David Miller

Topics

Presentations

The Modern Green Economy & Climate Change
Cities worldwide are taking strong and effective measures to create a modern green economy and fight climate change. There is a myth that doing the right thing for the environment can only be done at the cost of the economy: in fact the opposite is true. Activist Mayors, business and residents of the worlds major cities are not waiting for national governments international agreements, they are creating the next generation of low carbon jobs while fighting climate change with strong, effective measures.

Implementing Growth Strategies based on Successful Campaigns used World-Wide
Cities worldwide face similar challenges - how to create prosperity, livability, and opportunity for all. Under the leadership of David Miller, Toronto made huge strides in growing it's economy, facing difficult environmental challenges, and ensuring that all residents could participate in it's success. Starting with the idea that to be environmentally, socially, and economically successful a city must grow inside it's boundaries, not by sprawl, under the leadership of David Miller, Toronto created and implemented strategies like the Agenda for Prosperity, Transit City, and Change Is In the Air that helped create a significant building boom, a stronger economy, and an environmentally and socially sustainable city.

Business Lessons on Innovative Leadership
Does a Mayor known nationally as a downtown Toronto lefty have lessons for business? In Toronto's case, under the leadership of Mayor David Miller, the answer is yes! Through innovative leadership, a public private partnership in which the business community actually wrote the city's economic development strategy, and the innovative use of tax policy, the City of Toronto helped to create tens of thousands of jobs - and helped to refocus and rebuild a City that had been in decline. To paraphrase former New York Mayor La Guardia, there is no left or right job, only jobs. Come learn about the innovations from Toronto that have helped businesses to succeed.

Other Topics Include: Public Space, Citizen Engagement, Architecture Design, Integration of Newcomers, Diversity

Summary Profile

"You don't buy a city, you don't consume it, you build it every day. It's an obligation. And if you want a great city, if WE want a great city, we have to make that same commitment. ...Government is about all of us coming together, because we are residents, we are citizens coming together to create a common vision."

David Miller, TedX Toronto 2011

As former mayor of Canada's largest and most diverse city, David Miller knows what it takes to make an organization run smoothly. During his two terms as mayor, Miller's mandate was to make Toronto a world-class city: one of prosperity, livability and opportunity.

Miller was elected Toronto's 63rd mayor in 2003, and was re-elected in 2006 after winning nearly 60 per cent of the popular vote. One of his biggest accomplishments was securing the New Deal for Cities for senior orders of government. The New Deal has provided Toronto with new powers, money, and respect from the provincial and federal governments.

Miller is a leading advocate for the creation of sustainable urban economies. In addition to being a strong and forceful champion for the next generation of jobs through sustainability, David advises companies - and governments - on practical measures to make this happen.

As Chair of the influential C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group from 2008 - 2010, David Miller was instrumental in demonstrating the practical and real change cities are already making and can continue to make as they fight climate change and create green jobs. In this capacity, David Miller worked with the World Bank, OECD, the Club de Madrid and other national and international organizations to strengthen the capacity of City governments worldwide to act.

Miller worked to make Toronto a world-leading city on environmental issues. He was a dominant supporter of a national urban agenda - including a national transit strategy. It is because of his efforts that Toronto has one of the most ambitious transit expansion plans in North America.

Miller's passion is the environment and making businesses more sustainability conscious. As a board member of the David Suzuki Foundation, he has the knowledge and insight to advise companies on what it takes to be at the forefront of economic sustainability. Miller's leadership in propelling Toronto forward in environmental stewardship means he knows firsthand how to engage, empower and resource city landscapes to meet the challenge of global warming.

Miller keeps busy with his Toronto law practice, Aird & Berlis LLP where he specializes in international business and sustainability with a new three-year appointment as Future of Cities Global Fellow at Polytechnic Institute of New York University.

David Miller is a Harvard trained economist and professional lawyer. He and his wife, lawyer Jill Arthur, are the parents of two children.

Client Testimonial:

"The event went incredibly smoothly and was a great day of dialogue on the topic. It was a pleasure working with David Miller and with your team at NSB, all of whom were very professional and prompt."

Siemens Canada Limited