Gordon McConnell

Gordon McConnell is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in developing entrepreneurship ecosystems, supporting economic diversification, and driving innovation in higher education. A co-founder of Arkane Innovation, Gordon has worked with organizations to develop entrepreneurship programs, co-working spaces and innovation systems on a global scale. He has served as Visiting Director of Innovation and Professor of Entrepreneurship at Robert Gordon University, where he was instrumental in helping the university achieve its innovation-driven entrepreneurial goals. His contribution to entrepreneurship activities in RGU earned the Herald Higher Education Award for 'Outstanding Business Engagement' in 2019. Gordon was also the Head of the Entrepreneurship Center and Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, where he developed country-wide startup programs, corporate Innovation training for Saudi companies, and launched extensive teaching and learning programs in innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of work for Saudi University students. At Arizona State University, where he was Associate Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Principal Investigator of the ASU Center of Excellence in Technology Transfer (funded by the US Department of Defense), Gordon was awarded the title of ‘Arizona Tech Titan’ in 2014 by the Arizona Business Journal. Gordon's expertise spans major conferences and speaking engagements in the US, UK, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. Gordon's wide-ranging experience, strategic planning and implementation skills in innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, coupled with his leadership expertise and comprehensive knowledge of the future of work, make him a thought leader in his field.