Internationally Renowned Aging Expert to Speak at Silver Economy Summit

Nova Scotia is moving to help organizations in the province seize new opportunities and succeed in a rapidly changing environment.

The two-day Silver Economy Summit Thursday, May 13 and Friday, May 14, is the first event of its kind in North America. It will feature a stellar line-up of speakers discussing age and business-related topics, led by Dr. Joseph Coughlin, director of the AgeLab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. Dr. Coughlin is also the voice behind www.disruptivedemographics.com, a blog about the impact of aging and technology on future lifestyles, business innovation and public policy.

Dr. Coughlin will discuss emerging opportunities for the province, where 1,000 people turn 65 each month and the seniors population is expected to almost double by 2033.

A business succession planning panel will feature Margaret Armour, founding partner of Aerobics First, a Halifax sportswear retailer in Halifax. Chris Pelham, former executive director of the Acadia Centre for Social and Business Entrepreneurship, will host a workshop to ready not-for-profit organizations for new leadership.

Other summit topics that discuss skilled baby boomers who are not ready for full-time retirement will include encore careers for recent retirees, removing obstacles to employing older workers, and volunteerism with older adults.

The event will also showcase innovative health-care, service-delivery and lifestyle solutions as well as business development ideas within the silver economy. Dutch trend watcher Zuzanna Skalska will discuss products and services of the future and Paula Fitzsimons of Ireland will talk about how to encourage senior entrepreneurship.

People can still register for the summit at www.silvereconomysummit.ca . There are reduced rates for students, seniors and non-profit organizations.

The Silver Economy Summit is being hosted by the Department of Seniors and sponsored by the departments of Labour and Workforce Development, Health, and Economic and Rural Development, the Public Service Commission, Nova Scotia Business Inc. and UpLift Technologies.

For more information, call toll free at 1-800-670-0065, or e-mail silvereconomysummit@gov.ns.ca .