2022 Keynote Speaker
Dr. Rick Huijbregts – Tuesday October 25
Keynote Address: The College Campus as a Catalyst of Disruption & Transformation in Higher Education
Keynote Address – Recording
Keynote Address – PowerPoint Presentation
Changing demographics. Rising cost. Climate change. Digitization. Global economic shifts. Student expectations. Pandemic. The pressures for higher education to remain relevant and stay current are many. How we work, live, play—and teach and learn—is being transformed and disrupted at an unprecedented pace.
The promise of “smart” capabilities to aid and augment this transformation leaves many confused, overwhelmed, and disillusioned. The impact that the digital and experience economy has on our students, education, and campuses remains nascent, yet the opportunity is grand. Those that embrace and channel the turbulence at the intersection of digital capabilities (technology) and our physical environments (workplace and learning spaces) can use it to shape our places and campuses to be the catalyst for happier, healthier, and more successful employees and students.
Dr. Rick Huijbregts will share his thoughts and experiences on how we can activate our campus in a smart and digital world to extend and expand the College’s experiences and services—and create memorable and resilient environments that help accelerate the much-needed transformation of post-secondary education.
Biography- Dr. Rick Huijbregts
As Global Head of Smart Cities at Stantec, Dr. Huijbregts is responsible for providing thought leadership and industry expertise in Smart City programming and solutions, as well as the development of an integrated approach towards Smart City opportunities (including communities, districts, campuses, and mixed-use developments) in North America and around the world.
Dr. Huijbregts is also founder and principal of Oranje Innovations Inc engaging at the intersection of industry and digital transformation, focusing on topics such as the Future of Work, Cybersecurity, 21st Century Skills and Education, Aid and Development, Smart Buildings, and Industrial IoT. Past and current customers include Sheridan College, George Brown College, Protexxa, Microsoft, City of Markham, TD Bank, Intelligent Buildings LLC, BMO, and more.
Prior to joining Stantec, Dr. Huijbregts was Vice-President Strategy & Innovation at George Brown College (GBC) responsible for strategic planning and strategic partnerships to ensure the institution will be agile and resilient for a digital and rapidly changing future. His responsibilities at GBC included the formulation of the College’s Vision for 2030 and Strategy and 2020 as well as oversight and transformation of the Office of the Registrar, Marketing and Recruitment, the International Centre, Alumni Relations, Strategic Partnerships, Applied Research, Strategy, Planning, and Institutional Research, and return-to-campus plan for post COVID-19 as well as recent responsibility for IT and Facilities/Real Estate. Before his time at GBC, Dr. Huijbregts spent 12 years with Cisco in various leadership roles, most recently as Vice-President of Digital Transformation and Innovation.
In addition to his current responsibilities at Stantec, Dr. Huijbregts is faculty at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design Executive Education, Senior Scholar at George Brown College’s Center for Construction and Engineering Technologies, and Executive in Residence at Toronto Metropolitan University for their Smart Cities Ventures Zone. Dr. Huijbregts holds a Doctor of Design degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, a Masters of Science from Delft University, an Honours Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management from George Brown College, and a Bachelor Degree from Avans University in the Netherlands.
Between these roles, Dr. Huijbregts practices his passion for municipal and community innovation, education, business transformation, digital strategy, cybersecurity, Internet of Things, smart buildings, and smart cities.