Dr. Paul Brett is a collaborator, educator, and geospatial data specialist, recognized for his leadership at Memorial University’s Fisheries and Marine Institute. Based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Dr. Brett has spearheaded new program development, industry partnerships, international accreditation, and the establishment of the Institute’s first Canada Research Chair in Ocean Mapping. He also leads the Institute’s ocean research program, including the SmartBay Ocean Observation system and SmartBay Holyrood, which are vital for ocean technology testing and development.

"I’m deeply honoured to join the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation's board. It’s a privilege to contribute to shaping a vibrant, inclusive future for Canada’s marine sector—where opportunity meets purpose, and every wave carries the promise of a new opportunity."

Dr. Brett brings a global perspective to advancing marine education and industry collaboration. His leadership in expanding training opportunities and fostering partnerships directly supports the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation’s mission to strengthen the talent pipeline for Canada’s future marine workforce.

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Dr. Dave Shorey is the Executive Director of Georgian College’s Owen Sound Campus, where he champions reciprocal partnerships between education and the community to drive workforce development and economic growth. He holds a Doctor of Education degree from Western University, where his research focused on building innovation systems to sustain and enhance rural-serving campuses. His interests include regional development, community-focused education models, and cross-sector innovation, with a particular focus on advancing post-secondary education in rural and mid-sized communities to meet emerging industry needs.

In his current role, Dave leads strategic partnerships that strengthen relationships with the community, government, and industry. He oversees initiatives that ensure the delivery of high-quality programs and exceptional student experiences while addressing regional priorities such as workforce localization, skills development, and sustainable economic growth.

Prior to joining Georgian College, Dave served as the Innovation Officer for the Municipal Innovation Council (MIC) in Bruce County, where he developed a collaborative innovation ecosystem to support municipal modernization and service delivery across the region. During his tenure, he worked out of the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) and partnered closely with energy-sector organizations to align local priorities with regional opportunities. Earlier in his career, he held various leadership positions at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he developed programs to enhance student success and institutional impact. He co-developed the Master of Education (MEd) - Student Affairs stream, a co-curricular for-credit course, a non-credit alternative to withdrawal for students on academic probation and was CTF in the MEd program. Dave also led the development of competency models and training programs to build high-performing teams in a fast-paced, multi-campus environment.