Hi, I’m Charles Conteh
I am a Professor of Public Policy and Administration in the Department of Political Science at Brock University. I have published extensively on economic, social, environmental and governance issues in Canadian mid-sized regions. I’m interested in exploring the role intermediary institutions play as “organizational brokers,” lynchpins or launchpads in the delivery and implementation of innovation policies, particularly at the local and regional levels across Canada. I examine three core themes and issues: First, innovation policy designs and their delivery systems; second, the role of regions as sites of change and as complex and dynamic innovation ecosystems; and third, the function of intermediary institutions as platforms for pursuing joint ventures of economic transformation in the face of breakneck changes in technology and markets.
I am currently involved in research projects focusing on the development, deployment, and adoption of automation, robotics, and related technologies in the agricultural and agrifood sector. I highlight the role of intermediary institutions at the strategic interface between the state, markets, and society within the sector.
I also conduct research on the intersections between agriculture, agrifood, advanced manufacturing, and tourism in select local and regional municipalities as they adapt their economies to seismic changes in technology, markets, and the environment. I view regions as complex and dynamic innovation ecosystems, comprising constellations of actors from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, who attempt to pursue joint ventures of economic transformation in the face of rapid shifts.
Books
Authored Books
Conteh, Charles. 2024. Mediating Innovation Policy Delivery: The Regional Innovation Centres of Ontario. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. https://utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781487539986
Conteh, Charles (2013) Policy Governance in Multi-Level Systems: Economic Development and Policy Implementation in Canada. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press (MQUP). https://www.mqup.ca/policy-governance-in-multi-level-systems-products-9780773541214.php
Conteh, Charles and Konah Koroma (2014) Development Policy Governance. Lambert Academic Publishers (LAP). https://www.lap-publishing.com/catalog/details/store/gb/book/978-3-659-42937-8/development-policy-governance-in-africa-and-beyond
Edited Books
Conteh, Charles, T. J. Greitens, D. K. Jesuit, I. Roberge (Eds.), (Spring 2014). Governance and Public Management: Strategic Foundations for Volatile Times London: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Governance-and-Public-Management-Strategic-Foundations-for-Volatile-Times/Conteh-Greitens-Jesuit-Roberge/p/book/9781138495579
Conteh, Charles & Shafiqul Huque (Eds.), (2014) The Unfinished Agenda of Public Sector Reform in Developing Countries: Paradoxes and Practices. London: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Public-Sector-Reforms-in-Developing-Countries-Paradoxes-and-Practices/Conteh-Huque/p/book/9780415858564
Conteh, Charles & Ian Roberge (Eds.), (2014) Canadian Public Administration in the Twenty-First Century (Routledge, CRC Press: Taylor & Francis).https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780429254857
Conteh, Charles and Robert Segsworth (Eds.), (2013) Governance in Northern Ontario: Economic Development and Policy Making. Toronto: University of Toronto Press (UTP). https://utorontopress.com/ca/governance-in-northern-ontario-4
Journal Articles
Conteh, Charles and Brittany Harding. (2023). Boundary-Spanning in Public Value Co-Creation through the Lens of Multilevel Governance. Public Management Review. Volume 25 (1): 104-128.
Conteh, Charles, Jiyoung Park, Kathryn Friedman, Ha Hwang, and Barry Wright. (2023). “Strengthening the Competitiveness Productivity and Innovation of Cross-Border Industrial Corridors.” Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy 12 (1) 75–100.
Conteh, Charles, Jeff Boggs and Amy Lemay. (2023). Building Sustainable and Competitive Agri-food Production Systems: Recommendations for Accelerating the Adoption of Automation & Robotics Technology in Ontario’s Agriculture Sector. Project funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) under the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI). https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy
Conteh, Charles, Jeff Boggs and Amy Lemay . 2022. Systemic Barriers and Drivers to Technology Adoption in Canada: Lessons for Agri-Innovation in Ontario from Stakeholders of Canada’s Global Innovation Clusters. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy
Conteh, Charles, Jeff Boggs and Amy Lemay . (2021). Growing Agri-Innovation: Investigating the barriers and drivers to adoption of automation and robotics in Ontario’s agriculture sector. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy
Conteh, Charles. 2023. Niagara’s Agribusiness Sector, 2001-2022. Niagara Community Observatory’s Wilson Foundation Working Papers. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/welcome-to-our-wilson-foundation-workshop-on-niagaras-economic-development/.
