Nov 02, 2020
Juan-Luis Suarez, The Culture Complex, UWO
'The best thing I never had'. Sidewalk Labs' failed project in Toronto and the ‘Waterfront Doctrine'

Juan-Luis Suárez studied Philosophy at the University of Salamanca, in Spain, where he got his PhD in 1996. In Montreal he got a PhD in Hispanic Literature. Moving to London in 1999, to then become Full Professor at Western University in 2007. Then in 2014 he completed his Global Executive M.B.A. at the world class I.E. Business School in Madrid.

Professor Suarez has authored 4 books, co-authored 7 monographs and published over 80 articles. He has received the John Polanyi Prize for Literature, and the Leaders Award from the Canada Foundation.

Since 2010 he has run the Canada Foundation for Innovation-funded CulturePlex Lab at Western University, a multidisciplinary lab on digital transformation that works with banks, technology start-ups and other organizations in designing and implementing their digital future. The CulturePlex Lab’s partners include the Central Bank of Colombia, Libro Credit Union, Sonar Media, multi-awarded Restaurant Mugaritz, Pillar Non Profit and the London Public Library. 

Professor Suarez just completed a book-long essay titled “The Digital Condition”. Among his most recent (co-authored) scholarly articles are: “Machine learning’s limitations in avoiding automation of bias”; “Counting is not Enough. Modelling Relevance in Art Exhibition Ecosystems”; “Diffusion of elBulli’s innovation: rate of adoption in Allrecipes and Epicurious”; and “Entrepreneurship Bias and the Mass Media: Evidence from big Data”.

Juan-Luis lives in London with his partner and has two children who flew away to university.

The title of his talk today is 'The best thing I never had'. Sidewalk Labs' failed project in Toronto and the ‘Waterfront Doctrine'