphere, I’ve been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to chart a unique path, taking the organization from start-up to becoming a recognized leader in providing learning and development solutions for businesses and organizations here at home and abroad. With the scarcity of skilled people, our work is becoming more important than ever as we seek innovative solutions to help businesses and organizations prosper. Our work at LearnSphere has taken us to over 20 countries around the world. We also have a strong Atlantic practice that is supported by offices in Fredericton, Halifax, and St. John’s, Newfoundland.
What are the challenges/opportunities for the province’s innovative businesses going forward?
Over the past couple of decades, we have spent a considerable amount of time and resources developing a culture of innovation in New Brunswick. While there is always work to be done, I think we have done a relatively good job of creating an enabling environment. I believe we are now at the point where we need to focus on how innovation will actually generate and grow real wealth for the region. This is where we must become less risk-averse and more aggressive in our approach. We tend to spread ourselves too thin, which tends to be counterproductive.
A case in point to illustrate: LearnSphere recently launched a new $1.6-million program to help SMEs pursue supply chain opportunities. The program is premised on the idea that SMEs must be innovative to compete on a global scale. There are plenty of opportunities in markets around the world for N.B. products, but we must learn how to play aggressively if we want to be competitive. While we are thrilled that LearnSphere was able to secure a contract to offer this program in Atlantic Canada, it is certainly a far cry from Québec’s $250-million supplier development program to optimize the performance of their aerospace supply chain and increase its global competitiveness. Resources are limited in our region, so we have to be both creative and lean in our approach.
This is the third in a series of stories about KIRA as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. This year’s awards gala takes place May 3 at the Fredericton Convention Centre. For information or to purchase tickets, visit the KIRA web site: http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kira-gala-2018-tickets-41044285563
Previous Stories:
KIRA Celebrations 20 Years of Innovation in N.B.
Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation Firsts and Milestones