Richard Florizone

Richard Florizone is President Emeritus of Dalhousie University and a Distinguished Fellow of IISD. He served as IISD’s CEO from 2020 to 2023, leading the institution to significant growth in both its size and influence amid the uncertainty of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Part scientist and part strategist, Richard has a track record of creating major partnerships to achieve transformative change. As President of Dalhousie University, he ushered in record levels of student enrolment, fundraising, research, and innovation, while also significantly advancing diversity and inclusion.

Richard has provided trusted strategy and policy advice to senior leaders in public, private, and multilateral institutions for over two decades. Prior to his appointments at IISD and Dalhousie University, Richard held leadership and advisory roles with the Boston Consulting Group, Bombardier Aerospace, the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group, Cambridge University, and the University of Saskatchewan.

Born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Richard is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan and earned a Ph.D. in physics from MIT. He is a Fellow of the Balsillie School of International Affairs and the Canadian Academy of Engineering.