A message from the President & CEO, Doug Robertson

Many of you will know that Venn is an active member of several tech industry networks including Canada’s Tech Network (CTN) and the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA). Participating in these networks is both beneficial to our team for learning, professional development, sharing best practices and promoting our region, and to our members and partners in the tech community through the connections, introductions and access to resources across Canada and the U.S. 

I am a firm believer that if you are going to be a member of something, it is important to participate actively, to do your part to support and develop it, whether it’s a network like CTN and TECNA, your community, or some other cause or activity. It is important to give back.

For the past 10 years, I have been honoured to serve on TECNA’s Board of Directors and to participate in a period of growth and dynamism for this network which now comprises some 60 tech councils and innovation hubs in every region of our two great nations, representing over 25,000 tech companies. In late July, the members of TECNA gathered in Pittsburgh for our first in-person summer conference since the pandemic began. Needless to say, it was so good to finally see so many friends and colleagues again, and you could feel that through our three days together. We had an excellent program, with tracks focused on subjects such as STEM and the future of technology talent, and an exceptional fireside chat with US Ambassador to Canada David Cohen looking at important issues of common interest to the world’s strongest trading partnership. Pittsburgh was also special to me for another reason – it was my last meeting as a member of the Board.

Yes, we have term limits too. And so with that transition also comes a chance to reflect on some of the highlights from the past decade:

• In 2016 Venn hosted the annual TECNA CEO Retreat, the first time that meeting was ever held in Canada. It was an opportunity to showcase our community and our region to tech industry leaders from across Canada and the US, and we had some very special guests including former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho. And yes, we did send everyone home with a smile on their faces and an appreciation for the best seafood in the world.

• Also in 2016, the Canadian members of TECNA went to work on development of a set of proposals to help accelerate access to international tech talent for Canadian companies. Our proposals were largely embraced by the federal government and in 2017, the Global Talent Strategy was launched.

• In 2018 at the summer conference in Madison, I was elected by the membership to serve as Chair of the TECNA Board, the first Canadian to hold the position. Two of my priorities on becoming Chair were to step up our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion, including the Board itself, and to introduce an awards program to recognize and celebrate the exceptional work that staff members of TECNA organizations do for their regional tech industry.

• In 2019 we added new Board members including more women and our first person of colour, and we held the first ever TECNA Innovation Awards at the summer conference in Des Moines.

• In 2020, I became the first Board Chair to have to cancel our main events. At first we postponed the CEO Retreat until a fall date, thinking surely this COVID thing would be past us by then. Next up was canceling the summer conference scheduled to be held in Pittsburgh, and subsequently the rescheduled Retreat. They were difficult decisions to have to take, but of course as we all now know, very necessary. That year of course brought our first virtual events including the Innovation Awards.

• 2021 carried on like the year before – virtual – and we organized a virtual summer conference and the second virtual Innovation Awards in which the Venn team, particularly Alicia Grayeb and Norbert Demps, won the award for innovative client programs and services for the exceptional work they did transforming and enhancing our Garage incubator program during COVID.

• 2022 and we finally got together in Pittsburgh. This time the awards dinner was everything I had always believed it could become, and I actually got to collect our award from 2021!

So much to be proud of from these past 10 years. More important, however, and lasting, are the many wonderful friendships that have been made with my colleagues over the years. We may come and go from roles, but these special friendships are cherished and will endure.

While my time of service on the TECNA Board came to an end in Pittsburgh, the Venn team and I will continue to be very active members, working to leverage all the network benefits we can for our tech industry here at home, and to continue to do our part growing this important and influential tech network.