In early February, I set off from snowy Fogo Island on a multi-day journey to the desert of Dubai. The Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies was about to be recognized as a global leader in cutting edge innovation with the potential to shape the future of government.
Economic NutritionCM, an initiative of the Institute, was selected by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation and Apolitical as a top ten finalist from hundreds of organizations developing public sector innovations.
As the Financial Innovation Lead spearheading the growth of this initiative, I was selected to present this accomplishment at the World Governments Summit. With a Canadian-made suit packed and a rally of support from my team, I was ready to bring our work to an international stage.
As the Financial Innovation Lead spearheading the growth of this initiative, I was selected to present this accomplishment at the World Governments Summit. With a Canadian-made suit packed and a rally of support from my team, I was ready to bring our work to an international stage.
Economic NutritionCM reconnects money to the places we live by transforming transactional spending into strategic local investment. Shorefast built this tool because people want to make purchases that align with their values but complex supply chains make it hard to see where money goes. Economic Nutrition gives people the information they need to understand the impact of their dollar.
The 2026 Summit convened over 6,000 attendees from governments and international organizations under the theme “Shaping Future Governments.” Walking into the venue, I was immediately surrounded by government leaders, Nobel prize winners, entrepreneurs, and more all gathering to learn from each other to propel governments into a new era — it was an incredible sight. On the first day, I presented alongside the other selected finalists during a roundtable session with UAE government entities and partner organizations eager to understand how our innovations could be applied locally.
The 2026 Summit convened over 6,000 attendees from governments and international organizations under the theme “Shaping Future Governments.” Walking into the venue, I was immediately surrounded by government leaders, Nobel prize winners, entrepreneurs, and more all gathering to learn from each other to propel governments into a new era — it was an incredible sight. On the first day, I presented alongside the other selected finalists during a roundtable session with UAE government entities and partner organizations eager to understand how our innovations could be applied locally.
Credit: World Governments Summit, 2026
It was an honour to have spoken alongside such accomplished fellow finalists whose work spanned education, technology, data, health, climate, and community resiliency. Despite our different approaches, our work shared a common thread: we were all empowering people with greater agency to create better places to live. The discussions from that roundtable continued throughout the remainder of the Summit, and I know they will continue into the future.
Credit: World Governments Summit, 2026
Get inspired and read the full Edge of Government Top 50 list here. At the end of the trip as my flight lifted off from Dubai, I reflected on how I got there. Economic Nutrition didn't scale because of one organization's work, but because thirteen pioneering partners believed in its potential. It’s scaling because organizations from Victoria to Newmarket to St. John’s are paving the way for hundreds more over the next two years. And we’re just getting started.
Economic Nutrition is coming to a town near you: Read about our inaugural partners here.
The World Governments Summit brought representatives from over 100 countries together for exactly this reason: innovation doesn't happen in isolation. The finalists I met in Dubai understood this instinctively. The connections forged at this Summit won't end in the desert — they're coming home with me, ready to strengthen our ever-growing network of communities building more resilient economies together.
Ready to be a part of our next chapter? Join our 2026 certification waitlist here.