MICHELLE HOLLAND

Michelle Holland is a highly versatile and recognized thought leader with successfully demonstrated leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. Michelle was elected as City Councillor from 2010-2018 and served as the City of Toronto’s first Chief Advocate for the Innovation Economy where she was the leading voice on technology and innovation. She led the City’s effort to encourage growth in the sector, promote and protect innovation and technology jobs, encourage greater gender diversity and position Toronto as a leader in the innovation economy in all respects. She initiated and led the City's branding strategy with respect to the innovation economy that will create a unified voice to attract and retain talent.

Her deep understanding of digital disruption led Michelle to champion the first annual Digital Literacy Day in the City of Toronto in May 2018. Digital Literacy Day brought together over 80 corporate and non-profit organizations as well as government agencies to work collaboratively together to ensure that “no one is left behind” in the new economy.

Michelle was involved in the City’s participation with Toronto Global in the Amazon H2Q bid process, the City’s bid process for Collision tech conference, and the City’s proposal for the Federal Smart Cities Challenge.

Michelle has served on the most powerful and influential Committees including Executive Committee, Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, Budget Committee and Economic Development Committee. She served as Chair of Scarborough Community Council, Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee, and Vice Chair of Public Works and Infrastructure. Her most prominent and important role was as Chair of the City’s Corporations Nominating Panel where she was responsible for public appointments to the City’s most important corporate boards including Toronto Hydro, Waterfront Toronto, and Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

As a graduate of the Director’s Education Program (Institute of Corporate Directors and the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management) she has considerable board experience including the Hockey Hall of Fame, Design Exchange and Art Gallery of Ontario among other boards.