October 14 - Ruben Nelson "Act Like an Owner: A Citizen's Guide to the Struggle for Our Future"

Labelling his speech Act Like an Owner: A Citizen's Guide to the Struggle for Our Future, noted public speaker and author Ruben Nelson will illustrate how we as Albertans have the ability to act as owners and shareholders of Alberta’s resource wealth. His valuable experience as a futurist through decades of research will surely offer a vast amount of insight into the question: “Where do we go from here?” regarding the future of Alberta.

Born and raised in Calgary, Mr. Nelson has taken a multidisciplinary approach to his education. He achieved his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Queen’s University, Queen’s Theological College, the University of Calgary as well as the United Theological College in Bangalore. Ruben specialized in various facets such as philosophy, political theory, theology and the history of religion.

Mr. Nelson’s long list of accomplishments began in 1960 as an undergraduate at Queen’s University, organizing Canada’s first formal conference regarding the future of our society. In the 1970’s, Mr. Nelson and a small team spearheaded Canada’s first multiculturalism policy. Continuing his research he worked with Environment Canada’s Advanced Concepts Centre, he and others on his team conducted research which would later result in what we know today as sustainable development. Building on this history of research and advocacy, Mr. Nelson took a role as an organizer for one of the world’s largest conferences regarding the future - the World Futures Society held in Toronto.

As of 2002, Mr. Nelson became the Executive Director for Foresight Canada, where he and a team develops the next generation of strategists and decision makers. Specializing in strategic foresight, the individuals working with Ruben manage a research centre focusing on strategic issues of the 21st century.