Ken is a public policy, labour relations, labour market, corporate finance, and not-for-profit management consultant with a lot of experience working for and advising unions. His diverse work history includes, serving as the Executive Director of the Canadian Skills and Employment Coalition (CSTEC), being the Managing Director and a Partner in Prism Economics, serving as Assistant to the National Director and Research Director for the Steelworkers Union, creating and managing a private equity fund that took equity positions in medium sized Ontario businesses, advising the Alberta Government on its approach to support workers and communities impacted by the retirement of coal fired power plants, and providing financial and economic advisory services to stakeholders in the steel and automotive sectors. Ken is an accomplished negotiator who is as comfortable with shareholder agreements and commercial contracts as he is with collective agreements and pension agreements. He is experienced as a chief executive officer with responsibility for overall organizational performance and is a skilled researcher and public policy advocate who has represented labour and industry groups in a variety of legislative initiatives.
Ken recently led a team that undertook a comprehensive examination of the automotive production workforce, including assembly, parts and other primary suppliers. The initiative is called FOCAL and is a partnership between the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition, Prism Economics and the Automotive Policy Research Centre. The analysis includes forecasts of the supply and demand for key occupations in the sector as well examining key labour market issues such as the impact of new technologies, diversity, wage trends, the role of intermediaries in increasing skilled trades apprenticeship, and the role of immigration in supplying workers. The initiative has support from both employers and unions in the sector.
