David Ticoll

Biography

David Ticoll is a Canadian and international authority on the business, policy, and social implications of emerging technologies. He has a successful track record as an entrepreneur, social entrepreneur, academic researcher, author, consultant, journalist and speaker.

David now focuses on helping organizations and governments design strategies to maximize the benefits of vehicle automation. In 2015 David was the principal researcher and author of Driving Changes, a ground breaking white paper and strategy engagement on automated vehicles for the City of Toronto.

Current and recent appointments include:

• Distinguished Fellow, Innovation Policy Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto
• Director Emeritus, Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and Special Advisor, ITAC Talent
• Distinguished Visiting Scholar, G. Raymond Chang School, Ryerson University (2012-13)

David has co-authored several business books including The Naked Corporation: How the Age of Transparency Will Revolutionize Business, and Digital Capital: Harnessing the Power of Business Webs. He was a weekly business columnist for The Globe & Mail (2001-2003). Early in his career David was a radio public affairs journalist and producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

During the past 15 years David investigated, wrote about, designed, and led policy and market initiatives for Canadian competitiveness in the digital economy. His focus has been the impact of technology innovation and globalization on business strategy and labour markets.

He was founding Executive Director of Canadian Coalition for Tomorrow’s ICT Skills (CCICT) – now ITAC Talent – from 2007 to 2012. In this capacity he initiated and led the CareerMash program for engaging young people in technology careers; provided policy research, analysis and advice to governments and the ICT sector; and led the development of the Business Technology Management program, now in 25 universities and colleges across Canada. In 2013 the Government of Canada awarded ITAC Talent $1.6 million to expand the BTM. In 2014 the Ontario School Counsellors Association recognized David’s work at ITAC Talent with a Career Education Citation Award.

From 1994 to 2001 David was founding CEO of Digital 4Sight, an international think tank, research and consulting firm. Digital 4Sight addressed the implications of the Internet for business model innovation and corporate strategy through primary research, case studies, focus groups and original analysis. Client sectors included government, information technology, financial services, telecommunications, automotive, consumer packaged goods, resources, and other sectors. He and his partners sold the firm in 2001.

In February 2014 David was elected founding President of the Quantum Owners & Residents Association (QuORA), a ratepayer association in the Toronto Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood. He led QuORA’s involvement as a Party in two Ontario Municipal Board mediations.

David has a BA (Honours) from McGill University in sociology and political science, and has pursued graduate studies in communications, information systems and marketing research. He is fluent in English and French.

Selected Publications:

(2015). Driving Changes: Automated Vehicles in Toronto (University of Toronto Transportation Research Institute).

(2014). The CareerMash Tech Career Resource Kit for Guidance Counsellors and Teachers (ITAC Talent).

(2013). Ryerson University: Innovation, Leadership and Digital Learning (Ryerson University).

(2011). Canada’s ICT Labour Market Needs a Fix. The Stratford Report (University of Waterloo).

(2011). “Where are the Women?” (ITAC Annual Review).

(2010). Canada: the Go-to Country for Brainpower Resources in the Global Digital Economy (CCICT submission to Government of Canada Digital Economy Strategy consultation).

(2007). Jobs 2.0: How Canada can win in the 21st century global marketplace for information & communications technologies and services (Information & Communications Technology Council).

(2006). Rise of the Digital Conglomerates (New Paradigm).

(2005). Dances with Penguins: Harnessing Self-organization for Competitive Advantage, with Phil Hood (New Paradigm).

(2004). “Get Self-Organized”, Harvard Business Review (September).

(2004). IT Industry Trade Associations and the Globalization of Knowledge Work: a review of NASSCOM and the Irish Software Association (ITAC).

(2004). A Fine Balance: The Impact of Offshore Outsourcing on Canada’s IT Landscape (PricewaterhouseCoopers).

(2003). The Naked Corporation: How the Age of Transparency Will Revolutionize Business with Don Tapscott (Free Press & Penguin Canada).

(2002-04). “The Strategist” (Weekly column. Globe & Mail Report on Business).

(2000). Digital Capital: Harnessing the Power of Business Webs with Don Tapscott & Alex Lowy (Harvard Business School Press).

(1998). Blueprint to the Digital Economy with Don Tapscott & Alex Lowy (McGraw-Hill).

(1997). The New Strategy Agenda (Digital 4Sight).

(1995-96). Interactive Multimedia in the High Performance Organization: Wealth Creation in the Digital Economy. (Digital 4Sight).

(1990). Strategies for Open Systems (DMR Group).