Mike Brown, Senior Planner, Vancouver Airport Authority, Canada

Speaker Biograghy: Mike has over 30 years’ experience as a practitioner in airport planning and economics in Canada and overseas. Currently he is Vancouver Airport Authority’s senior strategic planner and works closely with the Authority’s Board and senior management team. In addition to completing strategic plans, masterplans and economic impact studies for Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Mike was a member of the operational team that delivered an outstanding airport experience during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2007 he was seconded to Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority, where he worked on long-range plans for the region. Mike holds a BA in Geography from the University of Oxford, an MA in Community and Regional Planning from UBC and a Diploma in Urban Land Economics, also from UBC. He also holds an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from MIT’s Sloan School of Business.


Day 1 - 10 March
Session:
Airport Cities & Transport Connections


12:00 - 12:30 - What types of businesses want locate close to airports?
Synopsis: Certain categories of business value proximity to airports more than others. Our analysis shows which businesses these are – and there are some surprising results. These findings have important implications for airport planning in that the traditional restriction that land uses at an airport be 'aviation-related' may no longer be helpful. The analysis here introduces the concept of 'aviation-dependent' uses; that is, large consumers of air passenger and freight transportation, such as businesses in the wholesale, construction, manufacturing and corporate head offices sectors. Other businesses traditionally thought of as aviation related, such as freight forwarders, show a weakening affinity for an airport location.

Audience will learn:
Day 2 - 11 March
Session:
Airport Cities & Transport Connections


11:25 - 11:55 - Do airport rail links stimulate the demand for air travel?
Synopsis: The Canada Line, which connects Vancouver International Airport (YVR) with Vancouver City Centre, is five years old now. Using detailed data on household spending on air travel in Metropolitan Vancouver, there is some evidence to suggest that households living close to the Canada Line are spending more on air travel, after controlling for other factors like income and education.

Audience will learn: