Mike Brown

Mike Brown, now residing in Toronto, but having lived in Vancouver for just over 25 years, is the Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Imperial College London’s Transport Strategy Centre (TSC) within the Department of Civil Engineering. (The TSC also undertakes benchmarking for urban transport operators, including TransLink and Coast Mountain Bus Company.) He is a key member of the Airport Benchmarking Group (ABG), a consortium of nine leading global hub airports dedicated to enhancing the operational, financial, asset, and environmental performance. 

With an academic background that includes a BA (Hons) in Geography from the University of Oxford and an MA in Community and Regional Planning, along with a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from the University of British Columbia, Mike’s research extends to new forecasting techniques using ‘Big Data’, climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, factors driving urban commercial property values, and rapid transit investments. His interests also extend to urban innovation clusters, their impact on urban economies and living standards. His recent work explores the relationship between COVID-19 infection rates in Toronto neighbourhoods, deprivation and the types of employment.

Mike’s 35-year career in the airport industry encompasses strategic development, master planning, forecasting, and conducting economic impact studies. His experience includes pivotal roles at Canada’s two major airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport. At Toronto Pearson, he spearheaded a strategy to elevate the airport to mega-hub status, crafted a comprehensive twenty-year master plan, and led an economic impact study that highlighted the airport’s catalytic role in facilitating exports. At Vancouver International Airport, his responsibilities mirrored those in Toronto, with a focus on how enhancements to airport infrastructure could improve overall supply chain efficiency for key BC exports. Mike’s earlier career achievements include developing master plans for various airports, including those in remote Arctic locations. He also spent a year seconded to the strategic planning department of TransLink in 2008.

Mike is also an author, with his book “Strategic Airport Planning” advocating for airports to plan beyond the traditional boundaries. The book, published by Routledge in April 2022, has been well-received in the industry.
 
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