Conteh, Charles. (April 2022). “Build Intergovernmental Partnerships to Empower Small and Mid-Sized Municipalities” in “Who Does What Series: The Municipal Role in Economic Development.” The Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG). University of Toronto. Commissioned Paper.
Conteh, Charles, (September 2020). “Multilevel Governance through a Strategic Lens: Innovation Policy Delivery in Ontario” Canadian Public Administration. Vol. 63 (3): 429-449 (Flagship journal of public administration research in Canada)
Charles Conteh. (2019) “Strategic Adaptation of City-Regions in Federal Systems: Comparing Canada and
the United States” Territory, Politics, Governance: (20190613): 1-20 (A leading interdisciplinary international journal on regional studies)
Conteh, Charles and Diana Panter. ( 2017) “Path-Dependency and the Challenges of Institutional Adaptability: The Case of City-Regions in Canada.”. Canadian Journal of Political Science. Vol. 50 (4): 938 – 1004. (Flagship journal of political science research in Canada) (Diana Panter was my graduate student).
Conteh, Charles, (2016). “Rethinking Accountability in Complex and Horizontal Network Delivery Systems in Canada” Canadian Public Administration. Vol. 59 (2): 224-244
Conteh, Charles (2016). “Singapore: Economic Policy,” Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy. 3rd edition.
Conteh, Charles, O. Kusi-Ampofo, J. Church, and B.T. Heinmiller. (2015). “Resistance and Change: A Multiple Streams Approach to Understanding Health Policy Making in Ghana”. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. 40 (1): 195-220. (A journal on health policy). (Kusi-Ampofo was my graduate student).
Conteh, Charles (2013) “Navigating Canada’s Federal Maze: Policy Governance in New Brunswick,” Regional and Federal Studies Vol. 23 (2): 129 – 149. (A highly rated journal on regional development studies in multi-tiered jurisdictions.)
Conteh, Charles (2013). “Strategic Inter-Organizational Cooperation in Complex Environments,” Public Management Review Vol. 15 (4): 501 – 521. (A premier international journal of public management)
Conteh, Charles (2013) “Transitions in Regional Development Policy Implementation in Canada: The Cases of Manitoba and New Brunswick” British Journal of Canadian Studies. Vol. 26 (1): 105 – 128. (An interdisciplinary British-based journal dedicated to Canadian studies.)
Conteh, Charles (2013) “Changing Trends in Regional Economic Development Policy Governance,” International Journal of Urban and Regional Research Vol. 37 (4): 1419 – 1437. (A leading international journal on regional development studies.)
Conteh, Charles. (2012) “Managing Canada’s Rural Regions in a Knowledge-Based Economy,” Journal of Rural and Community Development Vol 7(3): 204-222. (A leading journal of rural development studies in Canada.)
Conteh, Charles. (2012) “Managing Intergovernmental Contracts: The Canada-Manitoba Cooperation on Regional Economic Development” Canadian Public Administration. Vol. 55 (2): 269 – 290.
Conteh, Charles (2012) “Public Management in an Age of Complexity: Economic Development in Canada” International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 25 (6/7): 464 – 472. Premier international journal in the public management field. This article won “Highly Commended Award” at the Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2013).
Conteh, Charles (2011). “Balancing Resilience and Adaptability in Northern Ontario and Manitoba,” Canadian Journal of Regional Science. Vol. 34 (2/3): 69 – 81.
Conteh, Charles (2011) “Policy Implementation in Multi-Level Environments: Regional Economic Development Policy in Northern Ontario” Canadian Public Administration, Vol. 54 (1): 121-142.
Conteh, Charles (2010) “The Challenges of Economic Development Policy Governance in Developing Countries: The Case of Botswana,” Canadian Journal of Development Studies, Vol. 31 (3-4): 401-416. (Leading Canadian journal on international development research).
Conteh, Charles (2010) “Legitimizing Singapore’s Interventionist Market Governance” Journal of Asian and African Studies, Vol. 45 (1): 47-65.
Conteh, Charles (2009) “Network Governance of Private Sector Development Policy in Singapore” Asian Journal of Political Science, 17 (1): 71-88.
Conteh, Charles and Frank Ohemeng (2009) “The Politics of Decision Making in Developing Countries: Privatization in Botswana and Ghana” Public Management Review, Vol. 11 (1): 57-77. (I wrote the section of the manuscript focusing on Botswana and Ohemeng covered the case of Ghana.).
Conteh, Charles (2009) “Institutional Legitimacy in Botswana and Singapore: The Challenges of Market Governance” Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, Vol. 11 (3): 369-383. (First-rate international journal in comparative public policy studies).
Conteh, Charles (2008) “Rethinking Botswana’s Economic Diversification Policy: Dysfunctional State-Market Partnership” Commonwealth & Comparative Politics, 46 (4): 540-554. (Premier international journal in comparative politics and public policy). Conteh, Charles (2008) “Singapore: Economic Policy,” Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, 2nd ed., Vol. 3: 1778-1783.
Chapters in Edited Books
Charles Conteh and Sandra Appiah. 2025. “Policy Legacies and Sustainable Mining Reforms in Ghana” in Public Policy and Public Administration in the Global South, Ishtiaq Jamil and Gedion Onyango (Co-Editors). Palgrave Macmillan. (In print).
Conteh, Charles. 2024. “Member state implementation in Canada” in Handbook of Public Policy Implementation. Fritz Sager , Céline Mavrot , and Lael R. Keiser (Editors). Edward Elgar.
Conteh, Charles. 2023. “Canada and the United States: A Symbiotic Relationship or Complex Entanglement? In Roberge Ian Nara Park and Thomas Richard Klassen. 2023. Asymmetric Neighbours and International Relations: Living in the Shadow of Elephants. Abingdon Oxon: Routledge. Pp. 13 – 28.
Conteh, Charles. September 2021. “Development, Governance and Policy in the Global South: A Multilevel Governance Framework” in Habib Zafarullah & Ahmed Shafiqul Huque (Editors). Handbook of Development Policy. Edward Elgar. Chapter 3. Pp. 35-47.
Conteh, Charles. 2018. “Public Administration and Management Reforms.” In Amanda Clarke and Jonathan Craft (eds). Issues in Canadian Governance. Toronto: Emond Publishing. Pp. 183 – 200.
Conteh, Charles. September (2017). Concerted Action in Complex Environments: A Comparison of Industrial Restructuring in Mid-Sized City-Regions in Canada and the United States. in David K. Jesuit, Russell Alan Williams (eds). Public Policy, Governance and Polarization. Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, 2018. Pp. 1 – 30.
Conteh, Charles (2014) “Strategic Management at the Local Level: City-Regions Managing Global Economic Change” in John Bryson, Marc Holzer and Paul Joyce (Eds.), Developments in Strategic and Public Management. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Pp. 196 – 210.
Conteh, Charles (2014) “Strategic forecasting in turbulent environments: reinventing regional economic hubs in Canada” in Conteh, Charles, T. J. Greitens, D. K. Jesuit, I. Roberge (Eds.), (Spring 2014). Governance and Public Management: Strategic Foundations for Volatile Times London: Routledge.
Conteh, Charles & Greg Smith (2014) “Towards an Interactive E-Government System in Sub-Saharan Africa” in Lloyd Amoah (Ed.), Impacts of the Knowledge Society on Economic and Social Growth in Africa. Hershey: IGI Global. Pp. 155 – 170.
Conteh, Charles, (2013) “Innovation Governance in Multi-Level Systems” in Denita Cepiku, David Jesuit and Ian Roberge (eds.) Making Multi-Level Public Management Work: Stories of Success and Failure from Europe and North America. Taylor & Francis. Pp. 85 – 101.
