Brownlee Family Foundation supports premiere business summit at USask

This biennial event focused on small to medium enterprises (SMEs) will foster collaborations among top business leaders, government officials and distinguished academics, while bringing global expertise directly to USask and the Saskatchewan business community.

As generous philanthropists and dedicated volunteers, Wayne Brownlee (BSc’75, MBA’77) and Ina Lou Brownlee have been strong supporters of the Saskatoon community for decades. Throughout his career at PotashCorp, Wayne committed himself to volunteering with various charities and devoted his time to helping his community by serving on many boards and organizations. In addition to this latest gift to USask’s Be What the World Needs campaign, he has donated his time to serve on the Edwards School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council. 

“We deeply value and appreciate the Brownlees’ long-standing commitment to the university and the Edwards School of Business,” said USask President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff. “Their generous gift establishing the Prairie Business Summit will connect our campus with global thought leaders in research and practice to shape the future of Saskatchewan’s diverse business landscape.” 

Wayne Brownlee, who was presented with a USask Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2022, said he is proud to support his alma mater to bring international expertise directly to the USask campus through the business summit.

“We’re thrilled to support current and future business leaders through the creation of this world-class event,” he said. “By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing, this event will provide attendees with tools to drive innovation, address complex challenges, and position their organizations for global growth and success.” 

“The Brownlee Family Foundation’s investment in the summit aligns directly with our goals of preparing business learners the world needs while creating knowledge for sustainable business and communities,” said Dr. Marjorie Delbaere (PhD), acting dean, Edwards School of Business. “This event will serve as a dynamic platform for building strong partnerships with the business community, empowering our students, faculty, and partners alike.”

The inaugural Prairie Business Summit will be held at USask on May 5-6, 2025, uniting leaders, innovators, and visionaries from various sectors to connect, collaborate, and explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on growth. The event will feature presentations from industry leaders on enhancing operational efficiency, along with insights from international experts on AI adoption and effective data utilization. Presentations, discussions and workshops at the two-day event will cover various sectors, including agriculture, technology, manufacturing, finance, and more, focusing on driving innovation and growth across industries. 

Registration for the Prairie Business Summit is now open. Learn more at: https://2025prairiebusinesssummit.eventbrite.ca

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For media inquiries, contact:   
Victoria Dinh 
USask Media Relations   
306-966-5487 
victoria.dinh@usask.ca