Innovate BC announced today that Peter Cowan will be their next President and CEO. Cowan replaces Raghwa Gopal who retired from Innovate BC in August 2023.
With over 25 years of experience in leadership roles across Canada’s innovation ecosystem, Cowan brings a wealth of expertise to this role leading the provincial Crown Agency dedicated to fostering innovation across B.C.’s economy.
Cowan’s extensive experience spans a diverse range of roles in the innovation ecosystem, from startups, multi-national organizations, and venture capital corporations to non-profits and innovation-based government agencies.
Most recently, Cowan held the interim CEO role as Intellectual Property Ontario’s first CEO where he led the launch of a new IP agency for the Province of Ontario, which developed and launched innovative IP programs that helped researchers and companies maximize the value of their IP, and strengthen their capacity to scale and compete in a global market.
He is a recognized leader in intellectual property (IP) strategy, with wide-ranging background in IP business operations and over 70 patents filed in the clean energy sector.
Cowan is also the founder of Northworks IP and co-founder and past Board Member of the Innovation Asset Collective, Canada’s first Patent Collective.
“We are delighted to welcome Peter Cowan to Innovate BC,” said Andrew Petter, Innovate BC Board Chair.
“Peter understands that innovation is key to creating good jobs and building an inclusive, sustainable economy for the benefit of all British Columbians. His extensive knowledge of our province’s innovation ecosystem, coupled with his policy background and far-reaching experience in both the private and public sectors, make him an ideal person to lead the agency at this critical time.”
“I would also like to express the Board’s appreciation to Tomica Divic, Vice President of Operations, who assumed the role of Interim President and CEO last spring and has done an outstanding job guiding the agency over the past eight months.”
Leave a Reply