Conteh, Charles (2013) “Introduction to Canadian Public Administration in the Twenty-First Century” in Charles Conteh and Ian Roberge (eds.) Canadian Public Administration in the Twenty-First Century (Taylor & Francis). Pp. 1 – 20. (Please see description of my contribution above).
Conteh, Charles (2012) “Economic Development Policy Governance in Resource-Dependent Regions: Northern Ontario and Botswana” in Beaulieu, M. & R. Harpelle (eds.) Pulp Friction: Communities and the Forest Industry in a Globalized World. Thunder Bay: Centre for Northern Studies Press. Pp. 139 – 156.
Conteh, Charles and Robert Segsworth (Dec. 2013) “Introduction” and “Conclusion” in Charles Conteh and Robert Segsworth (eds.) Governance in Northern Ontario: Economic Development and Policy Making. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. (Please see description of my contribution above).
Conteh, Charles, (Dec. 2013) “Implementing Economic Development Policy in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Regions: The Case of Northern Ontario” in C. Conteh and R. Segsworth (eds.) Governance in Northern Ontario: Economic Development and Policy Making. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Conteh, Charles & Ian Roberge (2013) “Concluding Thoughts on Canadian Public Administration in the Twenty-First Century” in Charles Conteh and Ian Roberge (eds.) Canadian Public Administration in the Twenty-First Century (Taylor & Francis).
Conteh, Charles (2011) “Private Delivery of Public Services in Canada” in Leone, R. & F. Ohemeng (Eds.) Approaching Public Administration, (Toronto: Edmund Montgomery Publications), pp. 235 – 243.
Conteh, Charles & Lana Wylie (2007) Globalization and Africa’s Experience: Fetching Water from a Broken Cistern” in Howard Wiarda (ed.) Globalization: Universal Trends, Regional Implications (Boston: Northeastern University Press), pp. 246-265.
Media Articles
Charles Conteh & Tia Henstra. January 30, 2025. “Canada’s electric vehicle industry is facing existential threats — here’s how it can still flourish.” https://theconversation.com/canadas-electric-vehicle-industry-is-facing-existential-threats-heres-how-it-can-still-flourish-248103
Policy Reports & Briefs
Conteh, Charles, Nathan Olmstead, Felice Martinello, and Tia Henstra. 2024. “The Next Frontier of Economic Development in Niagara: From Concierge to Orchestrator of Change.” Niagara Community Observatory’s Wilson Foundation Project. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/wilson-foundation-project/
Conteh, Charles and Nathan Olmstead. 2024. “Changing the Narrative: Unlocking the Economic Assets of Niagara in a Changing World.” Niagara Community Observatory’s Wilson Foundation Project. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/wilson-foundation-project/
Conteh, Charles, Amy Lemay and Jeff Boggs. (2023). Building Sustainable and Competitive Agri-food Production Systems: Recommendations for Accelerating the Adoption of Automation & Robotics Technology in Ontario’s Agriculture Sector. Project funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) under the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI). https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy
Conteh, Charles, Amy Lemay and Jeff Boggs. 2022. Systemic Barriers and Drivers to Technology Adoption in Canada: Lessons for Agri-Innovation in Ontario from Stakeholders of Canada’s Global Innovation Clusters. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy
Conteh, Charles, Amy Lemay and Jeff Boggs. (2021). Growing Agri-Innovation: Investigating the barriers and drivers to adoption of automation and robotics in Ontario’s agriculture sector. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy
Rebecca Van Massenhoven and Charles Conteh. (2024). Managing Complex Relationships and Shared Responsibilities: The case of Lyons Creek East water governance. NCO Policy Brief # 57. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles. 2023. Niagara’s Electric Power Generation Sector, 2001-2022. Niagara Community Observatory’s Wilson Foundation Working Papers. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/welcome-to-our-wilson-foundation-workshop-on-niagaras-economic-development/
Conteh, Charles. 2023. Niagara’s ICT Sector, 2001-2022. Niagara Community Observatory’s Wilson Foundation Working Papers. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/welcome-to-our-wilson-foundation-workshop-on-niagaras-economic-development/
