George Patrick Richard Benson

Senior Manager, Economic Transformation Decarbonization & the Just Transition, Vancouver Economic Commission

An urban planner by training, and an economic developer by trade, George Benson is Senior Manager, Economic Transformation at the Vancouver Economic Commission, working to decarbonize, build resilience, and increase social equity in Vancouver’s massive architecture, engineering, and construction sectors. More broadly, George also supports much of VEC’s green economy and social impact work in different ways.

George brings unique experience from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, together with deep content knowledge in resilience, urban sustainability, global governance, and new economic systems. He works with individual businesses, industry associations, building code developers, global businesses and networks, and researchers on numerous capacity building, coordination, and market transformation initiatives.

Outside of VEC, George is the Global Climate Lead for North America in the World Economic Forum’s young leaders network, the Global Shapers Community, and has been involved in the leadership of the US and Canadian urban planning associations. In 2017, he was recognised by the City of Vancouver with its Award of Excellence for his work on building sustainability and resilience in the community.

Speaker Sessions

Italian Cleantech Solutions: CDP-Business Matching on Green Building & Smart Cities (Virtual)

  • Intersectional Track
  • Restoring and Protecting Nature
  • Building Resilient Communities
  • Circular Practices and Business Models
  • Innovation, Technology and Deployment
  • Finance, Trade and Investment
Session Date
Thursday, Feb 15 2024 | 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Featuring
Claudia Alessio Cities Strategist, Circle Cities Programme, Circle Economy
Jeanette Jackson CEO, Foresight Canada
Bob Paul Principal Consultant, E5 Solutions
Matteo Gazzetti Head of Trade, Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa
Riccardo Honorati Bianchi Head of Country System Initiatives - International Affairs, CDP Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
Marco Saladini Canada Director, Italian Trade Commission
Andrea Schiavoni International Market Development, CDP Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
George Patrick Richard Benson Senior Manager, Economic Transformation Decarbonization & the Just Transition, Vancouver Economic Commission
Celso Boscariol, Q.C. President, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada – West
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