A Year in Place: The Shorefast Institute in 2026
To close the year, we turn the lens on our own work. In 2026, the Shorefast Institute grew its work across the country, advanced the Economic Nutrition Certification Mark, conducted economic stewardship workshops with communities, businesses and organisations, advanced its thought leadership in place-based economic development, and carried the case for strong place-based economies to governments, markets and communities from coast to coast to coast.
Join Zita Cobb, Founder and CEO of the Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies, and members of the Shorefast Institute team on Thursday, December 10 at 2:30 pm (NL) / 1:00 pm (ET) / 11:00 am (PT) to look back at what a year of building place-based economies has taught us: what’s working, what’s hard, and where the movement goes next. It’s a chance for the people and places we work alongside and those who are interested in our work to see the whole, reflect on the year that has passed, and help shape the year ahead.
Zita Cobb
Founder & CEO | Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies
Growing up on Fogo Island, Zita developed a deep belief in the inherent value of place and profound respect for the human ways of knowing that emerge from respectful relationships with nature, culture, and community. She held senior financial roles in the high-tech industry, notably with JDS Fitel, subsequently JDS Uniphase, where she contributed to building the company into one of the most successful high-tech innovators in history. Zita returned home to Fogo Island in the early 2000’s and, along with her brothers Anthony and Alan, founded Shorefast. In 2016, Zita was awarded the Order of Canada. She volunteers her time and energies to the active direction and management of Shorefast and our projects on Fogo Island.
Simon Massey
Program Director | Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies
Simon Massey is an economist and demographer with over 15 years experience working across the government and not-for-profit sectors in Australia. Simon has delivered transformative economic and place strategies for government and built award-winning scenario planning tools. He has expertise in both the big picture thinking of developing strategies and the nuts and bolts of implementing programs. Simon complements these skills with a strong governance, data analytics and research background. He is driven to make a positive difference for people and places.
Simon and his family relocated to Canada in 2024. Simon is the Data and Economic Development Lead for the Shorefast Institute with a focus on consulting, training and data. Simon is also on the board of Economic Development Australia and received the prestigious Churchill Fellowship for his leadership in social infrastructure planning.
Gwen Patrick
Manager, Financial Innovation | Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies
Gwen is the Financial Innovation Lead at the Shorefast Institute on Fogo Island, overseeing program execution and financial and economic toolset development. She grew up on Salt Spring Island, BC, where she founded the Foundation of Youth, a youth advisory committee of the Salt Spring Island Foundation. While earning her Bachelor of Commerce at Queen’s University, she received the Kehoe Fellowship, enabling her to intern with Shorefast on Fogo Island. After graduation, she obtained her CPA designation and worked in public accounting at a Big Four firm before returning to Shorefast.
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