PHC Ventures Takes the Stage at CityAge’s “The Next Vancouver” Summit
Providence Health Care Ventures was proud to participate in CityAge’s “The Next Vancouver” summit yesterday, an important gathering focused on addressing the critical challenges and opportunities facing Metro Vancouver’s future.
The event, held in partnership with the Vancouver Sun, brought together leaders from across sectors to explore innovative solutions to the region’s most pressing issues—from rapid population growth and housing shortages to climate pressures—all while strengthening Vancouver’s reputation as a global hub for livability, innovation, and investment.
Brian Simmers, Providence Health Care (PHC) CFO and President of PHC Ventures, delivered a keynote titled “Building a New Health Care Innovation System.” He shared Providence’s vision to make Vancouver one of the world’s great health innovation cities, anchored by the transformation of a former industrial corridor into Vancouver’s new Health Innovation District.
Simmers explained that at the heart of that vision is the new St. Paul’s Hospital (NSPH) and the Clinical Support and Research Centre (CSRC), which together create one connected ecosystem where care, science, and industry come together. It’s a place where a clinician’s insight can turn into a company, where a research discovery can become a therapy, and where digital care extends far beyond hospital walls.
Simmers highlighted Providence’s 131-year legacy of innovation—from pioneering Treatment as Prevention for HIV, now benefiting 1.8 billion people worldwide, to creating Foundry, the North American model for youth mental health support. He emphasized that PHC Ventures serves as the organization’s commercialization engine, connecting clinicians, researchers, and industry to ensure solutions developed in Vancouver can scale globally.
Simmers also joined a distinguished panel on “Scaling Innovation in Health Care,” moderated by Wendy Hurlburt, President & CEO of Life Sciences BC, alongside Margus Rava, Estonia’s Ambassador to Canada; Rob Davidson, Director of Advanced Technologies at Nortal; and David Sanguinetti, Interim CEO of Foresight Canada.
Additionally, Stuart Bowyer, Director of Business Development & Marketing at PHC Ventures, participated in the CityAge “Canada–Europe Connect” Summit, discussing how AI and data can accelerate health innovation through global collaboration.
We’re grateful to CityAge for creating this platform and highlighting the vital importance of collaboration between health systems and industry partners. As Vancouver continues evolving, the city’s commitment to linking health, technology, and community in one place demonstrates that its future as a global leader in health innovation and livability is already taking shape—right here, right now.
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