Gillian Hatton
Gillian has 25 years of experience as a practitioner. She has a successful track record in developing and implementing economic development and business retention, attraction, and expansion strategies with EDOs and communities in North America, the United Kingdom, and other overseas communities.
As a strategic advisor to governments and economic development organizations around the world, Gillian has worked with a range of clients, including the City of Prince George, the City of Vaughan, Itasca County (MN), Business Birmingham, JETRO, The State of Florida, The Province of Ontario, The Municipal District of Yarmouth, The Nova Scotia Government, Ontario East Economic Development Commission, Lethbridge Economic Development, and communities both large and small across Canada.
With in-depth experience in the development of economic development strategies and action plans, Gillian has developed transformative strategies to help communities reconfigure their economies and leverage opportunities presented by technology and disruption with numerous assignments to facilitate job creation, investment, and sustainable economies that translate into opportunity, sustainable results, and resiliency.
Gillian has a substantial track record in compiling detailed and strategic sector studies to facilitate economic growth in diverse industries, including ICT, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, warehousing/logistics, renewable energy, cleantech, food processing, and professional and technical services.
Gillian has extensive experience in the hands-on delivery of FDI and trade development programs throughout the entire cycle. This experience encompasses developing and implementing FDI strategies and plans and working with numerous companies’ expansion strategies in foreign markets, resulting in billions of dollars of added value in investments and job creation.
Gillian holds a Masters in Economic Development and Innovation (MEDI) from the University of Waterloo and a BSc. (Hons.) Management Sciences, from the University of Manchester, U.K.