Conteh, Charles. 2023. Niagara’s Manufacturing Sector, 2001-2022. Niagara Community Observatory’s Wilson Foundation Working Papers. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/welcome-to-our-wilson-foundation-workshop-on-niagaras-economic-development/
Conteh, Charles. 2023. Niagara’s Marine Commerce Sector, 2001-2022. Niagara Community Observatory’s Wilson Foundation Working Papers. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/welcome-to-our-wilson-foundation-workshop-on-niagaras-economic-development/
Conteh, Charles. 2023. Niagara’s Tourism Sector, 2001-2022. Niagara Community Observatory’s Wilson Foundation Working Papers. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/welcome-to-our-wilson-foundation-workshop-on-niagaras-economic-development/
Conteh, Charles, Amy Lemay and Jeff Boggs. 2021. Preliminary Findings of a Provincial Survey on the Adoption of Automation & Robotics Technologies in Ontario’s Agriculture Sector. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy
Conteh, Charles and Carol Phillips. (July 2021). Neighbourhood Associations and the Municipality: Supporting Citizen Engagement in the City. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles, Amy Lemay and Jeff Boggs. (May 2021). Preliminary Findings of a Provincial Survey on the Adoption of Automation & Robotics Technologies in Ontario’s Agriculture Sector. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Sean Giverin and Charles Conteh. (2021) Land-Use Planning in Niagara: A Study in Multilevel Governance and Smart Growth (Jan. 2021). Policy Brief # 49. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles and Carol Phillips. (Sept. 2020). SPECIAL REPORT: The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Niagara Women in the Workforce. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles. July 2020. “Niagara’s Transportation and Logistics Sector: Becoming a Global Economic Lynchpin.” Niagara Community Observatory. Policy Brief # 46. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles. November 2019. “Elusive Quest or Emerging Reality: Niagara’s ICT Innovation Cluster.” Niagara Community Observatory. Policy Brief # 43. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles, Kathryn Friedman and Carol Phillips. September 2019. Cross-Border Innovation Corridors: How to support, strengthen and sustain cross-border innovation ecosystems.” Niagara Community Observatory. Policy Brief # 42. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles. June 2019. “Niagara’s Agribusiness Sector: Towards a More Resilient Innovation Cluster.” Niagara Community Observatory. Policy Brief # 40. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles. September 2018. Multilevel Governance in Canada: The Case of Regional Economic Development. Commissioned Report: Research for the Scottish Parliament under the Brexit Framework Agreement. http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/108907.aspx
Conteh, Charles and Sean Calcott. September 2018. Shifting Gears: Examining the Recent Upswing of Niagara’s Manufacturing Sector. Niagara Community Observatory. Policy Brief # 35. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles and Sean Calcott. June 2018. Filling the Void: Economic Development in Post-Industrial Niagara. Niagara Community Observatory. Policy Brief # 34. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/ (I wrote the introductory and concluding sections of the manuscript.)
Conteh, Charles, Carol Phillips, and Nicole Ferguson. 2017. Youth Employment in Niagara: Mapping the Opportunities. Niagara Community Observatory Policy Brief #28, October 2017. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/
Conteh, Charles, April 2017. “Economic Zones of Northern Ontario: City-Regions and Industrial Corridors”. Northern Policy Institute. Research Report No. 18; 35pp. Commissioned Report. https://www.northernpolicy.ca/economiczones
Conteh, Charles, 2016. “Towards a More Strategic and Collaborative Governance of Regional Economic Development in Northern Ontario – Lessons from other regions of Canada”. Northern Policy Institute. Report. No. 5; 46pp. (Available at northernpolicy.ca) Commissioned Report. https://www.northernpolicy.ca/fednor Eshetu, Dawit and Charles Conteh. November 2017. Scaling Up Niagara: Issues and Approaches to Improving SME Productivity and Growth. Niagara Community Observatory. Policy Brief # 29. https://brocku.ca/niagara-community-observatory/policy/