Networking for Rural lnnovation
Networking for Rural Innovation
Rural communities have strong social networks that are critical to their resilience. In this Thought Exchange, we hope to understand how to engage as much of the community as possible to spark innovation across all sectors in a way that honours the culture of the community.
March 19, 2025 - 10 am - 12 pm MST
Rural communities have strong social networks that are critical to their resilience. In this Thought Exchange, we hope to understand how to engage as much of the community as possible to spark innovation across all sectors in a way that honours the culture of the community.
Networking for Rural lnnovation
Discussion Leaders
Innovation is not a solo sport. We need to work with other organizations and (mostly) other people to cultivate ideas and take hold of opportunities. Rural communities have strong social networks that are critical to their resilience. How can a person spark innovation that honours the culture of the community? This Thought Exchange will look at the networking approaches and tactics that have helped drive innovation in both rural communities, conservation and agriculture.
Innovation is meant to support the people it touches, but people can also support innovation by providing ideas and helping with resources. Involving people in all parts of innovation is critical to ensure the innovation is relevant and meets the ultimate outcomes.
Our Discussion Leaders
Dee Ann Benard
Dee Ann Benard is the first female Director of UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden. She earned a B.Sc. (Biology) and M.Sc. (Plant Pathology) from Simon Fraser University.
With extensive experience in executive leadership, Dee Ann has a proven track record of starting and growing not-for-profit organizations. Her strengths include organizational and financial management, board governance, advocacy, and program development.
Before moving to UBC, she was a non-profit CEO for 20 years. She spent almost 15 years with the Rural Development Network (RDN), where she led a successful rebranding and expansion, transforming RDN from a small provincial entity into a national organization. Dee Ann has also contributed to numerous boards.
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Cedric MacLeod
Cedric has two decades of entrepreneurial experience as president of MacLeod Agronomics, an agri-environmental consulting firm specializing in the analysis and integration of sustainable agricultural practices for the Canadian ag sector. He has served as the CFGA’s executive director since 2015, strengthening the Canadian forage sector through innovative interprovincial initiatives that support improved perennial production systems, habitat conservation, and grassland preservation.
At a provincial level, Cedric MacLeod is the Project Manager for the New Brunswick Living Lab, overseeing 25 commercial-scale research and demonstration sites throughout the province. His role is focused on exploring cost-effective Climate Smart Beneficial Management Practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration in New Brunswick’s agriculture sector.
Cedric is also a strong leader within his local community, where he operates Local Valley Beef, a grass-fed beef ranch in western New Brunswick, alongside his wife Alanda and son Kalen, with strong family support.
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Keast, R., & Hampson, K. (2007). Building constructive innovation networks: Role of relationship management. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 133(5), 364-373
We don't often think about how networks operate as their own entity and have their own culture. In the first table from this article, we see that the components of the network are different than other organizations that also do innovation.
In the second table, we see the various roles. What happens when a member of the network isn't contributing to the functioning of the network?
Enhancing innovation capacity in SMEs through early network relationships.
Jørgensen, F., & Ulhøi, J. P. (2010). Enhancing innovation capacity in SMEs through early network relationships. Creativity and innovation management, 19(4), 397-404.
When there are challenges in a network, we often don't know how to identify those challenges and how to fix them. This table provides some insight in how to map out challenges and possibly reframe them as opportunities.
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