KBRS is pleased to have assisted the hiring committee in the appointment of Pedro Barata as Executive Director of Future Skills Centre.
Read an excerpt from the official announcement below:
Future Skills Centre, – Centre des Compétences futures, has announced the appointment of Pedro Barata as the new executive director, effective September 1, 2019.
Known for his strategic leadership, an active voice on social policy, and a commitment to community building, Barata’s career and extensive volunteer work in the non-profit sector spans two decades.
“The Future Skills Centre offers an opportunity to make sense of what our fast-changing economy means for people, communities and sectors,” said Barata. “I’m excited about connecting to the wealth of existing and emerging thinkers and doers in this area so that we can build momentum behind promising ideas, find shared interest, and break new ground that can help deliver tangible solutions for Canadians.”
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program, the Future Skills Centre is a partnership of Ryerson University, The Conference Board of Canada, and Blueprint, with a focus on testing innovative approaches and building a knowledge base to help Canadians gain access to new skills.
Reporting to the vice-president, research and innovation at Ryerson University, Barata will work with the key project partners to realize the Future Skills Centre’s mandate and objectives: to build a network of key partners and stakeholders, lead and invest in cutting-edge research, test and evaluate innovative projects, and ensure that knowledge is shared and acted on.
In his most recent role as the senior vice-president of community impact and strategy, Barata helped the United Way navigate change and growth in a fast-changing philanthropic environment. He led United Way’s communications and engagement strategy through two mergers and through a shift to more flexible and responsive program-funding approach. As part of this shift, he has driven new approaches to social impact focused on workforce and economic development. His leadership on community benefits agreements helped bring the interests of community, labour and the private sector together to pilot and scale new solutions to construction sector workforce development.
He also oversaw a research and policy agenda that has put increasing emphasis on the changing nature of work, the economic dynamics behind rising income inequality, and more recently, on how provincial policy can offer solutions to address a growing skills gap. Based on this work, Barata has advised all levels of government on social and economic policy, including poverty reduction strategies, income security and workforce development reform, neighbourhood planning and development, housing and homelessness, as well as immigration.
Prior to joining United Way, Barata held roles at the Atkinson Foundation, Family Service Toronto, Social Planning Toronto and the City of Toronto. Barata holds a bachelor of arts from York University and a master’s of social work from the University of Toronto.
The national search for the Future Skills Centre’s executive director was launched in March 2019. The search committee was chaired by Ryerson University’s vice-president, research, and included nine members from Ryerson University, The Conference Board of Canada, and Blueprint.
