Gervan Fearon
President of George Brown Polytechnic
Dr. Gervan Fearon is the President of George Brown Polytechnic and the former President of both Brock University and Brandon University.
Prior to his leadership roles in academia, Dr. Fearon served in government at the Ontario Ministry of Finance (Treasury Board) and at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Economic and Policy Branch and the Deputy Minister’s Office).
In the private sector, Dr. Fearon served at Chase Econometrics, a Division of Chase Manhattan Bank. Dr. Fearon serves on a number of Boards, including the Ontario Centre of Innovation; Ingenium – the consortium overseeing three of Canada’s museums; Royal Ontario Museum (ROM); and Colleges Ontario. He has also previously served on several other boards, including the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Niagara Health, United Way Niagara, Council of Ontario Universities, and as a member of the Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Council. He was a co-founder of the Canada Caribbean Institute with Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor, The University of the West Indies, and previously served as president of the Board of Directors for Tropicana Community Services Organization. He also previously served as the Chair of the External Reference Group for the Government of Canada’s Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiatives as part of Canada’s commitment to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. Additionally, he has served as the 2025 Honorary Chair for the “Walk the Path Walkathon” with the Walnut Foundation for promote awareness and treatment for prostate cancer.
Amongst Dr. Fearon’s many accolades are his appointment to the Order of Ontario in 2023, the 2024 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals, The Michaëlle Jean Foundation Influencer Award and The City of Toronto’s Bob Marley Day Humanitarian Award. Dr. Fearon holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Western University and received his Master’s and Bachelor of Science degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Guelph. He holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation (CPA, CGA) and an Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D)