THATCHER-BROOKS PROGRAM

OVERVIEW REGISTER

The Thatcher-Brooks Leadership Development Program for Economists and Data Analysts was established by the Western Canada Economic Forum in 2026 to help support the next generation of leaders.

The program is aimed at early or mid-career economists and data analysts who want to develop their leadership skills and gain career development advice from senior economists across Canada. Thatcher-Brooks is open to participants from across Canada and limited to 20 participants per year.

PROGRAM

Thatcher-Brooks is a 12-month virtual program with monthly 3-hour sessions. Participants are expected to complete two assignments during the program. There is an optional in-person meeting (location to be determined) to celebrate completion of the program.

Each month, a senior economist or data analyst will provide a talk to participants aimed at sharing education, career, and leadership advice. The two assignments will be provided to participants after month 2 of the program. Each assignment is focused on developing leadership and communications skills and will require about 10 hours of preparation time.

SPEAKERS

Program Chair: Alex Fallon, Founder & Chair, Western Canada Economic Forum. Alex has a Bachelor of Business & Economics (University of Bradford, UK) and a Bachelor of Laws (Open University, UK). He’s worked in the UK, Japan and Canada in senior leadership roles. Alex was Chief Executive Officer of the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (2014-2022) and is a recipient of SEDA, EDAC and IEDC awards for this work in economic development.

1. David Williams

Vice President of Policy

Business Council of British Columbia

DPhil, Economics, University of Oxford

2. Rebekah Young

Vice President & Head of Inclusion and Resilience Economics, Scotiabank

MSc, Environmental Assessment & Evaluation, The London School of Economics & Political Science. BEng, Chemical Engineering, McGill University

3. Matthew Stewart

Partner, Deloitte

Business Council of British Columbia

Master of Economics, McMaster University. Bachelor of Economics, Western University

4. Mauricio Zelaya, PhD

Partner & National Economics Leaders

EY-Parthenon

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Economics, University of Waterloo. Masters of Arts, International Economics and Finance, Ryerson University

5. Alicia Planincic

Director of Policy and Economics

Business Council of Alberta

MA, The University of Georgia. Bachelor of Economics, Miami University

6. Judith Bosire

Chief Economist

Vancity

Master, International Development, Simon Fraser University. Masters, Financial Economics, University at Buffalo. Bachelor of Economics, Mount Holyoke College.

7. Alexander Fritsche

Senior Economist, Alberta Securities Commission

MBA, The University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business. Master of Economics, Western University.

8. Charles St-Arnaud

Chief Economist

Servus Credit Union

Master of Science, Economics, Universite du Quebec a Montreal. Bachelor of Science (BSc), Economics, Universite du Quebec a Montreal.

More to be announced….

CORE TOPICS

1. Career Development & Networking Skills

2. Education Routes and Options

3. Communication and Presentations Skills