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With over 10,000 miles of freshwater coastline and a legacy of innovation, sustainability, and industry leadership, the Great Lakes region is uniquely positioned to drive the future of the global blue economy. As the world increasingly turns to water-based industries, smart water solutions, and sustainable economic models, the Great Lakes can serve as a blueprint for growth, resilience, and revitalization.
Join us for an insightful discussion on how the region can harness its unparalleled water resources to spur economic development, attract investment, and become a world leader in water innovation. We’ll be joined by Mr. John Austin, who coined the term "Blue Economy" to describe the ways in which water and water innovation fuel economic growth. Prior to his current role, Mr. Austin founded and led the Michigan Economic Center for 12 years, spearheading initiatives like "Growing Michigan’s Blue Economy," which helped stakeholders leverage Michigan’s vast water assets, research, and innovation ecosystem to drive economic development, job creation, and business growth.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the transformation! Register today to learn how the Great Lakes is positioning itself as a global hub for sustainable water solutions and how you can be part of the blue economy revolution.
Our Presenter:
John Austin is a Senior Fellow with the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College (EI) leading the organizations’ work on international economy-building and democracy strengthening. Austin has created and facilitates impactful international partnerships and initiatives, including the transatlantic Transforming Industrial Heartlands Initiative, partnerships to promote and implement allyshoring; along with international collaborations to help democracies maintain global innovation and economic leadership . Austin also serves as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Brookings Institution where for over twenty years he has led efforts to support economic transformation in the American Midwest and in the industrial heartlands of Western democracies.
Prior to joining EI Mr. Austin created and led for twelve years the Michigan Economic Center, a network- building and policy development organization to spur the transformation of Michigan’s economy. As part of this work Mr. Austin coined the term “Blue Economy” to describe the way our waters, and water innovation contribute to economic growth, and created the “Growing Michigan’s Blue Economy” Initiative to support stakeholders in leveraging Michigan’s water, and water research, education and innovation assets for economic development and new business and job growth. Mr. Austin also initiated the Global Detroit program to welcome immigrants as a source of economic strength and renewal, and supported its replication in communities across the country.
Mr. Austin also served for sixteen years as a statewide elected official, leading the Michigan State Board of Education, the state’s education and higher education policy-making body, including six years elected by his peers to serve as Board President.
In 2006 Austin created and directed the Great Lakes Economic Initiative for the Brookings Institution. His work has directly shaped and informed the region’s economic development agenda, including the current national investments in CHIPs & Science, Innovation and Infrastructure and new federal support for Great Lakes clean-up and restoration. He served as founding Director of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan—a $100 million effort by the region’s philanthropies to aid in the area’s economic transformation.
Austin also served as Policy Director for Michigan’s Governor-appointed Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth, and was principal author of the Commission’s influential report. He also was the chief architect of Governor Jennifer Granholm’s urban strategy; and helped stand-up her Department of Labor, Energy and Economic Growth and a state workforce development strategy.
Mr. Austin has lectured and keynoted events around the world on the themes of economic development and renewal, strengthening democracy, and fostering a dynamic innovation-led economy. Austin’s work has been published by Foreign Policy, the Brookings Institution, National Interest, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Hill, Korea Times, TIME Magazine, Newsweek, Mexico Today, Politico, Fortune, Forbes, Barrons, The Economist, the BBC, Voice of America, Times Higher Education, the Nikkei News --among dozens of local, national, and international media.
Austin received his Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Bachelors from Swarthmore College in Economics & Political Science, with High Honors and Phi Beta Kappa.
