Nova Scotia Business Journal – March 7, 2007

Profile: Tim Outhit of NovaKnowledge

Tim Outhit is the executive director of NovaKnowledge. When Outhit joined the organization in 2006, he brought with him 20 years of experience within the technology, information, and publishing sectors. His member-based organization is dedicated to the development of a flourishing, sustainable knowledge economy in Nova Scotia - an export-oriented economy based on the addition of knowledge, creativity and technology to products and services. Since its inception in 1993, NovaKnowledge has moved from awareness-raising to policy debate and influence, and from defining, measuring and monitoring knowledge economy progress to deeper analysis of issues. With Outhit at the helm, the organization continues to promote change and stimulate action. The Nova Scotia Business Journal recently spoke with this leader in the knowledge economy - Tim Outhit.

NSBJ: After a decade living in places such as Moncton, Vancouver, and Toronto, you and your family returned home to Halifax in 2000. What enticed you to come back to the province?

Outhit: I believe that traveling and working in different areas of the country and the world broadens the mind and exposes you to a variety of cultures and new ideas. However, like many Nova Scotians, I never lost the desire to return home to my roots. When I visited Halifax in 2000, my desire to return home became even stronger. I discovered that there were a number of interesting and similar organizations to those I had worked with in Vancouver and Toronto * Canadian-based start-up technology firms that originated out of academic and government-run projects. Nova Scotia had thriving companies such as Abridean, Core, SolutionsInc. and InfoInterActive who were looking to expand their ranks and market outside of Canada. I knew the time was right to move home and implement the experience and training I had acquired while away. I began working with InfoInterActive (now AOL).

NSBJ: As executive director of NovaKnowledge, helping Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy prosper is your primary mission. What do you believe is the key to encouraging its growth?

Outhit: Over the past 13 years, we’ve identified that access to capital, building a sustainable economy, increasing immigration, and creating a culture of life-long learning are all key factors to growth. We believe that industry, government, educators, parents, and individuals must work together to solve these economic and social challenges. NovaKnowledge’s events are purposely designed to promote open discussion among all sectors in a neutral and objective environment. Through these initiatives our organization is helping to transform Nova Scotia into a province that encourages and applauds success, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. We need to commercialize more of the research being done in our education sector and work harder to attract more government and business research and development to Nova Scotia. Innovation leads to productivity and competitiveness, and this leads to increased exporting and to better paying jobs and a diverse economy.

NSBJ: What are a few of the greatest challenges your organization faces as you strive to help grow the province’s knowledge economy?

Outhit: NovaKnowledge lost government core funding in 1999. Since then the organization has been funded by corporate and individual membership, event attendance and sponsorship, and by conducting research projects. Our goal is to transition NovaKnowledge to a financially sustainable organization with a clear vision and focus. We need to grow our membership base (particularly outside of HRM), conduct more research, and issue more reports and publications. NovaKnowledge is now working to clarify and communicate its vision as there is still confusion over what is meant by the term “knowledge economy” and over how we differentiate our organization from sector-specific groups. We have consulted with many stakeholders in the last year, and are presently conducting a branding and communications exercise with a professional firm to address this challenge.

NSBJ: How important is having a diverse membership to the mission of the organization?

Outhit: This diversity is what sets NovaKnowledge apart. As Nova Scotia does not have the depth in any one sector that a province like Ontario might have, we require creative, holistic solutions - the kind that come from public, private and education sectors working together. Our 2006 Report Card on Defining and Developing Tomorrow’s Workforce is a great example of what can be accomplished with a diverse membership. The panel at the annual Knowledge Summit reflected this same diversity. We showcased a student, an academic, employers from service and IT, and human resource professionals. The result was an extremely dynamic, productive discussion.

NSBJ: Where do you see the knowledge economy 10 years down the road?

Outhit: In the next decade, NovaKnowledge envisions a province, and perhaps a region, that has a competitive knowledge-based economy with community action to promote life-long learning among its citizens, attract and retain an energized, knowledgeable workforce, and develop and export innovative products and services around the globe. We are actively working towards this vision as an organization through our “action teams” by generating discussion, policy recommendations and advocacy work. While we are extremely concerned about some current trends, such as a declining workforce, we believe the future is not set and that a knowledge-based economy is not restricted by its size or its geographic proximity to major markets.