Lindsey Fair

Biography:

Lindsey Fair, MBA, PhD is a senior executive, educator, and entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience spanning post-secondary education, economic development, and industry leadership. She currently serves as Vice President at Invest Ottawa, where she leads brand strategy, placemaking, and applied impact initiatives that support founders, firms, and regional growth.

Lindsey has held senior leadership roles across Canada’s post-secondary system, including Associate Vice President positions at the University of Victoria and SAIT, and Director of Marketing, Communications and Recruitment at Queen’s University. In parallel, she has been an adjunct professor at multiple universities and spent more than 15 years at St. Lawrence College, where she led highly recognized and innovative work-integrated learning programs, oversaw the launch of new academic programs, and guided curriculum development in close collaboration with industry partners. In 2025, she was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Canadian Council for the Advancement in Education.

An entrepreneur by background, Lindsey was the CEO and Founder of one of Canada’s earliest digital marketing agencies and a co-founder of an international web development firm with operations in Canada and Nepal. Her work earned national recognition, including Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and she published her first book at age 30.

Lindsey holds a Ph.D in Economic Geography from Queen’s University, focused on city and neighbourhood place identity and branding, and an MBA specializing in Community Economic Development with a strong emphasis on the role of post-secondary institutions. She brings a rare blend of academic insight, institutional leadership, and real-world business experience to conversations about education–industry alignment, talent development, and regional competitiveness.